Are 100 year old postcards valuable?
by Tom Snyder. n a single word, yes. In most cases vintage postcards are relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for beginning collectors. But in some cases, postcards, especially some produced between 1893 and 1950, can be worth a great deal of money.
How do I know if my old postcards are valuable?
A vintage postcard's value is obviously dependent on its age, condition, rarity and the subject matter. If there is a message of historical importance or a signature from somebody famous on the back, a postcard can increase in value.
Is there a market for very old postcards?
Interestingly, old postcards can still command significant prices but it does depend on their age, condition, rarity and subject matter. In this detailed guide, you'll learn how to sell a postcard collection and discover 8 easy steps to follow to help achieve the best possible return.
Are postcards from the 1940s worth anything?
It's hard to say which types are valuable but very fine "linen" cards can be worth something, especially if they relate to something that really characterizes the era, like cars, the War, a World's Fair, baseball or other sports, etc. But even there it would depend on how scarce a particular card actually is.
Are postcards from 1910 worth anything?
Postcards from the early 1900s and earlier are generally more sought after by collectors. Rarity: Postcards that are rare or unique are more valuable than those that are common or mass-produced. Condition: The condition of the postcard is also an important factor.
Are postcards from 1907 worth anything?
The cards are quite scarce. The Statue of Liberty card is worth about $50. The Cracker Jack cards are famous for bears. They're from 1907, and this card is worth between $75 and $100.
What are the most valuable old postcards?
Assessing an old postcard's value
You now need to look at the 5" x 3" cards produced in the 1960s or earlier. However, it is important to realise that the value of these cards is not determined by their age and that 90 per cent or so of the average collection will have very little value.
What can I do with old postcards?
Establish its age.
The auctioneers at Warwick & Warwick note that an older card will have more value; ones printed after 1960 will be worth less than those printed before. To determine a postcard's age, look at its printed postmark — is the year there? Also, take into account the post card's size.
Are 1960s postcards worth anything?
People will pay good money for a postcard they can't get from anywhere else. Because of this, postcards should sell especially well on marketplaces that thrive on rarity like Etsy and eBay.
How to price old postcards?
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.
Can you make money selling postcards?
Donate old postcards
Do you have any old postcards lying around at home? By sending them on you can help raise funds for working animals.
Why do people collect old postcards?
Antique Postcards - Although the word Antique is generally considered to mean an item over 100 years old, many collectors use the term antique postcards to describe cards of the 1893 - 1920 period, also known as the Golden Age.
What can I do with old postcards UK?
First choice would be to try a gum eraser. Swipe outward to avoid causing a crease. You can try soaking the card in distilled water overnight and then putting it between layers of paper towels, Put a large flat object like a cooking sheet on it then a heavy object. Change the paper towels after a few hours.
What are old postcards called?
Ø If the card is old and is slightly smaller than 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it may date from 1898-1902. Ø If the card measures 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it was probably made between 1902 and 1970. Ø If the card measures approximately 4 by 6 inches (“continental” size) and is American, it was probably made no earlier than the 1960s.
How do you clean old postcards?
The world's oldest known postcard was sent in 1840, long before the format was made official by the Austrians in 1869, 150 years ago. The hand-painted card that pokes fun at post office scribes was sent to a writer called Theodore Hook.
How old is an antique postcard?
Postcard sent from the Titanic when in Cork harbour, which is estimated at £15,000-20,000 in the Warwick & Warwick auction on July 18. Postcard sent from the Titanic when in Cork harbour, which is estimated at £15,000-20,000 in the Warwick & Warwick auction on July 18.
How old is the oldest postcard?
Postcard collecting has been a popular American pastime since the hobby's Golden Age more than a hundred years ago. For today's collector, postcards offer historic photography, snapshots of pop culture and everyday life, colorful works by famous artists—and the thrill of the hunt as you build your collection.
How much is a Titanic postcard worth?
Postcards are an easy-to-find, super-cheap “souvenir” available pretty much everywhere around the world. By having to figure out the local postal system, you always get to learn a little bit more about foreign countries — for better or worse.
Are postcards collectibles?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) sells Postcards inside their local USPS locations, and online. Although they have a limited selection of blank postcards, they do offer a variety of 'design your own' postcards & notecards through 3rd party print companies online.
Do postcards still exist?
By far the most common material for producing postcards, as with most print media, was paper. Postcard printers typically used white cardstock, as did the Bridge from Goat Isle postcard (right), though off-white or cream was also common. Less frequent, but still used, were colored cardstocks.
Does anyone sell postcards anymore?
The decade between 1905-1915 – the Golden Age of Postcards – saw postcard collecting reach a zenith of staggering proportion. Literally millions of postcards were printed, imported, sold and mailed.
What are vintage postcards made of?
White-border cards were created during and after World War I, and they are characterized by a white border around the image, which was done to save ink. Linen cards, printed during the Depression through the end of World War II, were printed on paper with a higher content of cotton fiber and a rougher texture.
When was the golden age of postcards?
Some vintage postcards are copyright protected, and others are not. If a postcard is copyright protected, it cannot be reproduced or used without permission. However, many vintage postcards are not copyright protected and are available in public domain – which means they can be reproduced and used freely by anyone.
What were old postcards made of?
To qualify as a postcard, a mail piece must be rectangular and meet these dimensions (per USPS regulations): At least 3-1/2” high X 5” long X 0.007” thick. No more than 6” high X 9” long X 0.016” thick. Have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125”
Are vintage postcards copyrighted?
The Private Mailing Card Act of May 19, 1898, stipulated that private mailing cards measure 3.25 x 5.5 inches. After 1901, postcards typically measured 3.5 x 5.5 inches, although variations in size exist. In the 1960s, some printers began producing 4 x 6 inch postcards.
