Postcards are like text messages from another era. Always brief, generally informal, often part of an extended exchange, and sometimes conveying little more than a modern emoticon.
The Images
The early history of "picture" postcards dates back to at least 1840 in England. The modern era of postcards in the United States began in 1898 when Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act.
The Content
Always personal, sometimes wistful, full of detail or just a few words, each card carries its message in a very public way but most meaningful only for the sender and recipient.