Ring Out the Old Vintage New Year’s Card, 1914
Today is Friday – and that means Emme’s Flashback Fridays! Since New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, I thought today would be a great day to share a few of my favorite vintage New Year’s postcards with you – and some ideas for how YOU can use these images at the end of today’s post!
Vintage postcards are truly a flashback to another time. I do like to collect vintage postcards and while I don’t do it seriously, whenever I find some at an antique shop or show it’s hard to resist! I have really focused on buying vintage Halloween and Valentine cards, though have snagged some cards from other holidays, too. Don’t you think the Ring Out the Old card at the top of the page is so cute? The little bell ringer has a certain charm and a little swag at the same time!
A Bright New Year Vintage Postcard, 1908
The period of 1898 through 1918 was known as the “Golden Age of Postcards.” Probably an entire year could be devoted to postcard history and information! According to The Encyclopedia of Antique Postcards, by Susan Brown Nicholson, during the Golden Age of Postcards, adults and children were obsessed with buying, sending and collecting postcards and billions were mailed throughout the world. Publishers of postcards worked hard to meet worldwide demand for cards and there were even specialty shops devoted just to postcards!
New Year Greetings Vintage Postcard, not dated
I find vintage postcards fascinating. Most of my cards have been mailed and postmarked, and it’s so much fun to read the notes people wrote on the back of the postcard. It gives us a tiny glimpse into what life was like in the early 1900’s. It always amazes me that something as fragile and disposable as paper has survived 80, 90 or 100+ years! The condition of vintage postcards can definitely vary greatly; though regardless of the condition, I always feel a huge responsibility to treat my cards with a lot of care and love. It would be so awesome if they were around for another 100 years!
A Happy New Year Vintage Postcard, 1925
Where I have a postmarked date, I included it in the photo caption, which gives us an idea of the date of manufacture. Hope you enjoy these vintage images!
If you right-click the photo and save image as, you can save and resize these images. Use them:
- Make vintage New Year’s cards to send to family and friends.
- Create a scrapbook page of your New Year’s celebration!
- Attach to the front of a small gift bag, fill with a few goodies and you have an easy favor for your New Year’s party!
- Use as a place card at your dinner table – just write your guests name on the front!
- Print out a card; punch a hole in each side, thread ribbon through the holes and tie around a dinner napkin for your party table.
Do you collect any vintage postcards? How do you use or display them?
If you are interested in learning more about vintage postcards or starting your own collection, there are tons of resources available! Visit Collectors Weekly as a good place to start! A great, fully illustrated book covering over 100 collecting categories is The Encyclopedia of Antique Postcards by Susan Brown Nicholson, available here from Amazon. Ebay and Etsy are great places to find vintage postcards to add to – or start – your own collection! We will definitely be sharing more vintage postcards in 2013, especially for Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
Please send me your ideas for our Flashback Friday’s in 2013 – I would so love to share some of YOUR flashbacks!
Thank you so much for stopping by today and enjoy the final Friday of 2012!
Happy New Year Vintage Postcard, 1917
I never knew that people sent out greetings for New Year’s independent of Christmas cards. Does Hallmark realize this? As for me, I’m still storing three boxes of Christmas cards I bought in January, 2010. I saw Valentine’s candy in the store on December 26th. I guess I’d better start looking for the cards I never mailed last year.