http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/categories/beginners/feed.rss Sun, 19 May 13 21:27:05 -0700 For Beginners Discussions on PostcardCollector.org - The Vintage Postcard Forum en-CA http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1371/guide-how-much-are-my-postcards-worth Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:40:47 -0700 PostcardCollector 1371@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
Remember this list is for beginners and should be kept as general as possible. I would like this to become the discussion we send people to when they ask "How much are my postcards worth?".

General Rules:

Pricing postcards comes down to simple supply and demand. Collectible and rare postcards bring the highest values. Common cards in uncollected topics, not so much.

Are the postcards Standard size or the larger modern Continental size? If Continental they are likely worth next to nothing. They are just too new to have much value yet.

After 50 years chrome postcards are just starting to gain some value.

Are they collectible topics? Ask yourself, what would a person who wanted this postcard be collecting? A certain town? Ships? New Year greetings? Topics that are more collected are generally worth more than topics few care about.

Are the cards damaged? If a common postcard is severely damaged (torn, missing pieces, heavily stained, etc.) it's worth nothing.]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/92/what-do-you-collect Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:09:50 -0700 rgnpcs 92@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions This is a great area to help you to expand your collecting.
Richaard]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2278/to-throw-or-not-to-throw Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:03:46 -0700 Kippernana 2278@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions Fran]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2246/postcard-image Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:57:02 -0700 Gwendolyn 2246@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2233/postcards-interpretive-panel-permissions-h-h-bregstone Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:12:47 -0700 jimmyolsen 2233@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
I'm helping a small, not-for-profit group produce a series of interpretive panels. Among the photos they've supplied are several postcards. In particular, they have a number of HH Bregstone postcards, and a Lester Jones image.

They're very old, and I suspect the copyright has expired--but I'd still like to contact the estates to request permission, and let them know about the project.

Any suggestions on who I might call for permission to include those images in the panels? I've struck out in my internet searches.

Thanks for your time and consideration!
]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2229/old-books-of-postcards Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:09:20 -0700 the1regina 2229@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2213/fred-harvey Sun, 20 Jan 2013 08:50:47 -0700 alicat 2213@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
8 Fred Harvey (his name is written) all are scenes of Arizona . Only 1 is used with the date 1936.
3 Fred Harvey (his name is in a circle logo) 1 is used with the date 1935
.
5 scenes of California by WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. All unused.

As they have been kept in an album they are in near mint condition.

Thank You
(ps more to follow)
]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2167/i-have-a-set-of-rare-tucks-playtime-picture-puzzle-postcards- Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:31:32 -0700 pussycat 2167@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2157/used-vs-unused-postcards Sat, 20 Oct 2012 09:43:18 -0700 PostcardCollector 2157@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
One of the first things new collectors get to asking is, "Are postcards better if they are used or unused?". This is what I tell them: If there are two of the same postcard, in exactly the same condition, one used and one unsused, the used card is more valuable. This is because it has the added age verification of a cancellation and possibly an interesting message or usage. With a used card you also have the chance it's postal history value is higher than the value of the card itself. RPOs, Ship Cancels, Interesting Usage, Etc.

If there are two of the same postcard, one used with damage and one perfect but unused, the unused card is more valuable, but not because it is unused, only because of it's nice condition. This is also assuming the usage doesn't add something to the postal history value of the card.]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2123/ive-recently-acquired-some-very-old-used-and-unused-post-cards- Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:40:07 -0700 Roxy68 2123@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
3 of the cards are Black Americana Vintage Sexichrome cards. One has a copyright written on the front, after the name of the picture, of 1893.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2115/new-here-but-very-impressed-with-the-organization-of-the-forum-and-the-class-of-people-here- Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:44:14 -0700 RurikBloodaxe 2115@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
The one thing I am asking is: Do dates matter for each category?

Do we present our postcards here by photo, or just by text?

I know I'll figure it out with a little bit of help from you guys, and with more exploration. Appreciate all your help.

cheers]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1865/beginners-interest Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:08:21 -0700 crtl 1865@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
Does anyone have a card to share that helped fuel your beginner's interest?]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/246/defining-deltiology-postcard-collecting Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:52:23 -0700 PostcardCollector 246@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions



Deltiology is the study and collection of postcards. Compared to philately, the identification of a postcard's place and time of production can often be an impossible task because postcards, unlike stamps, are produced in a decentralized, unregulated manner. For this reason, some collectors choose to limit their acquisitions to cards by specific artists and publishers, or by time and location.

Deltiologists, as postcard collectors are called, collect for a variety of reasons. Some are attracted to the postcards themselves, then narrow down their interests. Others are interested in something in particular, such as Ballet, then decide to collect Ballet related postcards as a way to augment their interest in Ballet.

