If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
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 Publishing Co. and Curt-Teich were two of the major publishers in the U.S, and sometimes individuals printed their own postcards as well.
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...
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 Frances Brundage.
With vintage postcards, subject matter, condition, and rarity, plus general desirability and demand, determine value.
by 
by 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]
Walker Evans, Preeminent Photographer and Passionate Postcard Collector
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]
Attending the Theatre, Via Postcards
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”)
Carthalia
Andreas Praefcke's postcard collection of theatres and concert halls worldwide. Showcases 3700 images of over 1810 … [read review or visit site]
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]
Clubs & Associations: Postcards
Other Great Reference Sites: Postcards
Top eBay Auctions
A Superb Original Titanic Photographic Postcard (28cm Wide)
China 1968 Picture Postcard With Cultural Revolution Stamps 
Dizzy Dean Signed Autographed Black White Hall Of Fame Plaque Postcard Gai Coa
1908-09 Rose Co. Postcard Pc760 George Mullin Scg 40 3 
1908 Rose Postcard Magee ,philadelphia ,n.l. Vg/ex No Creases Rare Player 
Rms Titanic- White Star Line- Rare Real Photo Postcard-launch-may 31, 1911
Vtg Antique Postcard Rppc Paisano Pass Marfa Texas Landscape Ford Model T 
Rare - Babe Ruth 1928 Shonen Japanese Un-used Postcard - No Bv $$$
Ss Olympic- White Star Line- Real Photo Postcard Leaving Belfast-1911
Erotic Lesbian Butt Biederer French Nude Original C1920s Old Photo Postcard
St Francis Xaviers College Shanghai China - Vintage Postcard C1910 
Papua Rp Postcard "papua. 35" Incredible Message On Reverse
Vintage Antique Babe Ruth Baseball Card Postcard Rare
Rms Titanic- White Star Line- Photo Leaving Belfast-april 3, 1912-postcard
A Portion Of Luna Park Seattle Wa Postcard Amusement Park
Rppc Durham Ct Merriam Manufacturing Co. On Main Street
Rare 1907 Mississippi A & M College & Lsu Baseball Game Folding Postcard Wagons 
Rare R M S Titanic Tribute Postcard White Star Shipping
Hong Kong 1920's-30's B/w Rppc The Central Des Voeux Rd. C. Tram (4)
Cenotaph Old Cars & Club Hong Kong China - Vintage Rp Postcard Fpo Postmark 1950
1910 Farmington Conn Ct Real Photo Postcard - Landmark Building
Mich Rppc Hancock Michigan Copper Strike Mng Real Photo Postcard Vm
Mich Rppc Hancock Michigan Copper Strike Real Photo Postcard Vm
Oasis What's The Story Morning Glory 2lp + Inners + Postcard Uk Orig Near Mint!!
Mickey Mantle Signed Inscribed "no.7" Perez Steele Postcard Ny Yankees 1/1 Jsa
Awesome Rppc: Film Strip Of A Gal, 1900s-10s
1905 Rppc Postcard Lake Erie Island Turtle Island Monroe County Michigan & Lucas
Jack White Freedom At 21 Flexi Disc 7" With Postcard Third Man Records Stripes
Chefoo China Postcard 1899 No Reserve
Centennial Baptist Church, Tappahannock Va Postcard
Jewish Specil Issue Of Post Card" Magen David" First Settlements"
Pair Antique Photographs Rppc Bottling W.w. Clutter Coca Cola Bottles Seltzer
Estate Find Early 1900's Postcard Album 140 Cards Ships,alaska, Indians, Nice!
Australia, Nsw, Wallacia, Warragamba River & Small Dam, Photo Postcard
Traut Naked Bathing Child Girls Original Old C1910s Photo Postcard D01
5 Cunard Line Rms Lusitania Postcard/letter/hints For Travlers 1908-1911
Rare Rppc Real Photo Post Card School Windsor Mills Quebec Canada Masse Freres
Alligator Border Postcard -langsdorf S515- Key West Fl -street Scene
50's Hong Kong Des Voeux Road C Hand-tint Real Photo Postcard
1922 Atlantic City New Jersey New Ritz Carlton Grill Room Interior Postcard
Real Picture Post Card Rail Road Bridge Missouri River Falls City Nebraska Ne 
Santa Christmas Postcard Red Robe Plays Church Organ Choir 1 Of Series Of 6 
Dancing Witch W/ Black Cat & Owl ~ Halloween Decoration ~ Vtg Postcard Img
4 Albumen Photo Royal Military Acadamy Siam Thailand Old No Postcard
Danish West Indies. 1900. View Of St Thomas Postcard Fran
China Old Postcard Shanghai To Switzerland 1964 !!
