Lettercard
Encyclopedia
In philately
a lettercard or letter card is a postal stationery
item consisting of a folded card with a prepaid imprinted stamp
. The fact that it is folded over gives the writer twice as much room for the message compared with a postal card
. The message is written on the inside and the card is then folded and sealed around the edges. The recipient tears off and discards the perforated selvages to open the card.
The lettercard was first conceived by a Hungarian named Akin Karoly and introduced in Belgium in 1882. Private issues were used in Great Britain in 1887. The first official British letter card was issued in 1892. In Newfoundland reply lettercards were introduced in 1912 which included a small reply card. The United States has never issued letter cards.
Collectors of letter cards not only have to deal with the varieties of card stock and color, but with the additional variations that come with the perforation of the cards. As with adhesive stamps, a perforation gauge will be a useful tool of the trade.
The terms Letter Card or Air Mail Letter Card were sometimes used on aerogramme
s prior to 1952, the year that the U.P.U. gave official recognition of the word aerogramme. But for aerograms, those terms are misleading. The use of the word "card" implies a heavier card stock when, in fact, many of these "cards" were actually printed on light paper and were letter sheets
instead of letter cards.
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
a lettercard or letter card is a postal stationery
Postal stationery
A piece of postal stationery is a stationery item, such as a stamped envelope, letter sheet, postal card, lettercard, aerogram or wrapper, with an imprinted stamp or inscription indicating that a specific rate of postage or related service has been prepaid...
item consisting of a folded card with a prepaid imprinted stamp
Imprinted stamp
In philately an imprinted stamp is a stamp printed on to a piece of postal stationery such as a stamped envelope, postal card, letter sheet, letter card, aerogram or wrapper. The printing is flat upon the surface of the paper, as opposed to an embossed stamp which has a raised relief...
. The fact that it is folded over gives the writer twice as much room for the message compared with a postal card
Postal card
Postal cards are postal stationery with an imprinted stamp or indicium signifying the prepayment of postage. They are sold by postal authorities. In January, 1869 Emanuel Herrmann of Austria described the advantages of a Correspondenz Karte. By October, 1869 the world's first postal card was...
. The message is written on the inside and the card is then folded and sealed around the edges. The recipient tears off and discards the perforated selvages to open the card.
The lettercard was first conceived by a Hungarian named Akin Karoly and introduced in Belgium in 1882. Private issues were used in Great Britain in 1887. The first official British letter card was issued in 1892. In Newfoundland reply lettercards were introduced in 1912 which included a small reply card. The United States has never issued letter cards.
Collectors of letter cards not only have to deal with the varieties of card stock and color, but with the additional variations that come with the perforation of the cards. As with adhesive stamps, a perforation gauge will be a useful tool of the trade.
The terms Letter Card or Air Mail Letter Card were sometimes used on aerogramme
Aerogram
An Aerogram, Aérogramme or Air Letter is a thin lightweight piece of foldable and gummed paper for writing a letter for transit via airmail, in which the letter and envelope are one and the same. Most postal administrations forbid enclosures in these light letters, which are usually sent abroad at...
s prior to 1952, the year that the U.P.U. gave official recognition of the word aerogramme. But for aerograms, those terms are misleading. The use of the word "card" implies a heavier card stock when, in fact, many of these "cards" were actually printed on light paper and were letter sheets
Letter sheet
In philatelic terminology a Letter sheet, often written lettersheet, is nowadays an item of postal stationery issued by a postal authority. It is a sheet of paper that can be folded, usually sealed , and mailed without the use of an envelope...
instead of letter cards.
