Over a century and a half ago, a new form of technology made it possible for people to share national and international communications with each other: The telegraph! This revolutionary technology took many forms, using a myriad of transmission methods and codes to create the printed telegram. Companies charged for their service by the number of words in a message, with a maximum of 15 characters per word for a plain-language telegram, and 10 per word for one written in code. Punctuation cost extra, so a -(STOP)- would often be used instead. The resulting messages developed an abbreviated style to minimize costs while still conveying messages clearly.
I looked up some codes that I thought were interesting, taken from the The A.B.C. Universal Commercial Electric Telegraphic Code:
Nalezing — Do only what is absolutely necessary
Nalime — Will only do what is absolutely necessary
Nallary — It is not absolutely necessary, but it would be an advantage
Naloopen — It is not absolutely necessary, but well worth the outlay
Wow. Can you imagine communicating urgent information like this without the internet? Thankfully, you don’t have to – but it’s fun to revisit the experience of old technology in new ways. Today, we want to re-introduce the Telegram to you, in the form of our vintage-themed Kiss by Wire Telegram Save the Date!
I studied the layout and message formatting of a variety of telegrams from the United States and other countries. The old paper texture covering the front and back of the card really gives an authentic vibe, but most of the “vibe” has to do with how the message is worded using succinct, “cablese” phrasing. Add in a little 1920’s slang, and this save the date is the bee’s knees!
(Also, men should totally start using “Esq.” [esquire] at the end of their names again. It came to be used, mostly in the UK, as a courteous title for any man in a formal setting. How classy!)
The addition of a photograph was an interesting choice. Though images couldn’t be transmitted via telegraph, I felt that this piece was more about evoking the feel of discovering something from the past rather than a literal reproduction of the experience of receiving a telegram. After all, this piece won’t be delivered by a fast-talking messenger boy in a uniform and patrol cap. (Unfortunately.)
As much fun as the telegram itself is, I’m especially fond of how the photograph turned out! The details around the rough edged texture printed onto the card were the result of a discovery I made when my mother came to visit a few weeks ago. She brought an absolutely FANTASTIC collection of old photos my grandmother had stashed away in a suitcase. The reproduction technique they used changed from the late 1890’s/early 1900’s to the 1920’s/1930’s. Newer photos used a glossier, thinner paper that often had a sort of scalloped/torn edge effect, like in the example below:
However, some of the much older photographs were just exquisite! The way the photographer had their company name designed and imprinted (possibly rubber stamped?) onto the blank edges of each photo, the rounded corners, the thicker textured paper – I love it! Examples of the really interesting ones were surprisingly hard to find on the internet, so I was glad to have access to physical samples. I wish I had held on to them for this blog, but just look at the detail around the edges of these examples I found online (also, is that a snake?!):
You won’t find a “vintage” photo filter on Instagram or a printed replica of an antique photograph that’s quite like the real thing anywhere. The old techniques truly made capturing a moment on paper feel rare and special. These people likely took only one photo a year, can you imagine?! It’s not easy to capture this feel with digital editing alone, and I would definitely encourage couples interested in this design to stage an engagement photo that’s era-appropriate. It’s a little bit of work, but this moment doesn’t happen every day!
Kiss by Wire pairs with our Daily Proposal invitation and day-of program for a complete wedding suite that will have guests over the moon to watch you walk the middle aisle. I can’t wait to create this for a special couple soon!
-(STOP)-