The National Library of Russia has a large collection of post-cards. It is storied in the Print Department and shows the whole history of development of Russian picture-card from modest marked slips to multicoloured works of art.

First Russian post-cards came out in 1871. Convenient and inexpensive type of mail has quickly become popular. It is no wonder that post-cards of congratulation including New Year's and Christmas ones were in requisition. Remained up to now, they bring us the inimitable sensation of festival and childish credulous expectations of present and the feeling of magic.

Alina Yartseva