Your postcard tales…

A recent feature and letter about postcard memories and their future prompted a big postbag. Sadly we only had room to feature a few of your letters, emails and postcards. Thank you to everyone who got in contact

Family tradition

I love to write and collect postcards. Having inherited cards written to my grandmother from the early 1900s onwards, my family have carried on the tradition. I write them to my son in Australia and he writes from his travels – I recently received cards from Armenia and Azerbaijan. I also write newsy postcards to an elderly friend who stores them in a pretty box then rereads them when feeling low. In a way, our cards are a history of our lives and read many years later give valuable insight and great amusement. My son is a philatelist too, so it is a way of sending new stamps! Sue Conway, Dewsbury

A great pick-me-up

I still keep lots of cards from holidays I’ve had and always send lots to family. I love it; it cheers up your day, even if it’s not a cheeky one! J Hawkins, Pickwell

Remember company ones?

I’ve been collecting postcards for many years and have full albums taking up a complete shelf in a bedroom cupboard. Companies used to bring out a series of them as a way of promoting their products. I remember when Mars included old Olympic postcards in their multi-packs. I really enjoyed collecting those! A friend who has been all over the world sends them to me from wherever he happens to be, or even if he’s just on a day out. I’ve bought the odd saucy one too if I’m at the seaside, which have made me laugh. And browsing through a series of books one day I found The Saucy Postcard Book and bought it, not realising some were a bit near the knuckle. But hey, I’m nearly 80 and enjoyed a browse through, not lingering too long on the naughtier ones! Margaret Greenaway, Hampshire

Treasured collection

I treasure my aunt’s postcard collection, which spans 40 years and reflects important times in both family and social history. Inspired by this, I resolved to make a point of sending postcards this year. I was able to send some beautiful cards from visits to both Somerset and Broadstairs, which were really appreciated by the recipients. And I was fortunate to receive cards from Scotland, Cornwall and Norfolk. In the 1870s when the concept first became popular, postcards were issued with halfpenny stamps already printed on them. If postcards were issued today with prepaid postage (less than needed to post a letter) perhaps a great British tradition would be revived? Sally Reader, Enfield

Beat postcard delays!

I enjoy receiving postcards from friends on holiday so I like to send them myself. In recent years, so that I can relax while away, I have started to write my cards on my way home, either at the airport or during the flight. I take stamps with me and, by posting them as soon as we return, the postcards arrive within a day or two. Angela Pickles, by email

Stamp costs put you off

We gave up sending postcards from the seaside several years ago when the price of even a second-class stamp became exorbitant. These days I only send them to friends without email. Those who do, receive an email from me instead. It’s time that the powers that be woke up to the fact that they are losing money by constantly increasing the cost of stamps. Perhaps it’s time to reintroduce a reduced price for sending greetings cards! Sue Rowley, Barnsley

Class act

When I was eight years old I received a postcard album for being the best girl in class. That was 66 years ago and I still have that album full of postcards, plus another one besides. June Leak, Spalding