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How to Mail Postcards

NEVER mail a postcard naked! That is, without an envelope around it to protect it. Envelopes often whistle through the automation equipment at mail handling centers that rarely catch on anything and survive the cancellation apparatus, the barcode applicators, the barcode readers, and the sorting machines unscathed.

Step One - Insert the postcard into a postcard sleeve. That protects it from moisture. I've had people write, thanking me profusely for enclosing their shipped postcards in sleeves. A leaky mailbox during a rainstorm, or inadvertently dropping a letter in a mud puddle on the way to the house could do a job on an unsleeved postcard.

Step Two - Consider the value of the postcard. If it's easily replaceable or costs less than $5, it can be inserted into a #6 envelope and mailed. Be sure to address the envelope BEFORE you insert the card. Otherwise you may have the person's name and address indelibly engraved in the picture side of the postcard.

Step Three - If the card is not replaceable or costs more than $5, follow this procedure: Never use corrugated cardboard as a postcard protector in an envelope. Envelopes go through many machines that bend the envelope slightly. Corrugated cardboard in an envelope will not flex, but will suddenly bend, causing the postcard(s) to crease where it bends. Instead, use thin cereal box cardboard that flexes easily. Take an empty cereal box or potato chip box or even an old manila folder and cut 2 rectangles to size so they'll just fit into a postcard sleeve (manila folders are a bit thin, so use 4 rectangles, 2 on each side). Then insert the postcard(s) between the rectangles in the sleeve. Prepare the envelope ( a #10 envelope works best) prior to inserting the postcard(s). In other words, address the envelope and either write or stamp the words "Photos, Do Not Bend" on the address side. Then put the sleeved postcard(s) in the envelope, preferably enclosed in the note you send to the recipient.

Note on addressing - It is much better to have a computer-addressed envelope that incorporates the bar code as part of the address. This will eliminate one of the machines the letter has to go through. The second choice is a typewriter-addressed envelope. Even if you have to address it by hand, print, rather than using cursive addressing. And ALWAYS address the envelope BEFORE inserting the postcard.

Step Four - If you leave the addressed envelope in a mailbox for the letter carrier to pick up, enclose it in a plastic "sandwich bag". You'd be surprised at how wet some letters get before the letter carrier gets there. If you mail the letter at the post office, put it in the slot for the local postmark. This way, the stamp is canceled locally and avoids a high-speed cancellation at the mail handling facility.

The preceding instructions are for sending one or as many as six postcards at once. For larger amounts of postcards, wrap the stack of postcards tightly with paper, taping the paper to keep it from slipping apart. Enclose the tightly wrapped parcel of postcards in a larger strong box, filling the extra space with soft packing material. Use strong tape to tape the box shut. Use large-letter addressing for the address and write or stamp the notation "handle with care" on all sides of the parcel.

Lately, I've noticed some sellers are sending postcards in padded envelopes or large 9x12 envelopes with just light cardboard as a protector. Large envelopes and padded envelopes get much heavier pummeling than do standard size envelopes because they are sorted and handled very differently. A postcard that is shipped in a large envelope or padded envelope should be prepared for mailing like a parcel, with tough stiffeners to withstand the pressures of catalogs and magazines being tossed on top of them. This is where corrugated cardboard, in multiple-layer, crosshatched arrangement might be appropriate.

If you're the fuss-budget type, you can insure your postcards. However, if you follow these guidelines, chances are very slim that your postcards will be damaged. I pay over $1,500 in postage each year in mailing postcards, rarely insuring them, and have had a minimum of problems in damaged cards. I must add, however, that I have received far too many cards that were damaged in the mails because of careless packaging.

Postcard Publishers, Printers and Distributors (2)

Small stores were the mainstay of postcard publishing. Tens of thousands of these establishments such as family owned pharmacies would either send their own photographs off to be printed or they bought cards directly from catalogs and salesmen. A few small businesses such as stationers were sometimes capable of printing cards on their own. Some of these cards were manufactured by small local commercial printers that were not in the postcard business. These publishers are responsible for the vast amount of view-cards that capture small town America.

Large businesses associated with the tourist industry were also major publishers of postcards. These included the Grand Hotels as well as the many steamship lines and railroads that brought people from one place to another. These cards were ussually contracted out with larger postcard publishers and they became a form of self promotion.

There were also large publishing houses with some being little more than middlemen moving cards from printers to stores while others were totally self sufficient from the printing of cards to their final distribution. It must be noted that some small companies produced large quantities of postcards for that was the main focus of their business. Some of the worlds largest publishing houses also began producing postcards at the beginning of the craze as well as other types of companies not normally associated with postcards. But despite their large size they often did not produce cards in quantity for they were only riding the wave of opportunity with this sideline.

Photographer - Anyone with a camera could make a contract with a printer to have a photograph turned into postcard. Small stores would sometimes hire a local photographer to take pictures for them. Many professional photographers also sent their work out to printers and supplemented their studio work with postcard sales. In this way they became publishers of their own work. Larger publishers had their own staff photographers that would travel the country capturing scenes of small towns and attractions. Sometimes publishers would acquire images from photo supply houses. There was little copyright protection and different publishers would use the same photograph.

