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Postcards became popular at the turn of the 20th Century, especially for sending short messages to friends and relatives. They were collected right from the start, and are still sought after today by collectors of pop culture, photography, advertising, wartime memorabilia, local history, and many other categories.

Postcards were an international craze, published all over the world. The Detroit Publishin...

There are many types of collectible vintage postcards. Hold-to-light postcards were made with tissue paper surrounded by two pieces of regular paper, so light would shine through. Fold-out postcards, popular in the 1950s, had multiple postcards attached in a long strip. Real photograph postcards (RPPCs) are photographs with a postcard backing.

Novelty postcards were made using wood, aluminum, copper, and cork. Silk postcards – often embroidered or with a printed image – were wrapped around cardboard and sent in see-through glassine paper envelopes, and were especially popular during WW1. In the 1930s and 1940s, postcards were printed on brightly colored paper designed to look like linen.

Most vintage postcard collectors focus on themes, like Christmas, Halloween, portraits of movie stars, European royalty and U.S. presidents, wartime imagery, and photos of natural disasters. Not to mention cards featuring colorful pictures by famous artists like Alphonse Mucha, Harrison Fisher, Ellen Clapsaddle, and Francis Brundage.

With vintage postcards, subject matter, condition, and rarity, plus general desirability and demand, determine value.

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Interviews & Articles

Fundraising Postcard for the Graf Zeppelin

Immediately following World War I, the German economy was in shambles as it struggled to pay heavy war reparations. The German peo… [more]

An Interview With Metropolitan Museum Curator Jeff Rosenheim On the Postcard Collection Of Walker Evans

In 1994, I had the great pleasure of acquiring the complete archive of Walker Evans for the Metropolitan Museum. The archive is qu… [more]

When Postcards Were the Social Network

I worked for 35 years as a reference librarian with the Madison Public Library and I just got interested in Madison’s history thro… [more]

An Interview With Postcard Collector Andreas Praefcke

Andreas Praefcke (Ravensburg, Germany) collects postcards of old and new theatre buildings worldwide. His complete collection can … [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

U. Delaware Postcard Collection

U. Delaware Postcard Collection

This collection of over 2000 postcards provides a peek at life in and around Delaware in the early 1900s. Browse g… [read review or visit site]

Carthalia

Carthalia

Andreas Praefcke's postcard collection of theatres and concert halls worldwide. Showcases 3700 images of over 1810 … [read review or visit site]

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Malcolm Roebuck's tribute to the ornate silk picture bookmarks and postcards ('Stevengraphs') produced by Thomas St… [read review or visit site]

Tall Tale Postcards

Tall Tale Postcards

Don't let this one get away from you. This 'unbelievable' collection, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, featur… [read review or visit site]

Postcardy.com

Postcardy.com

Lynne Appel's reference site contains useful information for postcard collectors such as such as a Postcard Collect… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Postcards

Other Great Reference Sites: Postcards

Top eBay Auctions

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Recent News: Postcards

Source: Google News

Vintage Postcard by Melody Fisher Chosen as 2012 Live Oak Music Festival Artwork
Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News, February 7th

The colorful painting created by Melody Fisher to represent the 2012 Live Oak Music Festival resembles a postcard with multiple vignettes that will be instantly recognizable to seasoned “Oakies”. The artwork will adorn 2012 Live Oak Music Festival...Read more

Scavenger hunt registration deadline looms
Redlands Daily Facts, February 7th

8, 7 pm - Redlands Modern meets - "Desert Holiday: A Vintage Postcard Tour from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea" to screen - Assembly Room, AK Smiley Public Library March 3, 9 am to 1 pm - Great Redlands Scavenger Hunt, A Walk Through Redlands - Party...Read more

Museum hosts postcards event
South Bend Tribune, February 6th

The exhibition titled "Wish You Were Here: Selections from the Mike Van Ark Postcard Collection" is scheduled to run through Aug. 5. Van Ark began collecting in the 1970s by adding to his mother's postcard collection. His collection grew to include...Read more

Celebrate Charles Dickens' 200th birthday with antique postcards
Antique Trader, February 2nd

Happy 200th birthday! Barbara Andrews has contributed postcard articles to Antique Trader for more than 35 years. She's an author of women's fiction, working in partnership with her daughter. Charles Dickens 200th birthday vintage postcards...Read more

Dallas Metro Antique Postcard & Paper Americana Show and Sale Hits Plano, TX
PR Web (press release), February 2nd

If you love Americana and history or consider yourself a collector of art or photographs, you'll be glad you attend this show," said Jim Taylor, show organizer and owner of Courthouse Square Antique Postcards. Organizers are anticipating hundreds of...Read more

Antique Postcard and Paper Americana Show Comes to Springfield, MO
PR Web (press release), January 29th

Buyers and sellers from seven states bring nearly a million antique postcards for sale at the Postcard and Paper Americana show in Springfield, Mo. Organizers are anticipating hundreds of attendees over a two-day period when the Springfield,...Read more

Saucy postcard collection is up for sale in Southsea
Portsmouth News, January 26th

By Chris Owen They feature an array of attractive young women, large old ladies, drunken middle-aged men, honeymoon couples and vicars. Tens of thousands of Donald McGill's saucy seaside postcards have been sent from Southsea and every coastal resort...Read more

Haiku Reviews: From Harvey Milk To Erotic Vintage Postcards
Huffington Post, January 20th

HuffPost Arts' Haiku Reviews are regular features where we invite critics to review exhibitions and performances in short form. Some will be in the traditional Haiku form of 5x7x5 syllables, others might be a sonnet or even a string of words...Read more

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