Types of postcards. Three-dimensional postcards. Postcards with wishes. Greeting Cards

Postcards refer to a special type of postcards. They are intended for writing without an envelope, that is, open. The front side contains an image of a full-scale scale, that is, located on the whole area. On the back, it is customary to write not only messages, but also addresses of both the sender and the recipient. In addition, there is also a postage stamp attached.

Very often the stamp is printed on the postcard itself. And the price at the sale already contains a postage. May postcards be and not postal, then there are no stamps on them, and there is no place for the address. Such a postcard is only a dense rectangle of cardboard or paper of standard size.

Marked and unmarked postcards

Those of them that are issued by the postal department are called marked. They always print a postage sign. If the postcard refers to unmarked (artistic), then, as a rule, there is a place for sticking such a sign on it. Sometimes the brand is mistakenly glued to the artistic (front) side. Very rare option, when this is provided initially, that is, put the brand is not on the back. An example is some old Soviet postcards.

Those of them that contain illustrations, can be attributed either to the artistic, or to the documentary (in the form of photographs). The most frequent and widely known ways of using them are as gifts, for invitations to events or for congratulations on all sorts of holidays.

A bit of history

The first postcards appeared on the territory of Austria-Hungary. Since 1869, the postal circulation of this state has been replenished with correspondent cards, on which the stamps have already been stamped in par value to a pair of Kreuzers. During the Franco-Prussian War that began soon, both armies also used illustrated cards. Sometimes soldiers sent their relatives a regular postcard, providing the text with a homemade drawing.

This idea was picked up by businessmen. According to different versions, the first illustrated post cards (ie postcards) were issued either in France (in Brittany) or in Germany (in Oldenburg). Be that as it may, such an undertaking was a success, and they appeared in many countries.

Postcard conquers Europe

In the seventies of the XIX century, their production was established by the post offices of almost all European countries - Switzerland, England, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Italy.

Since 1878 there is a standard size of such postcard adopted by the World Postal Congress, held in Paris. Originally it was 9 x 14 cm, and since 1925 it has become equal to 10.5 x 14.8 cm. On the first postcards the entire reverse side was occupied by the address, then, beginning in 1904, it was decided to leave the left half blank for a brief message.

What they were like

Postcards with wishes were executed not only from paper and cardboard. There were exotic rare specimens of glass, metal, wood, etc. Their shapes and sizes were sometimes very bizarre. There were also a lot of options for decorating postcards, which were decorated with shells, decorative stones, ribbons, feathers, lined with fur and elegant fabric, tied with threads using a hook or wrapped in twine. Such fantasy kinds of postcards for congratulations with an important holiday date were intended. And some of them were given only for memory.

Greeting Cards

Let's return now. What are the types of postcards now? The most famous of them are congratulatory, dedicated to a particular holiday. As you know, there are a lot of them. There are postcards with the wishes of everything that is due, and for Christmas, and for the New Year, and by March 8, and by February 23, and for all possible anniversaries, and for ordinary "non-round" birthdays.

Do not stand aside professional holidays, which in our country a great many. And any other celebration is unthinkable without a bright elegant postcard.

Business Cards

Another of their kind is corporate. Such cards have a design, intentionally executed in a corporate or simply business style. In addition to the thematic image, they can be supplied with the company name, logo and other necessary data. They are used as invitations to business events, to congratulate partners and clients.

These specially designed cards are part of the corporate image. Their task is to make a favorable impression on the addressees, to emphasize the company's respectability, to introduce elements of corporate cohesion into the ranks of employees.

Well, no advertising!

A relatively new type of postcard is advertising. They are gaining popularity every year and begin to enjoy a certain trust among a wide range of consumers. Print them for a specific purpose, namely, to present information about the appearance of a new brand, a certain type of product or product, as well as services offered by the company and various planned events.

Such "leaflets" necessarily have a bright attractive design. Sometimes it's pretty funny postcards - after all, advertisers go to any tricks in the struggle for the attention of customers. All relevant commercial information is usually printed on the back.

Other types of postcards

This kind of postcard, like invitations, is widely involved in the transmission of messages about upcoming celebrations of a personal nature. That is, anniversaries, weddings, etc. Informed with the help of printed cards and about business events - presentations, exhibitions. Such invitations necessarily contain information about the date, time and place where the event will take place.

A postcard can be individual. Most often it is made in the form of a photograph of the addressee. Its design can also carry a personal focus.

England - the birthplace of greeting cards

Of course, the most popular version is greeting cards. They are so familiar to us that without this symbol we can not imagine a single meaningful holiday. The homeland of such postcards is England, where traditions are accepted to honor and support.

Before this special type of postcard appeared, it was accepted to use ordinary business cards as a carrier of the greeting text. The first truly invented and hand-painted greeting card was released in England in 1840. Since then, a huge number of options for their appearance and themes have appeared.

Then and Now

What did not come up with the manufacturers of the first postcards! Materials for their design used the most extraordinary. Many ways are now forgotten. Very popular were once cards with flowers - dried or artificial. They were decorated with hair curls, bird feathers, beads, leather, velvet, silk, rubber and many other, sometimes very unexpected materials. Some of the ways now lost, for example, the use of silk fabric, gave the congratulatory cards a remarkably luxurious and unusual look.

Of course, such rare types of postcards were not sent by mail. The exclusive design of these cards meant handing them personally to the addressee.

Nowadays in any bookstore you can meet a huge number of original and very beautiful greeting cards with a variety of techniques of performance. No one is surprised by the volume postcards, relief or musical. Artists-designers and designers offer services for the development and production of exclusive copies.

Funny cards for teens and not only.

And what else can you find in the kiosks and on the bookcases? A separate category - postcards for children. That's where the flight of imagination of designers is not limited! They can be very, very nice (especially those that are drawn for little girls). Can be funny - with heroes, cartoons, funny and touching characters, etc. Funny postcards - a separate category. They enjoy constant popularity among adolescents and young creative consumers. Sometimes both the picture and the text are literally on the verge of a foul. But, as a rule, the sense of taste for designers still does not change.

Thanks to modern technology, we also met with their virtual option. Nevertheless, the smart postcards on the thick cardboard do not think to take their positions. Each of them carries a piece of unusual sincerity, touches the heart of the recipient and at times is a truly priceless souvenir.

The choice is impressive ...

A few decades ago, their choice on the shelves of kiosks and bookstores of our country was quite limited and boiled down to a number of standard images. Basically, these were rather banal greeting cards with flowers. But now, from the variety of colors, themes and design options, the eyes just flee. You can purchase this souvenir polygraphic product for any occasion.

Considered and provided for all the famous holidays and just occasions to send a smart paper message. Postcards are available for customers with a variety of financial opportunities - from simple budget to truly luxurious works of graphic art. You can send them and without any reason - just to raise your mood or express warm feelings. Funny postcards will help to make up after a casual quarrel with friends or a young couple.

Postcard as a hobby

Among the masters of handmade and amateur designers, it became fashionable to make greeting cards with their own hands. Such a gift, performed individually, always carries a piece of the soul. He is able to cheer up and keep a long memory of the sender.

Making of author's cards takes a separate niche among a variety of hobbies. This process is quite complicated, requiring a lot of skill, taste, manual skills and even knowledge of the basics of psychology. Master such postcards, you should be familiar with a variety of nuances - from historical and contemporary trends in their printing to elements of arts and crafts.

The main goal of a greeting card is to cheer up, and the demands that are put forward are contained in a colorful and unusual design along with simplicity and conciseness. The theme of it should correspond to the event. And modern postcards are made of high-quality and easy-to-use materials.