Things You'll Need:
- A willingness to scour yard sales and local auctions.
- A topic you're interested in.
- Someplace to store your collection.
- An account on eBay helps!
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Step 1
Collecting postcards, or Deltiology as it is known, is a fascinating and growing hobby. Many collectors are drawn in by one particular card that catches their eye, and then find many more categories of cards that intrigue them as they go along. One of the most popular categories is Halloween cards, and these are often the most prized by collectors. They can also be among the most expensive, with some cards selling for as much as three to four hundred dollars!
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Step 2
Some of the other very popular categories are Real Photo Postcards, (or RPPC as they are called); Artist Signed postcards; Fantasy; various Greetings (including the increasingly popular Santa subcategory); Transportation cards (rare railway and shipping line cards are often highly sought-after); and many others.
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Step 3
When buying cards it is important to remember that condition is extremely important. If a card is damaged or has gotten wet it isn't going to be worth much, regardless of image or type. Responsible dealers use a grading system to help potential buyers determine condition, ours is as follows:
• Mint - As new, postally unused, in a pristine state. Not normally applicable to vintage cards unless found in original printed packets.
• Near Mint - Like Mint, but very light aging or very slight discoloration from being in an album. Not as sharp or crisp as Mint.
• Excellent - No obvious flaws. Sharp corners, clean and if postally used, writing does not detract from appearance.
• Very Good - Minor defects such as album marks, signs of age and handling acceptable that do not detract from a visually pleasing card.
• Good - Noticeable defects, handing and wear apparent. Slight creasing and minor postal damage not detrimental to image acceptable in this category.
• Fair - Obvious creasing, staining, small tears or damp damage evident. Significant edge or corner damage. Just about in a collectible state.
• Poor - Incomplete, image seriously affected. A gap filler only! -
Step 4
Once you've been bitten by the collecting bug, you may decide to attend a postcard show, or join a club near you. There are several national societies that cater to those who collect ephemera, we encourage you to join one. You may find yourself prowling local antique malls, digging through local auctions, putting ads in the local shopper offering to buy cards from people's attics. And the next thing you know, you've got a number of albums or boxes filled with cards! Once bitten, there's no going back. Enjoy this great hobby, and if you have any questions or need help, be sure to drop us a line. See our shops on eBay at the links below where you can find all sorts of postcards of various types.
Comments
Desula said
on 9/14/2008 Thanks for the ideas on buying postcards for hobby.