Postcards are collected by historical societies, libraries and genealogical societies because of their importance in research such as how a city looked at a particular time in history as well as social history. Many elementary schools use postcards to teach children geography. Postcard Penpal programs have been established to help children in language arts.

Collectors may find postcards at home in boxes, attics, or scrapbooks, generate their own on trips and vacations, and acquire them from stores, fleamarkets, the internet, or other collectors.

Worldwide, deltiology is the third largest hobby after stamp collecting and money collecting. As a result, postcard clubs are all around the world. These clubs, as well as related organizations, host postcard shows on a regular basis.

A great place to start learning more about postcards and postcard collecting is our For Beginners category. Happy hunting!]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1997/all-about-real-photo-postcards-guide Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:08:27 -0700 postcardy 1997@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions

Here is a link to an excellent (and long) paper about real photo postcards. It contains a wealth of information and is suitable for advanced collectors as well as beginners. It also includes some general postcard information.

Real & Other Photos: An Introduction to the History, Identification and Collectability of Early Photographic Postcards]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/357/the-trough-of-no-value Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:05:42 -0700 PostcardCollector 357@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions



The Trough of No Value is the period in the lifetime of most objects between when they are new (and therefore valuable) and when they are old, rare, and collectible (and therefore valuable).

For example: "Who wanted to keep old lunchboxes around? They weren't useful any more. They weren't worth anything. And, since they were almost all used for their intended purpose, many were damaged or worn by use (I vaguely remember owning one that was rusty and had a dent). People naturally threw them away. The "trough of no value" for lunchboxes was long and harsh. That's why they're not so common today as you might guess -- because not that many made it through the trough."]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1265/postcard-collection-vs-postcard-accumulation Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:59:29 -0700 PostcardCollector 1265@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions


A "Postcard Collection" is not the same thing as a "Postcard Accumulation". Being a postcard dealer, I see many of each on a regular basis. It's easy to tell the difference.

A postcard collection is an organized, focused, and actively collected group of cards. The best cards are usually found in collections.

A postcard accumulation is.. well.. accumulated. An accumulation might contain cards from relatives or friends, cards from mixed lots bought at auction, or cards chosen from an antique store. While an accumulation might contain better cards, it's going to be the luck of the draw.

Most postcard collectors begin as accumulators until they settle down with one or several collecting topics. Do you agree? Disagree? Which are you? I hope some of our members will have more to say about this topic and the differences between "collecting" postcards and "accumulating" them.]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1392/new-collector Tue, 03 May 2011 19:26:18 -0700 reztal 1392@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1178/information-about-postcard-collecting-collectible-postcards Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:26:56 -0700 postcardy 1178@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-vintage-postcard-collector-ann-waidelich/

An Interview With Vintage Postcard Collector Ann Waidelich
By Maribeth Keane, Collectors Weekly Staff

In this interview, Ann Waidelich discusses postcard collecting and the many varieties of collectible postcards on the market. Ann is a volunteer with the Wisconsin Historical Society, whose microsite, Tall Tale Postcards, is a member of our Hall of Fame.]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/614/recognize-various-postcard-printing-methods Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:16:37 -0700 PostcardCollector 614@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions

Postcard collectors often ask how to recognize real photo postcards (RPPC). The easiest way to tell how a postcard was produced is to look at the card under slight magnification. Most printed cards will have some sort of dot pattern, much like a photograph printed in a magazine.

I found this great explanation of some of the various printing types used in producing postcards at “Mad in Pursuit”. She has various types of postcards scanned at 2400dpi which reveals much about how they where produced.

http://www.madinpursuit.com/Tutorials/Postcards/PostcardRef2.htm
http://www.madinpursuit.com/Tutorials/Postcards/PostcardRef3.html

[1] Real photograph: Printed directly on to sensitized paper from a photographic negative to produce the finest grain

Photomechanical processes: Ways of securing a photographic image on a printing plate, for mass production:

[2] Collotype: A photo-gelatin method that produced a very fine grain
[3] Albertype: A collotype coating on glass plates permitted high speed mass production of photographs for the first time
[4] Photogravure: A copper engraving plate is sensitized photographically
[5] Platinogravure: Brand name for a French reproduction process
[6] Half-tone: Processed through a screen into a grid of variably sized black & white dots

Color Printing Processes:

[7] 1907 Undivided back: Black halftone screen, with color tints added
[8] 1913 Divided back: Albertype (variety of collotype), hand-colored
[9] 1913 Divided back: Black halftone screen, with color tints added
[10] 1924 White border era: Black halftone screen, with color tints added
[11] 1935 Linen card era: Black halftone with mechanical color tint
[12] 1960s Photochrome era: 4-color halftone]]> http://postcardcollector.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/1027/how-do-you-store-your-postcards Sun, 07 Nov 2010 07:02:33 -0700 Kellie728 1027@/forum/index.php?p=/discussions