POSTCARD
HISTORY INDEX:

Undivided back "Imprime": 5 cents instead of 10 cents Stamps all over the back dated 1902

 The first illustrated postcards are from around 1870.  They had a back and a front side.  The front side was only for the address and the back for the message.  The first illustrations where placed on the back (message side) of the card. These early illustrations used on postcards were logos, shields and little photos or drawings.   These illustrations were so successful that they needed to tegulate space on the postcards.

The first French regulation for postcards dates from 1878, when the size was made uniform to 14 x 9 cm and it was required to print the message on the address side: "Coté réservé exclusivement a l'adresse" (side only for the address).  The postal stamp fee was fixed to 10 cents, and this lasted until 1917.

In 1881 the printed text was changed to "Ce coté est exclusivement réservé a l'adresse" (this side is only for the address).  From 1896, it was regulated by law to mention on the postcard "République Francaise" (French Republic), however this was was ignored by most editors. 

In 1899 editors could print the words "Carte Postale" on the address side, but when someone used the postcard as printed matter they had to scratch this word off.  Postcards used this way (for example as publicity for a firm) could use the postal tarrif of 5 cents.

IN 1902, the regulation stated that the stamp could be used on both sides!  That's why you see a lot of postcards with stamps in the strangest places, which make them so typically French!

Undivided back dated 1903 under the stamp: secret love appointment

One was not allowed to write a message on the front (address) side. There are a lot of postcards from this period with writing on the picture side, which was also the back side.  Interestingly, postcards can be catalogued ”in very good condition" in spite of writing near or on the picture, it was the common way to write postcards.