Production Manager - Once the black & white photograph was printed it would go on to the printer’s production manager who would make decisions on how to alter it for postcard production. Notes regarding colors may have been provided by the photographer or the customer ordering the card. Many production managers were artists in their own right so in the absence of any instructions they could make these decisions alone. They might paint over image areas most open to interpretation to denote desired colors. Instructions might also be written directly on the photo to indicate other needed changes. Sometimes cut and paste techniques were used to alter the composition, or add or subtract various features. The photo would then be passed on to the retoucher to carry out the instructions.

Retoucher - Though some means of optical color separation was available through filtering since the 19th century, many postcards used nothing more than the eye of the printer’s artists. The retoucher removed all parts of the image on each plate except those that would print a designated single color. This could be based on the production managers instructions, or in their absence on his own creativity. Productions managers usually worded out general color schemes and important details but for the more mundane parts of an image such as sky or trees the retoucher made the decisions. Because skies were often washed out of the photograph it was the retoucher who would draw them in. It was during this process that any feature deemed unattractive within the composition could be removed. At other times objects showing specific fashion or other tell tale details were removed so not to date the card and give it longer shelf life. People, cars, and boats were also sometimes added. Many of these subjects were stocked as decals that could be transfered to the printing plate with pressure without the time consuming task of drawing them in. But if they were added to the picture plain at the wrong level, which all too often happened, they fell out of scale with the rest of the image. Tone was sometimes added in a similar manner by adding bed day patterns.

Printer - After the printer received the retouched negative from the production manager it would be copied onto a photo sensitive tissue. Depending on the process by which the postcard was to be printed a halftone screen might be needed to impart tonal gradations. This tissue would then be adhered to a plate or litho-stone and the image chemically transfered. This process would be repeated with a new plate for every color that was to be printed. Most printers would only use four basic colors while others might employ over twenty plates to produce a more natural look. Much retouching work was done at this point directly on the printing surface. The cost for monochrome printing obviously required less labor and was much cheaper, which also made it popular. Paper would be fed over each plate on the press printing one color at a time in perfect registration. Many images could be printed at one time on a single sheet if a large press was available. The large printed sheets or webs would be cut down to size after drying.

Distributor - While small publishers may have had cards printed to sell in their own store, larger publishers may not always have had specific customers in mind for the cards they printed. These cards would be handed over to distributors who already had business arrangements set up with jobbers on a national or regional basis. Many large distributors also published cards on their own, often using various printers as quality or price dictated. Some like news agencies distributed postcards among their own newsstands. Distribution was highly competitive and unfair practices often led to battles in court.

Some postcard companies functioned as the distributor for postcards from other publishers as well as their own. Advertisements would be aimed directly to the collector offering assortments of cards on different subjects. These cards were often priced below the retail price available to most consumers.

Jobber - Jobbers often purchased postcards from distributors or small publishers, who in turn would sell them to various retail stores or newsstands they had created ties with. Many small businesses needed to carry a variety of cards but couldn’t afford to publish them in quantity, so they bought their cards from jobbers who would sell the same cards to different stores. These middlemen could disperse large quantities of cards among the many. Jobbers were often in conflict with publishers and printers who sold postcards directly to retailers causing them to organize boycotts.

Postcard Publishers, Printers and Distributors (1)

Postcards may have up to four different names printed on them or sometimes none at all. They are most often found on the card’s back, though they may appear on a front tab or even across the image. In place of a name, a logo is often substituted.

Who are these people? Sometimes we use guesswork to identify the references found on postcards. The most common name on a postcard is that of the publisher who commissions the postcard and supplies the image. The next likely name to be found is that of the printer who manufactured the card. Other names found may include the distributor who placed the cards in retail outlets, the photographer who supplied the initial photographic image or the artists’ name if the card reproduces artwork. Often a single company performed more than one of these roles.

A number of factors can lead to confusion when trying to glean information off a postcard. Few cards were copyrighted. When a copyright and date does appear, it is usually for the photograph, not the postcard. The copyright date and the printing date usually do not match and could be decades apart. Large publishers, in search of images, often bought out the stock of photographers without giving any credit to them. Even photographers who bought the photo inventory of another photographer, would often publish those images with their own name on them. Because of this trade practice, we sometimes find two different cards with the same image being credited to two different photographers. More often than not, no one knew where an image came from.

Sometimes a card may have a distinct look of a well known publisher but that publisher's name will not appear on the card. These cards were often privately contracted by individuals, but it may have been through the recognized publisher or directly with the same printer that the large publisher used. While some publishers printed their own cards, others contracted this work out with a variety of printers, and consequently their cards may have many different looks. Because of the way postcards were manufactured any five and dime store could become a publisher. Sometimes a local printer produced just a few different cards for a local store . While the facts concerning some postcard companies are well known, they remain a mystery for other companies. It should also be noted that many cards were published with no information about their sources.


HOW POSTCARDS WERE MADE AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THEM

Postcards were manufactured in a variety of ways, some of which differed over time. Listed below are the major players in postcard production and their typical roles during the Golden Age. The process of creating a postcard took anywhere between two weeks and four months to complete.

