How to Sell Vintage Valentine's Day Cards

Instead of keeping them in a box tucked away in your closet, you can share your old Valentine's Day cards with the world -- and make a few dollars doing it. People interested in history or looking to recreate it may wonder where they can find one of the cards in your collection. Someone may want a copy of an old card to relive memories or surprise a loved one. If your vintage cards are in good condition, without tears or stains, you can sell them on the Internet or to a consignment shop for more than they were originally worth.

Instructions

1. Gather as many vintage Valentine's Day cards as you can, so you have a collection to present to a consignment shop. Internet shoppers may also prefer buying a number of cards rather than just one, especially when having to pay shipping costs.

2. Select each card's condition, such as mint, fine, good, fair or poor. When advertising the cards, express their condition honestly to keep customers satisfied.

3. Identify the cards' ages and origins. Many collectors are interested in cards from certain time periods -- such as the 1950s or the Victorian era -- or from certain parts of the world. For instance, advertising your cards as World War II valentines or Victorian London Valentine's Day cards helps collectors find you, especially if you plan to sell them on the Internet.

4. Visit consignment shops and antique stores to research. Don't rush the selling process; instead, browse the shops, ask staff to show you vintage cards and take notes of common prices. This will give you an idea of how much your cards are worth.

5. Approach a seller, such as a consignment store owner or a staff member at an antique mall. If possible, choose someone you have met and trust. Show the seller your vintage Valentine's Day cards, and give her a ballpark figure for how much money you would like for them, based on your research of similar items. If the seller cannot pay you as much as you would like -- and bargaining doesn't work -- take the seller's phone number and try another place. You can call back if nobody matches the first seller's offer.

6. Sell the cards at a garage sale, as Micki Suzanne recommends in the book "Sick Mick's Guide to Selling Antiques & Collectibles." Although visitors may not pay as much as collectors would, a sophisticated display may surprise and impress neighbors willing to make offbeat purchases.

7. Register with an online marketplace and put your vintage cards up for sale on the website. Wait until late January or early February to do this, as this is the time people are most interested in Valentine's Day cards. Title the ad using the words "Valentine's Day" and the cards' origins to help shoppers find you using search engines. Post pictures of the cards without background objects to show customers exactly what they are ordering.

Tips & Warnings

• If a seller admits concerns that the cards will not sell and makes you a low offer, consider taking your cards to a larger store that receives more customers.

• Keep in mind that vintage cards will not make you hundreds of dollars. Enjoy sharing them with others rather than trying to turn a massive profit.

References

• Auction Bytes: Collector's Corner: Vintage Greeting Cards
• "Sick Mick's Guide to Selling Antiques & Collectibles"; Micki Suzanne; 2006