This is a penny postcard that my grandmother Edith sent to my mother for her birthday. Edith and her sister Edna corresponded by penny postcards to their family and friends at the turn of the 20th century. These postcards were an inexpensive way to communicate with each other. Blank penny postcards could also be purchased and decorated by the sender. My grandmother Edith liked to draw and decorate her cards.

Here is a card that my grandmother sent on Christmas eve to her sister Edna thanking her and her Papa for the gifts received for Christmas.

Here is another birthday card that my grandmother Edith sent to my Mom.

My great aunt Edna was an avid collector of penny postcards. She always requested postcards from her friends and family. She amassed a large collection of over 1,000 cards. Because of this collection I was able to obtain the handmade postcards that my grandmother Edith mailed to her from my cousin who is the caretaker of these wonderful penny postcards from the past.

It was very "proper" at that time (1890 to 1917) to collect and display your collection of postcards and trade cards in the parlor. Friends and guests would often sit for hours, leafing through the album while they visited. The penny postcard became so popular during this era that photographers, studios, printers, and business were always trying to find new and exciting subjects to satisfy an audience that was hungry for new ideas to impress their friend at home. To make their cards stand out, people often sought out real photographic postcards. Instead of mass-produced lithographs, these were actual photographs made with a postcard printed back. The photography studios often employed women to hand tint and color the black & white photo postcards. Some of the best photo postcards came from Germany, which was also famous for its detailed and colorful lithography. Popular subjects for these photo postcards were women, children, flowers, and young lovers, posed and arranged in an effort to portray the idealized virtues of the Victorian Era.

I have started collecting penny postcards. I prefer to collect the pretty floral and romantic ones. Here are some from my birthday collection. These postcards often have the sender's and receiver's names on them. They are a visit from the past.