Salesman - Printers and distributors both had salesmen working for them who would search out retail outlets for their cards; but in addition there were also independents who played a different role. Independent salesmen would often contact the same retail outlets, discuss an image they might want, and then make arrangements with a printer to have a card made. Not tied to any company, independent salesmen could search out the highest quality or lowest bid, depending on their clients' needs. Salesmen basically acted as middleman, employed to facilitate card production between a would be publisher and the potential printer.
Publisher - All cards start with a publisher’s intent to produce a postcard. First an image must be chosen. For view-cards a regular 5 by 7 inch photograph was usually required. Larger photographs were used but smaller ones were problematic. Even the image for an art card would be photographed, unless made directly from an artist’s etching plate or woodblock but this is rare. The next step was to send the photo to a printer and sign a contract to print a given number of cards for a set price. Printers required a minimum order of 500 to 8000 cards to create an economically feasible press run. This number was often determined by the type of press that would be utilized. When high-speed presses arrived, 25,000 cards would sometimes be printed at a time, but this was not applicable to all techniques. Since almost all postcards were made from black & white photos the publisher would have to specify the colors desired on the card. Many times the printer would just make them up. A number of the larger publishers were also printers.

So who were the publishers? They can be classified into four main categories. While individuals sometimes printed cards, this was rare but it was sometimes done for family use, similar to printing personalized note paper. Photographers were usually the only individuals who printed cards in small numbers. As postcards gained in popularity at the turn of the 20th century, the postcard format supplanted previous forms of popular photography. It was practically required for any commercial photographer to produce postcards to stay in business. Many not only published real photo cards, but their images were often turned into printed photo cards as well.

Publisher - All cards start with a publisher’s intent to produce a postcard. First an image must be chosen. For view-cards a regular 5 by 7 inch photograph was usually required. Larger photographs were used but smaller ones were problematic. Even the image for an art card would be photographed, unless made directly from an artist’s etching plate or woodblock but this is rare. The next step was to send the photo to a printer and sign a contract to print a given number of cards for a set price. Printers required a minimum order of 500 to 8000 cards to create an economically feasible press run. This number was often determined by the type of press that would be utilized. When high-speed presses arrived, 25,000 cards would sometimes be printed at a time, but this was not applicable to all techniques. Since almost all postcards were made from black & white photos the publisher would have to specify the colors desired on the card. Many times the printer would just make them up. A number of the larger publishers were also printers.

So who were the publishers? They can be classified into four main categories. While individuals sometimes printed cards, this was rare but it was sometimes done for family use, similar to printing personalized note paper. Photographers were usually the only individuals who printed cards in small numbers. As postcards gained in popularity at the turn of the 20th century, the postcard format supplanted previous forms of popular photography. It was practically required for any commercial photographer to produce postcards to stay in business. Many not only published real photo cards, but their images were often turned into printed photo cards as well.

Start a Postcard Business

If you want to start your own postcard business but aren't sure where to begin, the process shouldn't be daunting. You will need to determine where you will sell your postcards and come up with a good marketing strategy to get your line of postcards in front of potential customers. You will also need to decide on a graphics program to design your postcard unless you intend to sell postcards created by another company that you purchase wholesale.

Decide on the types of postcards you want to sell. You might want to sell themed postcards, for example, of exotic locations or even whimsical or silly postcards that will make the recipient smile. You may also want to take photos that you will be placing on your postcards. Or you might want to purchase images from a stock photo site.

Create your cards (if you choose this option) by using a graphics program. If you don't own Photoshop or you find it to be too pricey an investment for your new business, consider freeware software such as GIMP. If you are already skilled in a particular program, it's obviously a good idea to make use of this program to create your postcards. Otherwise, you will need to take the time to learn the graphics program you choose to work with.

Decide how many cards you want to print. Then select a printing method to create your cards. While you might be able to print the cards yourself, you would need an expensive printer to get the job done right. You might have a professional printer in your area who can do this with his equipment at a reasonable price. An alternative is to use the printing services of a store like Staples or Kinkos. Regardless of how you print the cards, they need to be printed on a quality card stock (paper).

Create a website to sell your cards. You can create a basic site using Tripod's "Sitebuilder." You can also use a program such as Expression Web to create a more sophisticated website or you can hire a web designer.

Upload your website to a web host. There are free hosting packages that require a banner to be posted at the top of your site as a condition of it being "free," or you can purchase a package in a range of prices and options. The package you choose should include a way to accept online payments for your postcards.
Market your postcard business website by listing it with search engines such as Google and Yahoo. You might also want to advertise through a service such as Google Ad Words.

Look at traditional avenues to sell your postcards including sharing a percentage of the profit from sales with shops that give you space to place your postcards. You may have to purchase display racks to put in shops that agree to sell your postcards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sell Postcards on eBay for Cash

Making Money on eBay is Real. If you are looking for low to no money items, them consider selling postcards on this auction site.

Finding postcards is the first task. Since we live all over the world our resources are all different and this allows us all to sell this item.

Contemporary postcards can be located at drugstores, souvenir stores, and department stores. Free postcards can be found at the local visitors center and chamber of commerces. Also, free postcards can be found as giveaways from larger establishments, airlines, car dealers and the like.

Vintage postcards can be bought from estate sales and garage sales. Usually these are in lots and have a uniqueness to each one. It is that specialness that brings up the value of the postcard.

Once you have your postcards to sell, go on eBay to research the value of the postcards. Those postcards coming from more prestigious places will be worth more than others. However, that being said, your buyers are collectors and they determine the value.

The text of the ad your write on eBay needs to be a straightforward rundown of what the postcard is and what it written and typed on the card.

The photographs of the postcard needs to be front and back and include a close up of any handwritten message for the vintage postcards.

Shipping of the postcards needs to be in a solid cardboard envelope and it is encouraging to charge your buyers accordingly.

