Postcards - postcards

A general term for postcards with pictures, photographs, etc. drawn or printed on the back. Postcards were first issued in Austria in 1869, and postcards with simple pictures printed on them appeared in Germany the following year. These were used privately, but in 1875 picture postcards were sold commercially. Thereafter, the sale and use of picture postcards became more and more popular in Europe and the United States. They were eventually introduced to Japan, where official postcards with pictures drawn on them began to be used in the 1890s. However, privately made postcards were not permitted at the time, so picture postcards did not become popular. In October 1900 (Meiji 33), an ordinance from the Ministry of Communications permitted the issuance of privately made postcards, and 1 sen 5 rin stamps were issued to be affixed to them. After this, it became easier to produce postcards, and private businesses began producing and selling postcards of famous places around the country, postcards of beautiful women, New Year's postcards, and so on, and postcards also began to appear as supplements in magazines.

In June 1902, the Ministry of Communications issued six types of official postcards to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Japan's entry into the Universal Postal Union. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), in order to boost morale, the Ministry of Communications issued a series of "war memorial" postcards in response to the progress of the war. This created an unprecedented boom in postcards. After the war ended, postcards commemorating the triumphant return of the army and navy were also issued, and the boom reached its peak. On the day of release, long lines formed in front of post offices before dawn, and there was even a commotion among the crowds, with some even being injured. After that, official postcards were issued for every major imperial and national event, and the quality of the paper and printing gradually became more luxurious. Private postcards also began to be issued in a variety of elaborate and ornate styles, and their use became popular. Collecting also became popular, and postcard exchanges and exhibitions were held.

According to the original rules, pictures and photographs on postcards were limited to the back, and only the address and name of the recipient and sender could be written on the front. In April 1907, the rules were revised to allow correspondence to be written on the bottom third or less of the front. Furthermore, in April 1918 (Taisho 7), the area in which correspondence could be written was expanded to half. These rule changes made postcards extremely convenient to use, and they became increasingly popular, and remain so to this day.

[Osamu Yamaguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

郵便葉書の裏面に、絵画や写真などが描かれ、または印刷されたものの総称。郵便葉書は1869年オーストリアにおいて初めて発行されたが、その翌年にはドイツにおいて、葉書に簡単な絵を印刷したものが現れた。これは私的に使用されたものであったが、1875年には絵葉書が商品として発売されるに至った。その後、欧米においては絵葉書の発売、使用が、年を追って盛んとなった。やがて日本へも伝えられ、官製葉書に絵を描いたものが1890年代には使用され始めた。しかし当時は葉書の私製が認められていなかったため、絵葉書が流行するまでには至らなかった。1900年（明治33）10月、逓信(ていしん)省令によって、私製葉書の発行が認められ、これに貼(は)るための1銭5厘切手も発行された。これ以降、絵葉書の製作が容易となり、民間の業者が全国の名所絵葉書や、美人葉書、年賀葉書などの製作、販売に乗り出し、雑誌の付録にも絵葉書が登場した。

　官製の絵葉書も1902年6月、万国郵便連合加盟25年を記念して、6種が逓信省から発行された。日露戦争（1904～05）に際しては、士気を高揚するため、逓信省は「戦役記念」絵葉書を、戦局の進展に応じて次々に発行した。これは空前の絵葉書ブームをおこした。戦争が終わると、陸海軍の凱旋(がいせん)を記念する絵葉書も発行され、ブームは最高潮に達した。発売の当日、郵便局の前には夜明け前から長い行列ができ、殺到した群衆のなかに負傷者まで出る騒ぎであった。その後も官製の絵葉書は、皇室や国家の大きな行事のあるごとに発行され、紙質や印刷もしだいに豪華となった。民間の絵葉書にも、さまざまな趣向を凝らした華麗なものが現れ、その使用が流行したほか、収集も盛んになり、絵葉書の交換会や展覧会も催された。

　ところで、絵葉書の絵画や写真は、最初の規則によれば、裏面に限られ、表面には名宛(なあて)人と差出人の住所、氏名しか書くことはできなかった。それが1907年4月から、表面の下部、3分の1以下に通信文を書くことができるように改正された。さらに1918年（大正7）4月から、通信文を書きうる範囲が2分の1に拡大された。これらの規則改正によって、絵葉書の使用はすこぶる便利となり、いよいよ流行するようになって今日に至っている。

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