A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Easter Witch
A traditional character of Easter week as celebrated in Sweden. It was long believed that the power of witches was strong this time of year and it became tradition during the 19th century to leave decorated invitations to a witches’ Sabbath at the doors of friends and neighbors. By the 1890’s printed postcards had replaced the older handmade cards and they became very common. Illustrators became more creative with this genre as time went on depicting these witches in a variety of manner from old hags to pretty young girls to sexy women. Visiting homes for food and playing pranks were common activities for costumed revelers during Easter week. Children still dress up as witches on Easter Eve.

Edition
The total number of printed copies of one work published at a single time. On French postcards the term Edition is used as a prefix to a name denoting the publisher.

Electrography
A form of electroplating in which wood engravings can be cast in metal for use in xylography. A paper or plaster cast is made of the wood block then coated with a very thin layer of lead. By placing the coated cast into a solution containing iron, and creating an electric circuit between them, the iron molecules slowly deposit themselves onto the lead until it forms a sturdy duplicate of the original image. While wood blocks could only be used on flatbed presses since they could not be bent, this metal replica could be made strong yet thin enough to be stereotyped onto rotery presses.

Electromagnetic Spectrum
The arrangement of all possible forms of electromagnetic radiation in order of their wavelengths, ranging from gamma rays, to x-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.

Electronic Separations
An electronically scanned image stored as digital information, which is then easily separated into colors by using a computer.

Electrostatic Printing (Electron Photography)
A plateless printing method invented by Chester F. Carlson in 1938, in which a copy of an original can be made by creating a temporary printing surface through electrostatic means. When an electrically charged selenium coated cylinder (drum) is hit with small beams of light reflecting off an image’s surface, the cylinder loses its electrical charge in those specific areas. After a powdered toner is applied, it only sticks to the non-charged parts of the cylinder. Paper is then pressed against the cylinder transferring the toner to its surface where it is bonded with heat. Powders in CYMK colors are used to make color copies. This technology is used in copy machines and laser printers.

Embossing
The process of pressing a molded die form into a flat sheet of paper to create a design in relief. After paper is printed on, it is embossed by running it through two die forms; a bas-relief die (male) which is placed on the press bed, while the mold-like die (female) applies pressure to the paper from above. The female die is sometimes heated to help recast the paper around the male die. Because it was more difficult to align paper over an irregular die, pins were often used for precise registration but they left small holes behind in the image. Paper can be embossed for affect without the need for ink and registration. Embossing was used on novelty postcards and was a often used process on greeting cards. Some cards were embossed into such a high decorative relief that they required no printing on them at all. Of these that were colored were done so with airbrush because a high relief would damage any printed surface and watercolor would damage the embossing. Because the uneven surface of high relief made them difficult to write on, they were attached to another flat sheet. The introduction of the French fold on greeting cards also solved this problem.

Emigrant Agent
Works to aid those wishing to immigrate to another country with technical assistance. They were often agents of steamship companies or large employers looking for cheap labor. They often preyed on the poor and illiterate in communities suffering from economic decline. Postcards, especially those of industry, became crucial tools in depicting a land where there were good jobs for all. While the services these agents provided were important to many they also played an important role in non voluntary emigration.

Emulsion
A combination of two immiscible liquids where the globules formed will intermix consistently. Emulsions are often made to create photosensitive coatings to be applied to film, paper, or printing plates. Albumen, collodion, and gelatin are common emulsion bases.

Engraving
An intaglio printing process in which a sheet of metal is incised with a specially designed engraving burin. This tool pushes metal out of the plate leaving smooth edged lines with tapered ends. This is also refered to as line engraving. A variation is stipple engraving, where small holes are made by a different type of burin to create tone though an accumulating density of marks. Engraving plates are printed in a traditional intaglio manner, and tend to be very durable, suitable for large press runs. The process of engraving however is time consuming and is a highly skilled craft making it too expensive to use on postcards.

Esperanto
A flexible universal language developed by the Litvish Jew, Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof. The first Esperanto Grammar was published in 1887. Esperanto was intended to be a universal second language to support better understanding between nations. The first Esperanto World Congress was held in 1905 to help spread these goals. There are at least a million speakers today if not all fluently. A number of postcards were issued in this language.

Etching
An intaglio printing process in which a sheet of metal is incised through chemical means. First the metal is coated with an acid resist. Once dry it can be drawn upon with a metal scribe that does not disturb the metal but only removes the resist from its surface. When the plate is placed in a bath of acid, the metal devolves where the resist was removed creating an incised surface. The lines that are formed have rough edges do to the chemical action of the acid. When washed clean the plate can be printed in a traditional intaglio manner. Etching is not as durable as engraving so it was rarely used for commercial work. A number of small European publishers used etchings to create hand printed postcards, a number of which were hand colored.

Ethernet
A local area network (LAN) protocol developed in 1976 that allows networking over cable systems that transmit data at high speeds.

Excelsior (Always Upward)
Trade name for type of gravure postcard distributed by the American News Company. It was promoted as the highest quality black & white card on the market, and most customers chose this type over the cheaper monotone version. Almost all cards in this series are printed in black & white, but there are some examples issued in monochromes of blue and sepia as well as more rare cards that were printed in color and handcolored.

Exotic
A label given to a place, people, culture, or thing in order to engage interest through emphasizing differences. Artistic and literary works have long used using the exotic as marketing ploy. It plays the human tendency to have a natural curiosity about the unfamiliar against our desire to remain safe from the unknown. Common traits within humanity are overlooked to exaggerate the difference that will set the exotic apart and ultimately render it inferior to the observer no matter how appealing. While outwardly the exotic is usually presented in a positive light, danger lies just beneath its surface for added excitement. Unfortunately this type of depiction can also create a rational for the exploitation or destruction of that which is different from us. Many postcards were produced with exotic themes.

Exposition Cards
Postcards issued as souvenirs for expositions and fairs. Most expositions had an official set of cards made depicting its attractions, many of which are very large in number. Other publishers might also print unofficial exposition cards as well. It was common to hold regional and international expositions since the mid 19th century to promote trade, and postcards played an important role in this especially since 1893.