Finally, you will need to decide the timeline of your ad. On postcards, a traditional ad with 7 to 10 days is the best choice to make the most money.

Sell Postcard Photographs

There are many ways to make a profit with photography. One way of earning money from your photographs is to license the images for use on postcards. If you are a photographer who has a large library of location photographs, postcard photography could be a lucrative path. To sell your photography for use on postcards, you must contact postcard publishers and request that they review your photographs.

Look at the text on the back of postcards that you like. The name and address of the postcard's publisher is generally listed on the back of each card, according to Andrew Hudson's article "How Can I Sell My Photo As A Postcard?" featured on the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's website.

Research additional postcard publishers online. Most postcard publishers, and all major publishers, have their own websites with general contact information and postcard samples.

Visit the website of postcard publishers to which you are interested in selling your photographs. Not only will you be able to see samples of the postcards published by the publishers, but some publishers include their photo submission requirements on their websites. If submission requirements are listed on a website, follow the submission instructions exactly. An incorrect submission may be thrown away without response.

Write a cover letter expressing your interest in submitting your photos for use on the postcards published by the company. The letter should differ for each company. For instance, create a separate letter for animal postcard publishers and location publishers, detailing your experience in the individual field.

Send the cover letter to the company along with one or two samples of your work. If the company has an email address listed on their website or on the back of a postcard, it is appropriate to send your query in this manner, along with digital images of your photographs. If the company does not list an email address, send the letter with two quality prints of your images to the mailing address.

Wait for a response from the publisher and send any additional information or prints that are requested. If the publisher is interested in your sample photographs, he will likely request additional samples of your work. Pick out several of your best photographs and forward them for review.

Sell Photos for Postcards

Many people are looking for opportunities to make extra money in these hard economic times. If you enjoy photography as a hobby, it may be a time to make it a second job. Through the use of online searches and digital photography, you may be able to make extra money by selling your photos to postcard companies.

Search through your current work and pick out the best photos for submission to postcard companies. Have a friend or family member look through your work to see if they can spot some diamonds in the rough as well.

Become familiar with copyright and licensing law. You will want to license your photograph to a company to use. You will retain the rights to the photograph and give them the option of using it, charging the fee associated with the print based upon the outlet they choose. In other words, they will pay a set fee to publish it on a webpage, another to publish it a magazine and so on.

Start researching what companies pay per licensed photograph. Most of the time, you will not be able to set your fees; the companies will set them for you. Yet, you have the choice of which companies to work with, and you can choose to maximize either your profit or your exposure. To maximize profit, choose one or two high-paying companies. To maximize exposure, send your work to every available outlet.
Maximize your search by consulting online job sites, such as Indeed.com, Monster.com, and CareerBuilder.com. Two online sites that you can sell your photographs to are Crestock.com and StockandPrints.com. Other sites to try include SmugMug.com, OrderPicture.com and DeviantArt.com.

If you have photos of local history or famous spots, you might want to see if local retailers might want to sell prints of your work. This might be a way to increase your profits.

Sell Photos to Postcard Companies

Imagine the satisfaction of seeing a photograph you took while passing the postcard rack at a local store. For many photographers who sell their work to postcard companies, it is just that satisfaction that motivates them. While there is much in the way of professional accomplishment to be gained from licensing work for a postcard, there is, unfortunately, little monetary benefit. However, if you are persistent and realistic about your goals as a photographer, you may have the satisfaction of seeing your work in print.

Target a specific publisher or postcard company. Look at their website or postcards to get an idea of the pictures they currently publish. Many postcard companies will license photos similar to the ones they already print, so compare your images to find something that you think will appeal to them. Try to one-up their current selections while staying within their visual repertoire.

Find contact information for the company's photo editor or assistant photo editor. Whether you contact them by phone, email, or regular mail, try to get an idea of their submission guidelines. How many photos do they accept? What format should you send them in?

If the postcard company has a website and you are unable to contact the appropriate editor, send a query by email to find out if they are accepting new images. Alternatively, send samples on disk by mail and include a letter describing your experience and interest in postcard photography.

Photographer Dan Heller advises photographers to hope for the best and expect the worst. He advises that often, postcard companies accept one or two images, if they accept them at all, and that pay is typically low. Therefore it is good practice to target multiple postcard companies to increase your chances of acceptance.

If your submissions are successful, consider licensing versus copyrighting your image. Turning over your copyright to the postcard company essentially gives them permission to use your image for any purpose deemed fit and retracts your rights to the image. Licensing allows the company to use your photograph in adherence with agreed-upon terms, while the copyright remains with you, allowing your continued use of the image.


Happy Postcard Collecting.

Sell Postcards

Postcards display historical significance, revealing details about the landscape of the time while sustaining an antique appeal. Postcard collections can bring a sense of personal satisfaction or produce some extra pocket change. The profit depends solely on the value of the postcard, which is determined by a combination of factors.

Assess the value of your postcard by researching online (see resources), or with companies that specialize in such appraisals. The value is determined by the age, condition, topic and rarity of the postcard.

List the postcard on online auction sites. Follow the site's instructions on how to properly list the postcard. Make sure your price is comparable with similar items on the site. Other vintage postcard sites will offer to buy the postcards directly from the collector. Communicate with the dealer about how to sell the postcard to the site. The dealer may request a description and/or photograph of the postcard.

