[Cf. F. carte-lettre, G. kartenbrief.] The official designation of a folded card, having a gummed and perforated edging, so as to be closed and sent through the post (with an impressed or an affixed stamp) as an ordinary letter.
Introduced in Belgium in 1882, in Great Britain in 1892, and now used in many countries of the world.
1892. (Feb.) Instructions on Letter Card, To open the letter card, tear off the edge at the perforation.
1892. Daily News, 12 Feb., 7/3. Letter-cards impressed with a penny postage stamp … are now on sale at every post-office…. The letter-cards will be subject to all the regulations affecting letters.
