That it is folded over gives the writer twice as much room for the message compared with a postal card.
The message is written on the inside and the card is then folded and sealed around the edges.
The recipient tears off and discards the perforated selvages to open the card.
The lettercard was first conceived by a Hungarian named Akin Karoly[1] and introduced in Belgium in 1882.
[1] As with adhesive stamps, a perforation gauge will be a useful tool of the trade.