The popularity of the picture postcard reached its peak in Edwardian times. Millions were sent through the post each year and large numbers were purchased simply for their intrinsic interest. Few homes were without a picture postcard album which took pride of place on the parlour table for all to see. Hundreds of firms published postcards and, in the intense competition to satisfy what amounted to a collecting craze, artists and photographers had a field day, providing views of every town and village in the country, cartoonists produced a spate of comic cards and great ingenuity was shown in the production of novelty cards.