A Postal Card is a type of postcard that was first released by the United States Postal Service in 1873. The destination address, return address and the preprinted postage was on the back side of Postal Cards. The entire front side of Postal Cards could be used to write a message. The very first Postal Cards issued were 5 inches by 3 inches, which is the same size used today. In 1873 a Postal Card could be purchased for one cent. By 1879 the cost increased to two cents and then back to one cent in 1885. Up until 1956 the cost of Postal Cards varied from one cent to two cents and at times three cents. In 1956 the postage increased to 4 cents and has risen gradually ever since.

The 1873 Postal Card had a preprinted image of Miss Liberty similar to the capped bust liberty used on coins of the early 1800s. The image also indicated the postal rate of one cent. In 1875 the image changed to a more ornate Capped Liberty framed with Roman Fasces on either sides. The traditional Roman Fasces consisted of a bundle of birch rods tied together with a ribbon around an axe. The Fasces symbolize power and jurisdiction. A single Roman Fasces can also be found on the reverse of a Mercury Dime (1916-1945).

A third Miss Liberty was used until the late 1800s. In 1885 the image of Thomas Jefferson appeared on Postal Cards. Followed by Ulysses S. Grant in 1891 and then John Adams. A few months after the assassination of President William McKinley his image appeared on USPS Postal Cards. By 1911 the image was once again change, this time to Abraham Lincoln.

As you can see Postal Cards went through many phases and for many years the USPS had a monopoly on Postal Cards. However, on May 19, 1898 Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act that allowed private publishers and printers to produce postcards.