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Remember first, because old post card collecting is such an expansive subject, there are few experts. That puts you in the middle of the pack before you've started the race. Secondly, remember there are millions of cards out there, on virtually every subject. Many have been priced hurriedly. They haunt the same flea markets, tag sales, shops and auctions you haunt. You can have fun collecting old post cards; perhaps even make money in the hobby. Begin by understanding, because there's such a wide variety, postcards are collected and valued by CATEGORY. The key then, isn't understanding postcards, but understanding people, and how we categorize and set value to things. Here's a few postcard categories much sought-after by collectors. It's easy to understand why. Price averages are for early cards in good condition.
1. Artist Signed - Just as you'd be proud to hang a signed painting by Howard Chandler Christy, James Montogomery Flagg, Kate Greenaway, or Frederick Remington, so to do we value their printed postcards. Less famous, but equally prized postcard artists signed by Rose O'Neil, Charles Twelvetrees, and many others, can be recognized by their talent. Appraise postcards as you appraise art. (Price $10.00+)
2. Mechanical and "Hold to the Light"- People like gadgets. Occasionally, an old postcard is found with moving parts, or a special message revealed when held up to light, even heat. Other varieties of "Novelty" cards are also collected. ($15.00-$25.00+)
3. Advertising - These cards bring other competitors into the foray-collectors of: Coca-Cola, S & H Green Stamps, International Harvester, Bell Telephone, Expo's and Fairs, etc.. Interesting small business ads like, "Dr. Keating's Wooden Legs," are also coveted. ($5.00-$25.00+)
4. Pioneer - Rare early Souvenir, Mail, or Correspondence Cards with US Postal markings dating from 1861 to May 19, 1898. ($15.00++)
5. View Cards - A majority of cards published in the United States are view or picture cards. Most valued are pre-W.W.I cards with real brown-shaded "sepia" photos, compared to later color photo prints. Interesting shots are much more valuable than boring ones. What kinds of views are interesting? Famous people, early aviation, trains & depots, Indians, disaster scenes, occupational, bird's-eye-views, etc..($1.00-$20.00++)
6. Holiday Post Cards - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Rally Day, and Saint Patrick's Day cards were not produced in great numbers like Christmas Cards. Christmas Cards are still valuable, however. Especially if the picture an old fashioned Saint Nick in a coat of green, or blue, or white, compared with what's common today, red. ($1.00-$10.00+)
7. Political Cards - Like advertising postcards, political cards bring a new category of collector into the market. One card, featuring Uncle Sam scolding a baseball uniformed, Teddy Roosevelt for having already batting twice, (he ran for the presidency three times) would attract baseball collectors as well. ($15.00-$25.00+)
8. By Manufacturer - Rapheal Tuck and Sons are probably most famous. Early examples have a tiny easle in the corner on the picture side. Later cards will have Tuck's name or that of his brands: Oilette, Charmette, Raphotype, Rapholette, and Aquarette. ($2.00-$10,00+)
Old Postcards - Part II
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