Gate City, Virginia QSL Radio Lightning Postcard

QSL Radio card posted from Gate City, Virginia to Lexington, Kentucky on October 8th, 1960. QSL cards were used as “physical records of successful two way radio communication.”  The back of the card provides information on the radio frequency, date, time, signal report (SIGS RST), transmitter (XMTR), and receiver (RCVR), all represented by Ham radio abbreviations. There is also a small section at the bottom dedicated to a short message written by the sender. Most QSL cards feature hand drawn illustrations, clip-art, bold lettering, call signs, and distinct designs that separated each location and radio frequency from the next.  These cards provided personal connections between people, including consistent conversation, inside jokes, and the exchange of useful information. Despite its significance, the QSL card was typically designed by amateur designers that never received proper credit.