The hobby of collecting old postcards is finally starting to get some serious recognition as one of the most enjoyable hobbies you could ever engage in. No matter how old you are or what interests you have, you may find that postcard publishers covered the same topic or interest you’re passionate about over 100 years ago.
Stamp collecting has been at the forefront of home hobbies for decades and it certainly kept postcard collecting out of the spotlight. While some postcard collecting enthusiasts have been quietly amassing their collections in the past by visiting antique fairs, boot stalls, and specialty postcard shows, the Internet and online auction websites have accidentally put the hobby on the map. the spotlight and is now finally getting the recognition it deserves.
More and more people are recognizing the fascinating hobby of postcards as a means of collecting something of real historical interest. Collecting postcards will probably never catch up with the stamp business in terms of popularity or prices, but this is an advantage for many reasons.
Where else can you buy a genuine antique for less than the cost of a short bus ride? Many astute collectors have researched the postcard collecting market as a whole and focused on specific areas that they feel are seriously undervalued. In many cases, their gamble has paid off with many collectors now selling the postcards they paid pennies for a few years ago through online auctions for massive profits.
Postcard collecting is not just about collecting for a profit in the hope that your investment will increase in value over a period. It’s about collecting a theme, topic or place that you have a real bond with, something that you’re passionate about. This can be topics such as military, shipping or it could be of topographical interest and social history of your local city or town. In many cases, postcards are unique in showing areas and buildings that no longer exist or have changed over the years. They are a special day in history when the local photographer captured an image where time simply stood still.
There must be hundreds of subjects and themes in which you can collect old postcards. My only advice is to make sure you have a genuine interest in that election for whatever reason. Maybe it was a regiment a relative was serving in and you want to go back to find out the story. This is something you can do in detail with the collection of postcards.
Some of the best places to find vintage postcards for sale are on specialty websites. Some websites provide a good selection of topics, while others focus on topography. Online auctions are another good place to look for vintage postcards for sale. Antique fairs are still a good place to find postcard vendors along with specialized postcard fairs held every weekend of the year.
I hope you will take a look at the postcard collection as a hobby option. Once you get your first postcards, you might be hooked and can’t wait to continue finding those illusionary cards that will turn your collection into something to be truly proud of.