Rms Olympic- White Star- Photo Taken On Day Of Launch In 1910-postcard-look
Rppc Photo Postcard Main Street Hampton Iowa Taylors Shop Model T Theater Busy!
Washington Dc Krag Machine Cancel Type 1 Used 8/12/-8/27 1907 On Postcard Showin
Japan Wwii Special Air Military Postcard Navy Java To Japan
Set Of 3 Old Postcard W/ Holder Formosa Taiwan Under Japanese Rule Savage #57
Tom Mix And Zack Miller 101 Ranch Ponca City , Oklahoma Rppc
Bishop California Main Street Inyo County Rare Old Real Photo Postcard View
Black Americana Paper Doll Cut-out Merry Little Men Original 1910s Postcard Tuck
Rppc Real Photo Postcard Of Early Race Cars On Racetrack 
1908 Japan Japanese Art Postcard Kokkei Shinbun Sea Clams Gathering By Yumeji #2
Yu Darvish Stamp Postcard Mlb Baseball Rangers Commemorative Album Japan Ltd Opt
Hank Aaron Perez-steele Postcard. Milwaukee/atlanta Braves
Vintage Japan Japanese Postcard Baseball Babe Ruth Red Sox Home Run #25
Mich Rppc Copper Mining Michigan Real Photo Postcard Fe
Recent News: Postcards
Source: Google News
Thrifty Acres: In The Pink With Vintage Postcards
HollandSentinel.com (blog), May 20thAs I've mentioned before, vintage postcards can be quite affordable at thrift stores. This was proven true again last week, when I paid 50c for a bundle of 44. Because of the way the postcards were packaged, I couldn't tell what scenes were included...Read more
Parks seek input for new Cincinnati landmark
Business Courier of Cincinnati (blog), May 20thThe downtown library will have a display showcasing iconic images of the city's parks from its historic postcard collection. The exhibit will also include feedback cards about the carousel that can be submitted on site. Respondents will be asked what...Read more
Join @BrowardLibrary in June/July for a celebration of Florida history with ...
Broward Net Online (press release), May 20thVintage Postcards of Florida with Elizabeth Coursen, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, 954-357-7444. June 19 – Fort Mose, St. Augustine, Florida: The First Free Black Settlement in Colonial America...Read more
Memory Lane: Can you name these mystery grand houses?
Diss Express, May 19thMr Cross, a postcard collector, has long being intersted in the area's architectural and working heritage, not only collecting postcards, but trying to identify the buildings and people that once lived or worked there. Although he is usually able to...Read more
Bad postcard of the week: Bridgman's Cook Nuclear Center has a nice lobby, but ...
MLive.com, May 18thNuclear plant0001.jpg View full sizeThe Cook Nuclear Center in Bridgman, Mich. has an attractive lobby.Bad postcard collection. GRAND RAPIDS, MI – I remember growing up in the late 1970s and hip California musicians such as Jackson Browne and...Read more
Greater Austin Antique Postcard and Paper Show Has New Venue, New Dates
PR Web (press release), May 17thBuyers and sellers from seven states bring nearly a million antique postcards for sale at the Postcard and Paper Americana show. They also buy collections and accumulations and give free appraisals of most all vintage postcards, old photographs, and...Read more
Vintage Postcards Awake Memories of Tianjin - China Daily
China Daily, May 8thTianjing Documentaries. Vintage Postcards Awake Memories of Tianjin. comment; printer; mail. | Updated: 2013-05-08 16:18:01 |By |. Get Flash Player. These 5,000-plus postcards were carefully selected by Zhao Jianqiang from a larger pool of collections...Read more
Big Sky Chronicles: Postcard Donation
Beartooth NBC, May 6thAfter gathering them for more than 40 years, a local Helena resident has donated part of his extensive postcard collection to the Montana Historical Society. Tom Mulvaney's decision to part with his Montana postcard collection was anything but easy...Read more