Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1898

This Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken was composed around 1898 by Christina Elizabeth Perk using paper, ink, and postal markings. The pink card and carefully inscribed address show the increasing importance of personal communication during the late 19th century. But more than that, the postal stamps indicate the industrialized systems that made it all possible. Note the stamp in the upper-right corner, and the circular postmarks, signs of a system dependent on mechanization and a highly organized labor force. Though seemingly mundane, the postal service knitted together communities, economies, and individuals, into the fabric of modern life. In this light, the Briefkaart is not simply a message, but an artifact of its time, reflecting the rapid changes in communication and labor practices. It reminds us that even the simplest objects can reveal complex stories about our shared history.