Take the postcard in to a consignment shop. Find a nearby consignment shop online (see resources) and make an appointment. For antiques such as vintage postcards, the shop will have an "expert" to appraise collectibles. Make sure you have a collection of postcards to take in rather than a single one. Dust and clean the postcards without tarnishing the delicate surface before you take them in.

Sell the postcard at an auction house for truly valuable postcards. Auction houses attract a more savvy crowd, upping the potential to yield a better profit.


Happy Postcard Collecting.

Mount & Display Old Postcards

Collecting old postcards is a lesson in history, geography, cultures and photography. Private postcards were first invented by John P. Charlton in 1861 and lasted until 1873 when the government created their own postcards. The more common non-postal cards in use across the globe today require a postage stamp to be affixed to the back of a pictorial card. Emmanuel Hermann invented this variation in Austria in 1869. Postcards need to be preserved, displayed and protected properly to maintain the image and quality of the card and prevent unnecessary deterioration.

Choose acid free, archival quality materials to mount and display old postcards to keep them preserved and undamaged for a longer period of time. Look for products labeled accordingly to ensure the best preservation of the postcards. Pick a scrap book or photo album, mounting backings or corners and separation sheets that fit these qualifications.

Clean your hands or wear soft, clean cotton gloves to handle the postcards, particularly valuable or historically significant postcards.

Clean the postcards gently with a soft, clean cloth before putting them on display on your album. Do not rub the cards. Wipe them lightly on both sides. Writing, pictures, attached postage stamps and special signatures need to be handled with care.

Arrange the cards on each page before you attach or mount them to the pages to make sure you like the placement and to prevent having to move them around once mounted.

Use either permanent sticky mounts or try mounted corners that allow you to move the postcards when needed. Make sure either of these are also archival quality.

Attach the sticky mounting pieces or the corners carefully to the postcards before you put them on the page. Do not bend the corners of the old postcards. If you use the sticky mounting pieces, attach them to areas that do not have special stamps or writing. Press the cards with the attached corners or sticky pieces carefully on the album page.

Put a sheet or page of Mylar, glassine or acid-free paper between each page of old postcards to keep them from touching each other.

Store the albums in temperature, light and moisture-controlled areas of your home, office, museum or store.


Happy Postcard Collecting.

Select New Postcards

Ever since postcards were invented in the 19th century as an economical way to send short messages, the public has enjoyed the process of selecting cards to send to family and friends. The right postcards will allow recipients to share in your joy as you watch water cascade down Niagara Falls or learn the hula in the Hawaiian Isles. Postcards are a vacation staple and popular souvenir, and people select them based on their own individual tastes and interests.

Decide if you will be sending the postcards to others or keeping them for a collection of your own. If you are keeping them for yourself, then you will want to consider how they fit in with your current collection before you select them.

Choose a postcard that best reflects the experience you have had while traveling. If you loved the London Eye or the Eiffel Tower, then postcards that showcase those attractions will help you remember the excitement you felt. They can also allow your friends and family to share in the wonder of your experience.

Make sure new postcards are made of sturdy materials. Since you want them to be long-lasting, do not choose low-quality cards that bend or tear too easily.

Pick new postcards that interest you. This is especially important for new collectors. Don't make choices based exclusively on potential value. If you have albums full of unattractive or uninteresting cards, you are unlikely to continue to collect.


Buy multiple copies of the same postcard if you really like it. That way, you can send some to friends and keep one or two for your own collection.

Acquire postcards that are unique and not easily found in other locations. Postcards featuring the architecture or landmarks of a specific town will not likely be available at the airport gift shop and will add to the distinctiveness of your collection.

Don't limit yourself to colored postcards. Black-and-white cards are just as interesting, if not more so, than the brightly colored cards most people usually buy, and they can add a new dimension to an existing collection.



Happy Postcard Collecting.

Organize Postcard collection

Collecting vintage postcards is still a popular hobby, and even today when postcards are no longer sent in the number that they once were, there is a growing number of people looking to the past. Vintage postcards can be collected from a number of sources; internet auctions, postcard fairs and even secondhand stores being just a few. As a collection grows though, many postcard collectors look to ways to organize a vintage postcard collection.

Vintage postcards tend to be stored either in postcard albums or in special storage boxes, and whilst it is easier to view postcards in a n album, it is sometimes either to organize in a box. This is seen at any postcard fair, when the majority of dealers will have their postcards on sale from boxes, which are subdivided by topic. There is no right or wrong way for organizing a vintage postcard collection, and many collectors have their own individual method for arranging their collections. There are though some commonly seen methods amongst collectors and dealers.

In most cases postcards are organized in terms of topic. Popular topics include postcards of vehicles, people and famous landmarks. With such things there is a basic method of organizing which simply groups all like postcards together. Thus if all of the vintage postcards are of castles, then all postcards of Windsor Castle are grouped together and all those of Edinburgh Castle are put together.

Some postcard collectors do try and organize their vintage postcard collection by date, and initially this is a perfect valid method. Organizing by date is an especially good method when the vintage postcards represent one thing over a number of years, often postcards of a particular place. Some vintage postcards can be differentiated into age periods just by looking at them, but in many cases the only way to discern the approximate year is by looking at the stamp and postmark, assuming the postcard is in used condition.

The organizing of any vintage postcard collection is of course up to the individual collector. Ideally though there should be some sort of referencing associated with the individual postcards. This could be just a reference to topic of the postcard, age, and how much was paid for it, but some postcard collectors do go in for much more detail in their cataloguing.

