We write the 21. Century. For many, the internet has long been the number one means of communication. 1 became. Although it's fashionable to send selfies from wherever you are, millions of postcards are still sent around the world every year. The low part of it has postcards: a greeting to home or to friends is written quickly, and besides, with it you can also a little prestige, how far you get around in the world: but who thinks that this is a relatively recent ritual, is mistaken.
It all began with kloster melk
Vienna made the start worldwide. On 1. October 1869 the austrian postal administration issued the first "correspondence card and it shows the monastery melk. The proposal came from emanuel hermann, who taught national economics at the neustadt military academy in vienna.
In germany, the postcard was not introduced until three quarters of a year later. Shortly thereafter, the first picture postcard was already available. But the introduction of the postcard was not as self-evident as it may seem to us today. There were, however, serious legal objections to it. It was feared that letter carriers, children or service personnel could read the open cards.
During the franco-german war of 1870/71, the postcard was used for the first time as a means of contact between soldiers and their families at home. These field postcards were ordered free of charge. By the end of 1870, german soldiers sent more than three million cards home. From 1872, privately produced postcards were also allowed to be sold, and the sender had to affix a stamp to them.
This opportunity finally provided the incentive to print a picture on one side of the postcard, and it developed into a thriving industry of its own. In 1899, about 90 million cards were produced in germany, which became the leader in the industry.
Initially, the first postcards were lithographs, i.E. Views artistically drawn on a stone plate. After 1900, however, photography largely replaced the drawings. Already in 1896, the lithography of the franconian forest began its triumphal procession.
Highly traded collector's items
From 1898, things really got going in the district offices of kronach and teuschnitz. In painstaking detail work true works of art were created. After all, the old postcards are significant documents of municipal development. Today these historic treasures are highly prized by the home fans. Seventy euros for a card is not uncommon.
Among the most eager producers was the kronach photographer johann friedrich schmidt (1857-1922), who sold significant lithographs in addition to photographs. His colored picture postcards became particularly popular. 100 pieces cost six marks.
Masterfully photographed
Schmidt photographed under often difficult technical conditions in a masterly manner and published the postcards of kronach and the towns in our district himself in his own publishing house. We owe other beautiful postcards to the karl link publishing house in kronach, among others. And many an unknown artist has written contemporary history with his commitment.
This period of bloodshed ended with the outbreak of the first world war. Due to lack of material and qualified workers, the quality and variety of the picture pit deteriorated. A renaissance in collecting began in 1970, when it was recognized that picture postcards offer a broad panorama of cultural and historical development: they illustrate the old village image, commercial and industrial development, means of transportation, human life and the tastes of the respective time.
In spite of the most modern means of communication, the colorful postcard has retained its value. And with collectors very much desired are the treasures before 1900. After all, they are impressive colorful witnesses of a time long past. Is there anything more comfortable than looking at old postcards on an inhospitable day and simply enjoying these works of art?? More vividly than modern photos can do, from this treasure chest of the past flows an intrinsic magic, as it has been lost in our nuchterne world.