Erin Lanahan 
While most physical mail can be a snoozefest (see: bills, ads, more bills), it’s fun to receive a cute card or note from a loved one. Snail mail is a wonderful way to let someone know you’re thinking of them, and a postcard gives the writer enough space for a sweet message and usually has a beautiful picture to pair with the message. All it requires is a mailing address and a stamp, making it a simple and inexpensive way to communicate with a friend. While they may not be a common correspondence tool, there are still a few local spots that sell pretty cards. Read on for seven places to pick up a postcard in Hoboken + Jersey City.
Greetings From Hoboken: A Postcard History
A couple of years ago, The Hoboken Historical Museum showcased the history of postcards in Hoboken with a special exhibition. It highlighted the city’s postcard legacy during the “Golden Age of Postcards” which was during the years 1898 to 1930. This era was sparked by a drop in postage rates and postcards were a creative, popular form of communicating with loved ones around the country and the world, especially with all the immigrants now calling Hoboken home.
Hoboken was a major hub in the postcard trade because of imports from German printers and many local spots became postcard hotspots. Many of these cards depicted the city’s expanding skyline, the piers, and other snapshots of the ever-changing social life. The exhibit the museum ran featured nearly 400 colorful postcards from private collections. The images depicted historical events, landmarks, and even family milestones that painted a picture of what Hoboken looked like before World War I.
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Hoboken
Hoboken Historical Museum | 1301 Hudson Street
As previously mentioned, The Hoboken Historical Museum had an exhibit about the history of postcards a couple of years ago. The museum still sells vintage postcards featuring historical images of Hoboken and are $5 each. For the more contemporary designs, two can be purchased for $1 and those designs include landscapes of the town, artist photography, children’s artwork, and more. It’s a cute way to capture the history and culture of Hoboken in a card.
Little City Books | 100 Bloomfield Street
Postcards do have more than one purpose. They also serve as a handy bookmark, so it makes sense to scoop a card or two at Little City Books on Bloomfield Street. The bookstore has several postcards and greeting cards that range from $1.50 to $6.50 apiece.
Paper Source | 501 Washington Street
This chain sells plenty of stationery and crafting supplies, so naturally it would also have some cute postcards. Some of the themes available range from vintage art to space to national parks.
Washington General Store | 509 Washington Street
This shop on Washington Street has plenty of options for a housewarming or girls’ reunion, and it’s many Hobokenites’ first stop for gift-giving. It sells artsy greeting cards if the occasion requires more room for a heartfelt message, but we’re here for the short and sweet stuff. Washington General Store has plenty of cute postcards you just know will brighten someone’s day.
Jersey City
Kanibal & Co. | 197 Montgomery Street
Kanibal & Co. is full of cute gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, the holidays, and more. A lot of the products sold here are from New Jersey artists. At the front of the store near the register is a collection of funky postcards that highlight Jersey City. It’s a great cherry on top for the next Jersey-themed purchase from this gift shop.
Jersey City Library Priscilla Gardner Main Branch | 472 Jersey Avenue
As Arthur famously said on PBS, “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!” There are several fun postcards to pick up for those who pay a visit to The New Jersey Room at the Jersey City Priscilla Gardner Main Library Branch. The room contains a collection of books, images, maps, research, and more documenting the history of Jersey City, Hudson County, and the entire state. However, the Jersey City Library tells HG that the NJ-themed postcards may not be replenished, so best to get them sooner rather than later.
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WORD Bookstore | 29 McWilliams Place
For putting words to paper, WORD has a cute selection of postcards and greeting cards to pair with a brand new book. The cards are located near the register at the Jersey City location near Hamilton Park. Bonus: if the postcard doesn’t have a final destination yet, it works just as well as a bookmark.
