COVID Card #208

November 29, 2020 | 0 comments

In 1910, enterprising teenager Joyce Hall started a postcard printing business in Kansas City. After a time, his brother joined the company, which they called Hall Brothers. The company thrived for a while, but by 1915, postcard sales had slowed. Apparently people had more to say to one another than could fit on a postcard and some were concerned with privacy issues. So, the Hall boys decided to print on 6″ by 4″ card stock (that happens to be the size of a COVID Card), fold it in half, and sell each card with an envelope. This gave people privacy in their writing and a little more space, while still letting them off the hook of a full length letter.

This may (the Smithsonian says “arguably”) have been the beginning of the modern day greeting card industry. Northern Card company has a little more to say on the subject (not so curiously, they don’t mention Hall Brothers).

In 1928, Hall Brothers became Hallmark.

Cards 1-100

To learn more about any of the first 100 cards, select a number from the list below.

COVID Cards

The United States Postal Service has been hit hard by the pandemic. Controlling elements of the Federal Government (the president and Republican Senate) do not want to provide aid to the service. So, it’s up to us. It may seem insignificant, but if we all sent just a few letters a week, we could help ensure that our daily, free mail delivery service continues. For the past (see the card number above) days, I have drawn a card each day and mailed it to someone the next day (none are sent on Sundays; two are sent on Mondays). Please consider mailing cards and letters while we still can for 55 cents (first class letter postage). If the USPS fails, you could find it costs $8 or more to send a letter. And that’s just one of the ways we will all lose if the USPS shuts down.

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