Are there rules for postcards?
Takeaways: Postcard sizes
Standard postcards include sizes ranging from 3-inches x 4-inches to 4.25-inches x 6-inches and cost just $0.40 cents to mail. Jumbo postcards range from 5-inches x 7-inches to 6-inches x 11-inches and have a mailing rate of $0.55.
What size are most vintage postcards?
Most postcards can be mailed using a postcard stamp but over-sized/large/jumbo postcards require the same postage that a one-ounce first class letter needs to be mailed (currently $0.68 per stamp). If it's larger than those dimensions the post office considers it a letter and you'll need a one-ounce stamp to mail it.
How much is a post card?
Each Tuck postcard had an imprint of the British royal coat of arms (the Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Victoria had been obtained in 1893), and the Tuck trademark, an easel, palette, and brushes and the monogram R.T. &S. (usually printed in the box where a stamp would be affixed).
Is there a special stamp for postcards?
With high visibility and low printing and postage costs, postcards are a cost-effective, personalized way to boost return on investment (ROI) and ensure campaign success.
What is a tuck postcard?
You don't have to worry about choosing the best way to sell postcards online when you can sell them everywhere. Run an Ecwid store on your own website, on popular social media platforms, or through marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
Are postcards a good investment?
Many postcards are sent when people are traveling and want to share a local view without writing a page-long letter. They're quick and efficient to get a message across and don't require an envelope to mail them, which makes them unique to the mailing system.
How to make money from postcards?
by Tom Snyder. n a single word, yes. In most cases vintage postcards are relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for beginning collectors. But in some cases, postcards, especially some produced between 1893 and 1950, can be worth a great deal of money.
What is so special about postcards?
The vintage ones are black and white photography. There may be some indication on the back of the card about the type of photo paper used - this is often indicated by the stamp box, which will be visible if your postcard is unused.
Are 100 year old postcards valuable?
Stamped cards, called postal cards prior to 1999, refer to mailing cards issued by the Postal Service with postage stamps imprinted on them. Postcards refer to privately printed and sold cards that require a stamp for mailing.
How can you tell if a postcard is vintage?
Consider framing select postcards in matching or eclectic frames, arranging them in a visually appealing grid on a wall. Alternatively, use a vintage-inspired clothesline with mini clothespins to hang the postcards, creating a whimsical and changeable display.
What is the difference between a postcard and a post card?
Foxing is the result of both mold and metal contaminants in paper. Foxing appears as brown, yellow, or red stains on the paper, often in spidery spots or blotches.
How do you display vintage postcards?
Lithography and collotype were the two processes responsible for most picture postcards printed between 1893 and 1920. Collotypes have an artistic finish with delicate lines and tonal gradations similar to an original photograph.
What is foxing on a postcard?
No obvious flaws. Sharp corners, clean and if postally used, writing does not detract from appearance. Very Good ( VG ) Minor defects such as album marks, signs of age and handling acceptable that do not detract from a visually pleasing card. Good (G) Noticeable defects, handling and wear apparent.
How were old postcards printed?
The word vintage literally means "of age." With such an open meaning, there are many interpretations. Most antique dealers consider an item to be vintage if it is at least 40 years old. So, in the context of this blog date, a vintage item would be made between 1918 and 1978.
How do you grade postcards?
The first commercially produced card was created in 1861 by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia, who patented a private postal card, and sold the rights to Hymen Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were marketed as "Lipman's Postal Card". These cards had no images.
How can you tell how old a vintage is?
Linen postcards are recognizable by their texture and vivid colors, as well as for their picturesque displays of nature and other scenes.
What did the first postcard look like?
Age: The older a postcard is, the more likely it is to be valuable. Postcards from the early 1900s and earlier are generally more sought after by collectors. Rarity: Postcards that are rare or unique are more valuable than those that are common or mass-produced.
How can you tell if a postcard is linen?
The most valuable single item onboard the Titanic was, however, a 1912 painting by Merry-Joseph Blondel, La Circassienne au bain. Based on the insurance claim made after the fact, the work was estimated to be $100,000, equivalent to just over $3 million dollars today.
What is the most valuable old postcard?
1. Oil Painting La Circassienne au Bain - Over $3 Million in Today's Money. The most valuable artifact from Titanic will never be recovered, but we still know quite a bit about it.
Do people buy old postcards?
Built at an estimated cost of $7.5 million in 1912, in today's dollars it would cost roughly $400 million to construct. The vessel sat untouched at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean for more than seven decades until it was discovered by a joint American-French expedition in 1985.
Which country sends the most postcards?
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.
What is the most expensive thing found on the Titanic?
Which postcards are valuable?
What is the most valuable piece of the Titanic?
How old is the oldest postcard?
How much would the Titanic cost in today's money?
What can I do with old postcards?
Assessing an old postcard's value
You now need to look at the 5" x 3" cards produced in the 1960s or earlier. However, it is important to realise that the value of these cards is not determined by their age and that 90 per cent or so of the average collection will have very little value.
Why do people collect old postcards?
There are several creative ways to display antique postcards in your house. You can consider the following ideas: Frame them: Frame your favorite postcards in a museum mount or make a collage and then frame them. You could also take a large frame and have multiple mounts to showcase about 6 or 8 of them.
What are the most valuable old postcards?
Ø If the card is old and is slightly smaller than 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it may date from 1898-1902. Ø If the card measures 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it was probably made between 1902 and 1970. Ø If the card measures approximately 4 by 6 inches (“continental” size) and is American, it was probably made no earlier than the 1960s.