Hobbies And Interests

How to Identify Postcards

With the millions and millions of postcards that come from all over the world, it's not surprising that there will be times when a collector will not be able to identify an image on one or more of his postcards. This is when he will need to seek the help of professionals in the field or research the subject himself, using available publications or the almost limitless information available on the Internet.

Things You'll Need

  • Postcard to identify
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Instructions

  1. Get Help to Identify Postcards

    • 1

      Take your postcards to collectors' shows or groups and seek help to identify their origins. The larger the gathering, the greater the chance of finding information about your postcards.

    • 2

      Look for a publisher's name on the front or back of the postcard to identify it or to date its production. There are several well known producers who specialized in postcards.

    • 3

      Search for the artist's signature on illustrated postcards or the photographer's name on photographic postcards, and then look them up in J.L. Mashburn's book, 'The Postcard Price Guide,' to see if you have discovered a great find ( see Resources below).

    • 4

      Post a picture of your postcard on an Internet collectors' page, and ask other collectors if they have information on your card. In come cases, there are architectural or natural landmarks that can narrow down the location or the time period of an image .

    • 5

      Take your card collection into a professional appraiser who is knowledgeable about postcards. Dealers in stamp collections often have expertise in postcards, as well, and may be able to help you identify your postcards.

    • 6

      Recognize valuable vintage postcards from the late 1800s and early 1900s by their distinguishing layout, including a small space on the card's front for writing a message and an undivided back area for the address. Only later did the cards take on the format we are now used to, including the divided back (with a line down the middle) and full-picture front.


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