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People living in mid to late Victorian (1870-1901) and Edwardian (1901-1910)
Texas enjoyed sending postcards. Folded greeting cards, while available, were
not widely sent. Early postcards were printed with artwork or an advertisement,
or left without a design on the front. Photos were not added to postcards until
around 1900. Soon Eastman Kodak and others created cameras that allowed
photographs to be printed directly onto postcard backs.
Postcard sending and collecting exploded in the early 1900s, with the majority
of the postcards printed in Europe, especially Germany. Picture postcards were
very popular. In 1908, more than 677 million postcards were mailed in the
United States. WWI in Europe ended the supply of postcards from Germany and
curtailed the quantity and quality of cards from the rest of Europe. As a
result, United States publishers increased their production but manufactured
inferior cards. In addition the advent of the telephone cut into the need to
write others. Postcard popularity declined but remained strong.
One popular postcard theme was Christmas. Colorful holiday decorated postcards
were
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plentiful. Many late Victorians did not have fancy Christmas decorations as
these were often imported from Europe and expensive. Instead, they hand made
decorations out of materials they had at hand: paper chains; popcorn strings;
embroidered, quilted and lace ornaments; wreaths made from nearby branches; and
displays of local flowers. Christmas trees were evergreens that grew locally
and were adorned with candles rather than electric lights. Another decorative
item was the postcards the family had received. Postcards were placed on
tables, mantels and shelves wherever further colorful decoration was needed.
In the 1920s and after Christmas, postcards declined as the telephone became
more and more popular and use of folded greeting cards grew. In addition,
fancier glass ornaments and decorations became widely available. The simple
decorations of the past would be replaced by modern glass ornaments,
manufactured ribbon, electric lights and trees from across the country.
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In 1908, more than 677 million postcards were mailed in the United States.
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Photos and historical facts courtesy of the Fort Bend
County Museum Association in Richmond, Texas
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