postales

Postales, commonly known as postcards, are flat cards, usually made of cardboard, intended for sending brief messages through postal services. They typically feature an image on one side and space for a short message, the recipient’s address, and postage on the other. Unlike letters, postcards do not require an envelope and are often used for greetings, tourism, or souvenir exchange. In many countries the format evolved into standardized sizes and layouts, with early designs showing illustrations or photographs.

The modern postcard originated in the late 19th century, when postal services began treating them as a separate class of mail. This led to widespread production and assortment, including real photo postcards produced from photographs, and lithographic or illustrated postcards. Some cards circulated as advertising or as postal stationery with pre-printed stamps. Advances in printing and photography broadened subject matter to landscapes, city scenes, art reproductions, and cultural imagery.

Collectors and researchers use the term deltiology to describe the hobby of collecting postcards. Values derive from factors such as rarity, age, printing technique, subject, and postmarks. Postcards also serve as historical sources, reflecting social norms, travel patterns, and visual culture of their era.

Today postcards continue to be produced, though digital communication has reduced their everyday use. Modern practices include as souvenirs, tourist mementos, or for mail art; some collectors preserve postal history alongside contemporary designs.