How to Sell Rare Postcards

If they're lucky, most postcard collectors will come across a few rare postcards that they can add to their collections during their lifetime. And if other collectors are lucky, the aforementioned collectors will at some point decide to sell those rare cards. When this happens, the best result will come to those sellers who are armed with complete information.

Instructions

Sell Rare Postcards for Fun and Profit

1. Have an appraisal done on your rare cards before you put them up for sale. You should be knowledgeable about the origin and the worth of your cards before you enter into a transaction with another collector. The greater your knowledge, the greater the price tag.

2. Find a reputable dealer who can find a buyer for your rare postcards. This enables you to reach a large number of collectors without putting yourself at risk by having buyers come to your home or meeting them at some other location. It will also save you time and hassle.

3. Place your postcards on an online auction site such as eBay if you know the true value of the card (see Resources below). This also helps you safely reach a large number of international collectors whom you otherwise would not meet.

4. Use an auction house if you have an extensive and extremely valuable collection of rare postcards. Since you will pay a significant commission, only really valuable collections are worth these types of services. In this environment, your collection will be seen by the most sophisticated of buyers who are not afraid to pay top dollar for quality cards.

5. Sell your postcards to someone you know. This can often be the best of both worlds, since you can benefit from the sale and still have the opportunity to enjoy the cards by visiting your friend. Just make sure that all the terms are clear so that your friendship remains in tact after the sale is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes an online auction may be better than a direct sale, since your postcards will be visible to a large number of collectors who may inflate the price in the bidding process. Just make sure that you begin the bidding at a respectable amount so that you do not lose money if bidding is not as vigorous as expected.

• Make sure that you store your rare postcards in a climate-controlled environment. High heat and humidity will cause severe damage to your postcards over time, reducing the value of your collection. You should also use archival-quality (acid-free) albums and containers to store and display your postcards.

Resources

• eBay to sell postcards