The image above, which comes from a postcard published in the early 1900s, is a humorous glimpse into the history of postcards. Although the postcard is associated with a specific location, Bobbin Head in Kuringai Chase National Park, this postcard would doubtless have been published en mass, and for many, many other locations.

When postcards became commonplace, around the turn of the 20th century, they were the easiest and quickest way to send a message. Of course, they quickly also became popular vehicles for humour and jokes. As a result, soon postcards were being published with humorous pictures, or funny quotes, which aimed to bring a smile or laugh to the recipient. Many of these jokes were political, some acted as advertisements for cartoon strips, but many others were slightly risqué.

The most famous of these more risqué postcards were the ‘saucy seaside’ postcards, which were first introduced in 1910 by Bamforth and Co. LTD in Britain. Many other producers of postcards followed, and saucy seaside postcards became not only popular, but relatively common. Sometimes, they were generic, showing a scene and caption, while at other times, they were printed with the name of a location, providing a humorous reminder of a holiday trip. They often featured a man, and a woman, with the man usually ogling the woman’s assets, as it were.