The majority of people do prefer some order in their lives, and this does extend to hobbies. A collection of postcard that is ordered in some way, be it type, topic or some other form of ordering is much more pleasing aesthetically than a collection that is just random postcards put together.

Collecting postcards is now one of the world's most popular hobbies, and often ranks third behind stamp collectors and coin collectors with numbers of enthusiasts. As with many forms of collecting though there is often some difficulty in knowing just how postcards should be stored and displayed.

Many collections of postcards are inherited but equally postcards collectors can start from scratch. No matter what the source it is amazing just how quickly a large collection of postcards can be accumulated. Old postcards can be easily and cheaply picked up from car boot and jumble sales, and every weekend there are stamp and postcards fairs being run around the country. Accumulating postcards leads to the issue of how postcards can be stored safely, and then how they should be displayed. Storage and display though in some case may be the same thing.

Traditionally postcards have always been stored in postcard albums. The older style postcard albums would often seen postcards glued onto pages, something that of course that totally destroys the back of the postcards. Less destructive methods of securing postcards into albums though also saw use of adhesive photo corners, or clear cellophane sheets. Many people though were not satisfied with the use of traditional postcard albums and instead set out to make their own. It is actually a fairly easy process that simply involves the use of A4 paper, adhesive photo corners, a hole punch and a ring binder. Making a postcard album in such a way also has the added benefit of being able to add annotation to describe the postcard without marking the postcard itself. The use of these traditional postcard albums though have the downside as well of only showing off one side of the postcard. There is often a lot of interest to be had from viewing the rear of postcards, to read the anecdotes of those staying on holiday or visiting some attraction.

In recent years postcard collecting has been acknowledged to be big business for a select number of companies, and as a result new methods for displaying postcards have been developed. New postcard albums are made through the use of plastic leaves that postcards slide into. These clear leaves ensure that both the front and the back of the postcard can be clearly viewed. Additional leaves are also easily purchased ensuring that as a postcard collection grows matching pages for the album can also be added. Additionally annotations can be easily added by simple placing card into empty leaves next to the postcards.

As collections grow though it may not be cost effective, or space efficient, to buy albums for displaying postcards. Many people will therefore resort to storing their postcards in storage boxes, often old shoeboxes or similar, but also specially designed postcard storage boxes are available. This storage method often just result in postcards being put one next to each other, with the face and backs of the postcards facing each other. This though can damage postcards, and so it is always advisable to ensure that postcards are first put into paper envelopes to protect the cards from damage.

Collections should be on display, and the use of an album is a relatively simple way to display postcards, and takes up relatively little space. Although postcards will not be on continual display in this method it does ensure that postcards are protected from damage.



Happy Postcard Collecting.

Price Vintage Postcards

Many people enjoy collecting vintage postcards both for their creativity and the nostalgia they often induce. Postcards began appearing shortly before the 1900s, and were very popular through the first half of the 20th century. A vintage postcard's price may vary dramatically from a few cents to even thousands of dollars. Many factors determine a postcard's price, including age, condition, topic and rarity. Pricing a postcard accurately takes careful examination and patience to ensure all factors are considered.

Divide postcards in terms of condition. Set aside any damaged, creased or dirty cards into one pile. They are less valuable and will not fetch as high a price. Those that are pristine or in mint condition should go into another pile.

Divide the mint condition cards in terms of their date. This can be tricky, as postcards may sometimes be purchased, stored then used months or years later. You'll need to look at three factors: the mailing date, the date written on the card, and any dates potentially on the postcard itself such as next to an artist's signature. Use the earliest date. If you cannot find a date, either consult a postcard encyclopedia or, if the artwork is classic of a certain time period, research artists or card makers to see if you can identify its year.

Organize these cards by their date, placing the earliest at the bottom of the stack and the latest at the top.

Examine each postcard for its topic. Cards such as Christmas and birthday cards are quite common. Unusual topics, such as fantasy, ethnic cards and some political cards, are rarer and worth more.

Pick out any Real Photo postcards. These are cards that were actually made with a camera then developed in a dark room. There are many black and white postcards, but RP cards will often have a sepia tone. Captions will be in white. Some of them are one of a kind. These are likely your most valuable cards.

Price RP, one of a kind and unusual cards first. You may want to use a reference book or take them to an appraiser if you're certain you have very rare and valuable cards. Their prices may range from $10 or $20 to $100.

Mark the more common cards at prices relative to your rarer cards. For example, a Halloween card may be priced at $20, but a more common Christmas card by the same publisher may only be worth $5.

Price the damaged, dirty or creased cards last. Depending on their condition, they may be worth 10 cents to a dollar, even if they are potentially uncommon. The only exception is RP cards, which may still bring a few dollars despite their condition.

Happy Postcard Collecting

Make Money Online With Magic Postcards

Postcards containing custom artwork and images of magic are big sellers, and many people are making money online promoting and selling their magic postcards. Starting a small online business selling them can easily be accomplished using a computer and utilizing a print-on-demand company. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you turn your magic postcard artwork into a profitable business venture.

Scan your artwork onto your computer. If your artwork is already on file in your computer, save each file in JPEG format. To do this, open each file in a basic art program, available on every standard computer. Click on the word "File" at the top of the screen and select "Save As" from the drop-down list. Select JPEG as the file type, then click on the "OK" button.

