Categories: Lifestyle

40 Illinois Postcards: Centenary Rarities and Computer Graphics

Postcards are a special kind of art that has remained relevant for at least 150 years. During this time, postcards have evolved, changed their appearance, shape and moved from post offices and souvenir shops to the Internet. But the idea of a postcard remains the same: postcards tell us about memorable historical moments, help us congratulate on personal holidays and show us interesting places from all over the world.

The official history of postcards originates in Austria. There, the first postcard was issued on October 1, 1869. Two years later, the first illustrations appeared on postcards.

In the USA, postcards began to be published in 1873. They depicted the Interstate Industrial Exhibition that took place in Chicago. Here, exactly 20 years later, the first souvenir cards appeared in the US. They were designed to advertise the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

We examined the evolution of postcards in Chicago from the end of the 19th century to the present day, examined the exhibits of the Chicago Postcard Museum and modern vector images presented on the Internet. Below, you can find a compilation of the best Chicago Morning Star postcards.

World’s Columbian Exposition 1893

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Government Building, 1893

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Electrical Building, 1893

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Woman’s Building, 1893

I WILL

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Coliseum Building, 1909

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Federal Building, 1909

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Art Institute, 1909

Souvenir of Chicago

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Wrigley Building, 1915

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Union Stock Yards, 1915

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
The Drake Hotel, 1915

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Michigan Avenue Looking North from Art Institute, 1915

Chicago at Night

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
State Street at Night South From Washington, 1911

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Michigan Boulevard at Night, 1912
chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Michigan Ave Showing Blackstone and Congress Hotels by Night, 1912
chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Marshall Field & Co., State Street Looking South, 1915

A Century of Progress

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
A Century of Progress Chicago, 1933

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
The Midway, 1933

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
General Motors Building at Night, 1933

1950-1960

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Cook County Hospital, 1950

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
The Fabulous Gold Coast Fringing on Lake Michigan, 1961
chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Chicago’s Skyscrapers, 1964

Greetings From Chicago

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1908

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1910

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Howdy From Chicago, 1911

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1915

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1939

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1941

chicagopostcardmuseum.org
Greeting from Chicago, 1962

Cars

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Illinois

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Gangsters

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Signs

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Collage

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Art

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Chicago

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Ivan Cease

Senior editor of the Chicago Morning Star

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