The Fascinating Hobby of
Postcard Collecting
Images of Everything From Everywhere
Did you know that collecting vintage postcards is a hobby that is popular in the United States and across the world?
Postcard collecting, also known as deltiology, is the hobby of collecting and studying postcards. Enthusiasts often seek cards based on themes such as historical events, landmarks, vintage advertising, holidays, or geographic locations. Collectors enjoy discovering unique artwork, postmarks, and messages from the past, offering a glimpse into social history and culture. It’s a hobby that combines art, travel, nostalgia, and storytelling—all in a compact and affordable format.
What to collect?
Most people collect postcards related to their interests, hobbies, professions or places they lived.
Some examples of topics to collect:
Advertising
Airplanes
Airports
Architecture
Artist Signed
Bridges
Cars
Cities
Colleges
Construction Equipment
Courthouses
Covered Bridges
Diners
Disasters
Fire Trucks
Gas Stations
Holiday Postcards
Hot Air Balloons
Hotels
Main Street Scenes
Native Americans
National Parks
Railroad Stations
Restaurants
Schools
Trains
Trucks
Wizard of Oz
Worlds Fairs
Get Two FREE Postcards to
Start Your Collection
Start Your Collection With Two FREE Postcards
We think you will enjoy postcard collecting, so we’d like to make it easy for you to start. We will send you two FREE postcards to start your very own collection.
Simply send us an email with your full name and mailing address. Please put Free Postcards in the subject field. We will mail you two collectible postcards. It’s as easy as that. You must live within the continental United States to qualify.
Joining a Postcard Club
Joining a postcard club is the best way to learn about postcard collecting and to connect with fellow postcard collectors.
There are many postcard clubs throughout the United States, Canada and across the world. Clubs typically have meetings, either in person or via Zoom, that have presentations about various aspects of postcard collecting.
The Western NY Postcard Club is one such club. It has monthly meetings via Zoom. Its members are both local to the Greater Rochester area and from across the United States and Canada.
Joining the club is easy and annual dues is just $10. Visit the club’s website fot details.
Where To Buy Postcards
Most collectors buy postcards on eBay. While there are a few websites dedicated to postcard dealers selling postcards, dealers tell us they sell the majority of their postcards on eBay.
Postcard Shows
There are also postcard shows that are held around the United States. Many are annual events where dealers present thousands of postcards for sale. They are categorized by topics and also by geographic regions such as towns, counties and states.
The annual postcard show in Wichita takes place in October and is one of the most popular shows in the United States.
How Much Do Postcards Cost
Postcard prices can vary from three for a dollar to $100 or more for a single card. Typically cards tend to sell for $2.00 – $20.00, although the same card can vary in price from different dealers.
Are Postcards An Investment That WIll Appreciate in Value
Postcard values often appreciate over time, but not significantly. Postcard collecting is most rewarding when cards are collected for the enjoyment they bring, not for their investment potential.
Real Photo Postcards
Real photo postcards are black and white photographic prints on photographic paper made for postcards. Most of them were made by local photographers and printed in a darkrrom. Many have white writing on them describing the image.
Linen Postcards
Linen postcards are color images printed on paper with a linen-like textured surface. Many linen postcards were altered by artists that worked for the postcard publishers. Colors were added to black and white photos and liberal editing took place. Flags, and clouds may have been added. Cars and people may have been removed.
Zoom in on the image to see the linen texture.
Chrome Postcards
Chrome postcards are printed in color on glossy paper, without borders. They became popular in the 1950’s and are readily available today. They are among the most affordable cards.
Artist Signed Postcards
A postcard featuring an image, usually a reproduction of original artwork that includes the artist’s signature or initials printed as part of the design.
John Baeder is an American artist and postcard collector. He collects postcards of diners and made a career painting photorealistic paintings of diners, many inspired from his postcards. This video is a song about Baeder’s paintings and his life. It is illustrated with his paintings.
Mary L. Martin is the second generation of a family postcard dealer business. Her retail store is the largest retailer of postcards. She also hosts online auctions and promotes postcard shows.
This is a recording of a meeting of the Western NY Postcard Club which featured a presentation by John Baeder, an American artist and avid postcard collector.
Mark Jones, SMPostcards, is a dealer who sells postcards primarily on eBay. He has a YouTube channel with videos he does about how to sell postcards. However, his videos are filled with information about postcards that is pertinent to the collector as well as dealers.
Resources for Postcard Collectors
Postcard History Magazine
Postcard History is an online magazine that provides articles about postcards and postcard collecting. It is published weekly. It is FREE and you can sign up to receive it by entering your email.
The Newberry Library
How To Organize Your Postcards
Most collectors organize their postcards in plastic storage sheets that can be placed in a standard three-ring binder. These sheets, depending on the size if the postcards, hold four or fewer cards each.
Postcards can also be put in individual clear plastic sleeves to protect and organize them in the same boxes dealers use to display their poastcards at postcad shows.
These plastics sheets, sleeves and storage boxes can be purchased at BCW.
Books About Postcard Collecting