Register with a print-on-demand company. Many are well-established, and charge no fees for uploading or setting up your account. Once you have registered, you can upload your artwork files to their server. Now select the items you want to put your magic artwork on, such as postcards, and set your profit amount.

Once your magic postcards are finished, the print-on-demand company will automatically place it on its website for sale. Your magic postcards will be available to millions of people, and you will profit off of each one sold. You will typically begin to receive royalty payments 30 days after your first sale, and when your royalties reach an amount over $20.


Happy Postcard Collecting

Full Color Postcard Printing

Wanting to immortalised your work on postcards, just trying to see if you got what it takes to make a sale on selling your own postcards or just having fun at a project. Printing postcards can be done at home, sometimes having it done for you is the best option. If you need them printed in bulk or if you just want to make sure they look professional, then you should consider having them printed. With so many options available now, it can be difficult to select the best printer for your needs.

Decide how many postcards you need. If the number is in the thousands, you need to look at bulk printers.
Figure out how much time you have. This will help narrow down your options. Almost all printers can tell you how long it will take to process and ship your order. Check their website for a turnaround link. If you are on a deadline, make sure they can meet it.

Use a high resolution image. Some websites will automatically tell you whether your photo is at a high enough resolution to print well, but others will just print whatever you send. If you purchase 1,000 postcards and they arrive blurry, you will have a big problem on your hands.

Learn what perks each printer offers. Some offer in-house mailing or design assistance for large orders. This can be particularly helpful for small business owners. If you'll be mailing postcards to 100 family members for the holidays, going with a company who will do in-house mailing from your list may save you loads of time during the busy holiday season.

Try out free samples from printers. Almost all printers will happily send you samples to evaluate their product. This a great way to ensure that your order will look as professional as you want it to. It will also allow you to see and feel the paper and printing options and is especially helpful for anyone not familiar with commercial printing quality.

Consider a printing service that works with businesses and individuals. If you keep all your business with one company, there are usually discount codes and other perks they will offer you in return for you continued business.

Make Money Buying Postcards

Buying postcards to resell is easy if you know what to look for. The tips I am about to give you will work.

If you buy postcards with a knowledgeable eye, you can make money and put some cash in your pocket. I will show you some methods that I have used to get good deals.

When buying old postcards it is crucial that the stamps be left on as they were. This will increase the value many times over. Older postcards, pre-1930 are the most valuable ones. I have had great success buying boxes of old postcards at auctions for a few dollars and reselling them on E-Bay and profiting in the $100's-$1,000's. There is major money in the older postcards. Yard Sales are another area to find cheap post cards.

In conclusion, if you buy the postcards cheaply, you will have no choice but to make a profit. The secret to making money in postcards is to buy them right and selling is a piece of cake.


Happy Collecting Postcards

Get Postcards from People All Around the World

There's a really neat idea out on the internet: a postcard exchange program. You sign up, get the address of someone in another country and send them a postcard. In return, you receive a postcard from someone else in another country.

The first step towards getting postcards from all around the world is to sign up for an account on the internet at PostCrossing. You'll be asked to fill out a username and personal information, including your address.

Once you've logged in on PostCrossing, add some interesting information to your user profile, such as a short bio. You can also upload a user picture.

In order to start receiving postcards from around the world, you must send out some postcards yourself (for every one you send, you should receive one). To do this, make sure you are logged in and go to "Send a Postcard" in the box on the left of the screen. Read over the information they tell you, select the box that says you've read the information, and then press "Get Address". You will be given the name and address of someone else in the world (most likely not in your own country) to whom you should send a postcard!

You will also be given an ID code to put on the postcard. Don't forget to write it on there! That is the number that the person you are mailing the postcard to will use to let the website know that they received your card. (You might or might not receive communication back from the person.)

Once your card has been received, wait on a card to come to your home! You can have as many as five postcards out at a time, which means you can receive five times as many postcards! (Save money and time by purchasing several cards at once to send out.)



Happy Postcard Collecting

Postcard Collector

You can call yourself a deltiologist - that's a postcard collector. They say it's the third largest collectible hobby in the world. Why? Postcards are inexpensive, cover thousands of subjects and have been around awhile. In fact, they date back to 1869. Got any that old?



Decide what kind of collection you want. Cats? Places you've been? Cards with foreign postmarks? World War II era? Foods?


Pick a theme and let your friends and family know about it. Because postcards are cheap and easy to find, you'll find it won't be long before you have an admirable collection.


Get serious about collecting and join a collector's club or hang out at antique stores and online auctions for those hard-to-locate ones.


Keep your cards in acid-free, archival-quality sleeves made of polyethylene or Mylar.


Avoid PVC and cheap plastic sleeves, which can leave marks or stick to your cards. Never store them loose in a plastic box.


Display your postcards out of direct sunlight. They can and will fade.




Happy Postcard Collecting

Collecting vintage postcards

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!

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.

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!

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.

Happy Postcard Collecting

Enlarge Your Postcard Collection at an Auction

There are few collectors who don't get caught up in the excitement and anticipation of attending auctions, and postcard fanatics are no exception. With hundreds or even thousands of postcards available all in one place, collectors can add rare and vintage finds to their collections with relative ease and--hopefully--at a reasonable price. Once you attend your first postcard auction, you may be hooked.

Find out when the top houses are auctioning off vintage postcards. Large auctioneers have specific dates and times that they present postcards and other similar collections during the year. Most have websites with updated information on the various collections.

