Introduction

Long before instant messages, emails, and video calls, there was the humble postcard—a small, sturdy piece of paper that carried big stories across great distances. The first known postcard was sent in 1840 in London, but it was in 1869 that Austria officially introduced the postcard as a simple, affordable way for people to communicate. What began as a practical solution for quick correspondence soon evolved into something far more meaningful: an art form, a travel souvenir, a collectible, and a cherished keepsake.

Over the years, postcards became a reflection of the world itself—capturing history, landscapes, culture, and personal stories in a way no other medium could. They carried snapshots of faraway cities, photographs of iconic landmarks, and glimpses of everyday life. During times of war, postcards brought comfort to families separated by oceans. During times of peace, they sparked wanderlust, inspiring people to explore unfamiliar corners of the globe. Each one, however simple, carried the weight of someone’s thoughts, memories, and intentions.

Collecting postcards became more than a hobby—it became a way to travel without moving, to hold pieces of the world in your hands. Enthusiasts carefully curate collections that span continents and centuries, preserving tiny fragments of history and human connection. Each card tells two stories: one of the image on the front and another of the message on the back—a story of who sent it, where they were, and why they thought of you.

In today’s hyper-digital age, where messages disappear with a swipe, postcards stand out as intentional acts of connection. They require effort. You pause to choose the card, write a few thoughtful words, find the right stamp, and send it into the unknown—trusting it will eventually arrive in someone else’s hands. That slowness makes postcards deeply human. They are more than paper and ink; they are little time capsules, reminders that someone, somewhere, stopped for a moment to think of you.

This book is a celebration of that magic—the way postcards connect strangers, strengthen friendships, and preserve memories. It’s about the journeys they’ve taken, the stories they carry, and the surprising ways they bring people closer together. Each postcard in these pages is more than just an image; it’s a conversation between two places, two hearts, and sometimes, two completely different worlds.

So, turn the page.

Let these postcards take you across mountains and oceans, deserts and ice fields, cities and quiet villages. Because within each one lies a reminder: sometimes the smallest pieces of paper hold the biggest stories.

Pursuing the Postcard Collecting Hobby

Collecting postcards is more than gathering paper souvenirs—it is a way of preserving travel, memory, and human connection in a tangible form. For anyone wishing to begin this hobby, the first step is simply to remain curious: look for postcards not only in tourist shops, but also in museums, antique stores, flea markets, and even modern bookstores that still carry regional cards. Every card has a story, whether it was picked up on a trip or sent across the world by a friend.

Finding Postcards

  • During Travel: Most cities still sell postcards near landmarks, in souvenir shops, or even in unexpected places like train stations and cafés.

  • Online Communities:

    • r/Postcards — for sharing and trading cards.
    • r/PostcardExchange — a welcoming community where people mail cards to one another.
    • Postcrossing — a global project where you send a postcard and receive one back from a random person somewhere in the world.

  • Vintage Sources: Flea markets, estate sales, and online marketplaces often yield vintage postcards that capture the aesthetics and culture of earlier times.

Storing and Preserving

  • Albums: Use archival-quality photo albums with clear sleeves, which protect cards from dust and fingerprints while allowing both front and back to be viewed.
  • Boxes: Acid-free storage boxes are a practical option for larger collections. Cards can be sorted by country, theme, or year.
  • Digital Scans: Scanning at 300 dpi (or higher) ensures you have a lasting digital copy—helpful for sharing and preserving fragile or rare cards.

Displaying and Sharing

  • Framing: Select a few favorites to frame; rotating them keeps the display fresh.
  • Shadow Boxes: Deeper frames allow postcards to be paired with stamps, tickets, or small travel mementos.
  • Creative Projects: Many collectors create coffee-table books, websites, or blogs to share their stories—just as this book does.

Pursuing postcard collecting is not about amassing the largest number of cards, but about cultivating stories, connections, and memories. Each card you collect becomes part of a larger narrative: a global conversation carried on in ink, image, and stamp.

Postcard Collecting Starter Checklist

  1. Get Your First Cards

    • Pick up a postcard from your next trip, museum visit, or even a local bookstore.
    • Look for designs that reflect places, architecture, landscapes, or artwork you enjoy.

  2. Send and Receive

    • Write and mail a postcard to a friend—or join Postcrossing or r/PostcardExchange to trade globally.
    • Receiving one back is often the spark that makes the hobby come alive.

  3. Protect and Organize

    • Buy an archival postcard album or an acid-free storage box.
    • Start sorting by theme (architecture, landscapes, vintage, etc.) or by country.

  4. Digitize Your Collection

    • Scan your cards at 300 dpi for preservation.
    • Keep digital copies for sharing online or creating a personal digital archive.

  5. Display Creatively

    • Frame a few favorites for your wall or set up a rotating shadow box.
    • Share images of your collection on communities like r/Postcards.

  6. Keep It Personal

    • Add short notes or stories about where each card came from or who sent it.
    • Your collection will grow into more than images—it will become a journal of journeys, friendships, and moments in time.