Old Greeting Cards from the Imperial Era – Six Originals and Their Stories
Old greeting cards are small artifacts of their time. At first glance, they display violets, forget-me-nots, roses, lilies of the valley, or shamrocks. But turn the cards over, and a completely different story begins: handwritten messages, old addresses, stamps, and postmarks tell us when and where these cards traveled more than 100 years ago.
In this e-book & collector's catalog, six original old greeting cards from the early 20th century are presented in detail. Each card is shown with its front and back and described with its motif, dating, known postal routes, and postal peculiarities.
This e-book connects old greeting cards with history: six originals, their postal routes, and the stories behind the cards – presented clearly, calmly, and with great attention to detail.
Six Old Greeting Cards – Six Different Stories
A forget-me-not card was sent from Varel to Neuenburgerfeld in January 1907. On its reverse side, there is still the historical address, the postmark, and a green 5-pfennig stamp of the German Empire.
Together with an unwritten violet card, it belongs to our historical set of 2:
View old greeting cards from 1907 – Varel & Neuenburgerfeld
Another one of the old greeting cards shows a large shamrock, red blossoms, and a striking ribbon. Its address leads to Gollantsch in what was then the Wongrowitz district in the Province of Posen. Together with a greeting card featuring a rose and lily of the valley, postmarked in Berlin in 1911, it provides an exciting insight into the postal history of the Imperial Era.
View old greeting cards from Berlin and Posen from 1911
From Königsberg to Paris
A floral greeting from Königsberg in Prussia takes us even further back. The postmark bears the date November 18, 1901. The stamp, handwriting, and postmark are still part of the original today.
The longest journey among the six cards led from Wolfen to Paris. The old violet card bears a red 10-pfennig stamp of the German Empire. The historical Parisian address on Rue de Fleurus is even preserved on the reverse side as the destination.
View old greeting cards from Königsberg, Wolfen, and Paris
Particularly charming: These old greeting cards show not only beautiful motifs but also real postal routes, historical place names, and personal handwriting from the Imperial Era.
More Than a Catalog of Old Greeting Cards
This e-book doesn't just show the cards as collector's items. It also tells how old greeting cards were used and why floral motifs had a special meaning back then.
Forget-me-nots stood for remembrance, shamrocks for luck, and flowers on the cards served a purpose that an emoji sometimes fulfills today. Even the front side could convey a message before the sender had even written a personal sentence.
At the same time, the focus is on the reverse sides. Because that's often where the most exciting traces are found: an exact date, an old place name, a historical address, a stamp, or a postmark.
What to Expect in the E-Book
- six original old greeting cards
- front and back sides of the original cards
- detailed description of each individual card
- historical stamps and postmarks
- datings and traceable postal routes
- old place names and regional references
- cards from the years 1901, 1907, and 1911
- stories about flower and greeting card culture
- background knowledge about handwriting, postmarks, and historical cards
Ideal for collectors and lovers of historical paper: This e-book is not only for viewing but also for discovering, researching, and rediscovering.
For Collectors and Enthusiasts of Old Cards
"Old Greeting Cards from the Imperial Era" is not just a picture catalog. It is a small journey into the everyday life of bygone times – told through six original cards that have survived more than a century.
The e-book is aimed at collectors of old greeting cards and postcards as well as people interested in historical stamps, postmarks, handwriting, old place names, and the small stories behind historical originals.
And for those who are not only interested in the stories: The original cards or card sets presented in the e-book can – as long as available – also be purchased directly in our shop.