Pre-register for the auction once you have decided to attend. Most auction houses require specific documentation, including bank references, before you will be allowed to bid on merchandise. This information is usually requested at least 48 hours prior to the auction. You will also need to provide positive identification before you will be issued a bidding paddle that corresponds with the pre-registration information you provided.

Know what postcards you intend to bid on when you attend auctions. You'll want to secure a copy of the individual catalogues of the auction houses or view the collections on the Internet before arriving at the live auction. Most of the larger auction houses also offer a pre-auction viewing, where you will be able to take a closer look at the postcards without the pressure of having to make a bid.

Learn the auction protocol before the bidding starts. Most auction houses will present you with a numbered paddle after you have signed in, which you will use to inform the auctioneer of your bid.

Remember that your bid is usually not the full amount of payment due. Buyers must also pay applicable sales taxes and any shipping costs if such service is provided.

Make and stick to a budget. Once you have determined the amount of money that you are able to spend, do not go over that amount. Auctions are a bit like gambling, and some people get foolishly caught up in the frenzy and excitement.

Happy Postcard Collecting

Buy Rare Postcards

Although the majority of postcards are relatively inexpensive, every now and then the passionate collector will find herself in a position to indulge in the purchase of a rare postcard. These postcards may be vintage (old) or limited in number, but they are usually extremely collectible and, therefore, competitively priced. Since some rare cards can top the thousand-dollar mark, it is wise to know what to expect during the buying process.

Take the time to research the postcard and decide if it is worth the price being asked. You can easily get caught up in the excitement of finding a gem, but you may be sorry later when your shopping high has passed. Remember that there will always be another postcard.

Investigate online auctions as a way to find rare cards. You are not limited to your city, state or even country when you shop online, and you can shop safely from the comfort of your own home. You will, however, have to bid against other aficionados who want the same postcards as you, which can result in higher prices than you might find at a shop.

Attend an auction in person. Many collectors prefer these to online auctions, since they can see the actual postcards before buying them. Remember that you must add any applicable state sales tax and delivery charges to your bid when you buy at a brick-and-mortar auction.

Visit a professional broker who deals in postcard sales. (Stamp dealers often sell postcards, as well.) This is an especially good idea if you have particular postcards in mind. A broker may have connections that can assist you in locating the desired card.

Join a postcard collectors' group. Many groups have meetings and shows that allow members to buy, sell and trade their cards to each other. This is an enjoyable option, since you will buy from people whom you know and trust in a social situation. Just keep in mind that it is still a business transaction.

Always buy the best that you can afford.

Happy Postcard Collecting.

Trade Postcards - Trade Up to a Better Collection

One of the most interesting aspects of postcard collecting is the chance to trade postcards with other collectors in a private group or at postcard shows. Since there are literally millions of different postcards available from across the country and around the world, trading gives you the opportunity to add some spice to your collection by letting go of some of your beloved cards in order to add new ones from the collection of another postcard lover.

Determine the value of your collection before you begin to trade with others. There is nothing worse than finding out you have traded away a rare card in exchange for one that is worth significantly less.
Keep your collection in tip-top form by using archival storage holders (those that prevent acidic damage to your postcards). You should also protect your cards from excessive creasing and bent corners, which will reduce their value. You improve your trading position when your cards are in prime condition.
Organize your postcards systematically so that you can easily access them by subject matter, or color and size. The easier the cards are to get to, the smoother and more efficient your trading experience will be.
Don't be badgered into trading away a favorite card by a pushy trader. If you know that you don't want to part with a card, don't even present it to others, unless trading is not in issue.
List postcards you are interested in acquiring or trading away on Internet postcard trading pages. This greatly enlarges your target audience--but it also increases the likelihood that you may meet people who are not honest. Use great caution when transacting business outside of a monitored environment.

Catalogue the postcards that you are taking with you to a trading event by taking quick digital pictures of the cards. This gives you a record of what you left with and what you should return with after the event--unless, of course, you are able to make a successful trade or two!

Picture Postcard Show in London

2nd - 4th September 2010


OPENING TIMES

Thursday 11am - 8pm

Admission £5.00

Friday 11am - 7pm

Saturday 10am - 5pm

Admission £3.00


Following the success of last year's Picture Postcard Show in London, we are hoping that even more dealers and collectors from all over Britain, plus many from Europe and America; will be present at the 2010 event held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London. Collectors came in their thousands last year from all over the UK Europe and worldwide, to view the stocks on sale and look at the special exhibitions.


THE VENUE: Lawrence Hall, Royal Horticultural Society, Greycoat Street, LONDON SW1

The event (subtitled BIPEX - British International Postcard Exhibition) is the world's most prestigious card show, and a vast array of collectable examples will be on view. Postcards on sale will include vintage material from the late 19th/early 20th century - they were introduced in Britain in large numbers from 1894; and by the reign of King Edward VII (1901-10) had established themselves as the easiest and quickest method of sending short messages and greetings. Also will be available near-contemporary cards from the past twenty years.

The event is a marvellous opportunity for visitors to see (and perhaps buy!) some of the best cards available today. Many of these will interest family historians, who find that postcards of street scenes, churches and local events can often be used to illustrate their family trees.

Visitors can sell as well as buy, obtain albums and other accessories and get free advice on all aspects of the hobby, or valuations of postcards they bring in. The latest magazines and books for card collectors will also be available some of which are launched at the event.