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

National Postcard Week
The first full week in May, since 1984, that is set aside to commemorate and publicize postcard collecting. During this time collectors and postcard clubs often publish and release their own postcards marking this event. It is celebrated simultaneously in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

National Tourism
Travel as a marketed commodity, stressing the notion of national unity reinforced by shared experiences. This form of tourism helps to create national mythologies through the careful selection and promotion of tourist sites that accentuate a particular set of ideals while ignoring other historical elements.

Natural Color
A term used in printing to differentiate the colors captured through photography as opposed to those chosen by retouchers in a printing house. When color postcards were first published the imagery on them was either drawn by artists or retouched from black & white photographs. But at the same time some early photographers experimented with panchromatic film prior to its commercial release in 1906. Through the use of filters and specially made cameras that exposed multiple negatives they were able to separate out different colors of the spectrum within the same scene. Without the availability of a stable color photo paper these images were often projected back through filters in lantern shows, but they could also be used to create multiple printing plates for color printing. A number of such techniques were developed over the years but all were difficult to use and not commercially viable until the release of Kodachrome in 1935 that allowed for easy mechanical color separation in printing. Various publishers since the turn of the 20th century, including those who first printed photochrome postcards sometimes added the words natural color to their cards. As modern photochromes began to look more realistic and monopolized the postcard market the need to use this term died out.

Newvochrome
A trade name for postcards distributed by the American News Company that were printed in four-color continuous tone lithography. The colors on these cards tended to be applied in broad areas, characterized by a sharp look and a dull finish. They were promoted as the best made German cards.

Novelty Cards
Any postcard created with features beyond a standard postal size or containing a simple picture. Many novelties were printed on unusual substances such as wood or leather, and were die cut into strange shapes or puzzles. Metallic powders, silk embroidery, coins, feathers, and many other items were often added to them. Many have moveable parts and some actually make sounds. These cards were often mailed in envelopes for protection of the card and the handler. Many forms of novalties began as advertising for products or businesses and only later moved onto postcards.