They were the ‘emails and texts’ of the day
Writer POSTCARDS were all the rage in the early 20th century.
In an age before everyone had telephones, and long before social media provided a means of instant communication, they were often the easiest way to keep in touch.
Postcards were cheap and reliable and, with up to seven postal deliveries a day, they could be delivered relatively speedily.
People bought them to keep as souvenirs, as well as to send to friends at a time when they enjoyed a golden era as collectables.
Between 1900 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914, hundreds of thousands of postcards were issued. It became a craze both here and abroad.
Manufacturers produced cards on every conceivable subject, and a magazine was published to cater for the new obsession.
Millions were sent through the post, often to end up in someone’s album.
All of which is great news a century later for historians and fans of nostalgia.
Postcard collections depicting the early 20th century North East are emerging regularly.
A handful of these postcards, all with a festive themes, were shared by Angus Stephenson, who has amassed a huge collection. His cards include Christmas scenes from early 20th century in Gateshead, Jesmond and Alnwick, and sum up the spirit of Christmas past.
Local history author Andrew Clark runs the Newcastle publishing company Summerhill Books and has written several books based on old picture postcards.
He said: “The golden age of the postcard started around 1900 with the introduction of improved printing methods and reduced postal charges. Over 400 million postcards were sent in 1900 and by 1918 that figure had doubled.
“Now, we rarely send a postcard unless perhaps on holiday. However, a century ago, posting a card was like sending a text or email. On the back of the postcards are often very simple messages such as ‘How are you?’ or ‘Will see you soon’ – the sort of things we would put into a text today.
“Messages often refer to the photographs on the front of the postcard – pointing out where people live, work or go to school. Sending cards like these to friends was similar to posting photographs on Facebook or other social networks today.”
Our selection of North East postcards recalls depictions of the region from Victorian times (Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery) up to the 1980s (the newly-opened Metrocentre shopping complex in Gateshead).