Downsizing? Determined to get rid of stuff no longer needed? Cleaning out a home or an estate? Stop! Know Before You Throw.
During a recent visit with my dear friend Jenni, I discovered a secret about her that I did not know. Jenni is a deltiologist. In laymen’s terms, she’s a collector of postcards. (As a schoolteacher, she used these to teach geography, among other things.) This is great news, as I love this genre of collecting, namely ephemera.
Postcards are a great collectible because they pack so much into a small space. They generally depict a very focused area of interest, such as geographic locations, wildlife, history and sports, just to name a few. So, there’s something that can appeal to most collectors. In addition to the collection of the images depicted, there’s cross appeal to other collectors, such as philographists (autographs) and philatelists (stamps). A bonus to the stamp is that the postmark helps date the card.
It’s reported that writer Theodore Hook sent the world’s oldest known postcard in England in 1840. He sent it to himself and it’s presumed to have been a practical joke on the postal service, since the image on the card was a caricature of postal workers. That card sold at a London auction house in 2002 for a record £31,750 (about $40,600 in today’s dollars).
U.S. postcards date back to the early 1870s, becoming extremely popular during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (Columbian Exposition), when cards featuring Exposition buildings were distributed at the fair. In 1908, it’s estimated that 677 million postcards were mailed. As one can see, there’s no shortage of vintage cards, so value is dependent on subject matter, condition, the stamp and a famous autograph (if you’re lucky).
Most vintage postcards sell for a few dollars. Excellent condition Columbian Exposition cards can sell for $20 to $50. But if you are really lucky, you might have a mint 1915 Boston Red Sox baseball postcard. One recently was spotted on eBay for $150,000. So, what’s in your closet?
If you ever have questions about your postcard collection, or other collectibles and jewelry, have a trained eye determine if it has value. Call me today to help you. Give me a call and Know Before You Throw.
Jon Englund has more than 30 years of experience in appraising and liquidating personal property, jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, furniture, printed items and more, as well as more than 15 years of experience in real estate. A Midwest transplant, Jon trained at New York University in appraisal studies.
For more information, call (480) 699-1567. You also can send an email to Jon@KnowBeforeYouThrow.INFO.