How to Collect Antique Postcards

Do you collect antique postcards? If so, you're not alone. People collect these artifacts of history for a variety of reasons, but primarily they are attracted to the photographs, paintings and drawings on the front. Collecting postcards is also a fun hobby that it is relatively inexpensive, and your collection won't take up much space!

Getting Started

You've settled on starting a collection of antique postcards, but how do you know which cards are valuable and which aren't? Luckily, there are many postcard enthusiasts who are more than willing to share their knowledge on the Internet. Start off with these fact and picture filled websites to help you determine antique postcard values before you start shopping:

Postcard Values - provides information on collecting, values, price guides and how to determine the age of your postcard.

Vintage Postcards - site has over 15,000 photos of collectible postcards and their values.

The Postcard Guy - details how to collect and what should be looked for. Topics range from condition to rarity of various postcards.

You may also find lots of information on collecting antique postcards in price guides and collector guide books. These types of books will give you details on current prices for both collectors and resellers. Collector guides will give collectors basic information on what to look for when collecting certain types of postcards such as picture postcards, various illustrators or important postage and postmarks.

Where to Buy Antique Postcards

After you've gotten an idea on the types of antique postcards that you are interested in as well as their values, it is time to start shopping. There are several places that you can start looking, beginning with family members. Odds are, someone in your family collected postcards, since sending them was very popular in the early 1900's. Check out your attic or ask your grandparents if they have a postcard collection they could share with you.

Other great places to find antique postcards include: