I’m not as knowledgeable about Postcards as Karoden is, but I can answer some of your questions.

In after thought, I would have opened a separate booth for them. Postcards are not big sellers, and will sell better if shipping can be easily combined to encourage additional sales. I have many types, everything between state postcards (Tourism) to special interest Postcards (Animals, antiquities, weather phenomenon, etc) and Historical (World War 1 era). I sell a few every month, but not enough to consider them being productive inventory samples. The good thing about them is they take up very little space and don’t cost alot to sell or ship.

I scan both sides of my cards. I am not up to date on the terminology as to what the different styles are called, and how to tell them apart. I try to state that in my listing, asking the buyer to judge from the photo’s provided. I do include measurements and general condition, as well as translate anything on foreign postcards when I can.

Uncirculated means unused. No postal Markings or writing on the card.

I try to pack and store the most fragile (the antique cards) in sleeves to protect them, and always ship with the sleeve in a hard cardboard envelope mailer so they won’t get bent. I have been asked to place them in plain letter envelopes and ship with a stamp, but refuse to do so. I have to protect the integrity of the card…after all, I am the one who owns it until the buyer receives it, as they can still place a claim or return it…damaged.

Serious collectors and sellers may consider selling on DelCampe and it may be a great site to do research on as well. [URL removed]

Some postcards can be very valuable, so you should always sniff around the net before you list each one.

You may want to also consider selling them in lots. It would certainly make more sense when you consider fees and shipping, and is great for cards that are not in high demand.

Hook up here too! The Ephemera Network
[URL removed]

Good Luck Kim! Hope this has been helpful!

I have been buying and selling and collecting Post Cards for 20 plus years. It is important if you are going to sell post Cards to learn the terminology and how to date cards. The subject and condition and type of card are all important in pricing. I do not list Post Cards at this time on the internet, but sell at the Antique mall as a impulse item. I find on the internet that many mediocre cards are priced to high. The very good cards will have buyers at the right price. The mediocre cards have declined in value so selling groups or lots of cards may be the way to go for those cards. I bought a collection of cards today that are on my desk as I write this. This site should help you with details, [URL removed]

Contact www.bonanza.com/Karoden – he has 1000s and sells nothing but postcards.
Nice guy – he is very knowledgable.
I bought several from him as Christmas and Birthday gifts.
Usually from the year in which the recepient was born.

Another one is www.bonanza.com/momspennies – I bought from her too.
They know what they are talking about.

I’m sure they can help you.

[URL removed]

I have found help from many above and this site also

I have not listed any yet…still learning

You will probably be aible to obtain protective sleeves for Post Cards at a Hobby Store selling Baseball and various Sports cards. I ship cards in a sturdy vynil sleeve exactly like a baseball Card sleeve.
I can off nothing more tha Momspennies has already provided. There are some cards that can be identified, and dated even when not postally used, if they have their publishers identifying marks, but most cards do not possess those marks.
Feel free to contact me at anytime you may have a question and I will try to help out.

Good Luck,

Karodens Vintage Post Cards

P.S.

My best results in the selling of Post Cards for the past 25 years have been in the very old Real Photo Post Card category. I have sold to authour’s, Historians, and Genealogist’s as well as many others. I would remind you that other than poor condition, Mediocre Cards are one persons opinion. Many cards are more desirable than others to certain collectors, such as Santa’s, Cherub’s, Bunny Rabbits etc.
In my opinion the vintage Post Card market has changed drastically ove the past 15 years. Much of it has to do with the advent of the Internet, and it is very hard to figure it out these days.

I am going to throw another thought out here, because selling postcards is very profitable, at least it has been for me in the past. When you list them, BE SURE to list information about the cancellation as well… there are very many people who do not care what the card is about, but rather collect RPO (Railroad) cancellations, and/or town cancellations (perhaps the town they grew up in). Also, add a photo of the stamp and cancellation if you can, as a lot of people just collect stamps, and some of the lower denominations are a bit more unusual.

@ Rosenthal – Thank you for the two Sellers links and for your feedback on your experience with them.

@ MomsPennies – Thank you so much for your help – YES, VERY helpful! Your input is a GREAT start. ;)

@ FatherTime – Thank you for your input! I really appreciate your help in this…I don’t want to GIVE away my collection, I’d like to make SOME money on it. I assume I will learn more about “mediocre” cards on the web site you mentioned?

@ CindyBear – Thank you for the Link! :D

I have a scanner that I use now for a lot of listings. And when I list anything, I always do a search on the net for similar items and pricing.

The sleeves you are talking about, do you have a resource for them?

I will be offering free S/H on the postcards since everything in my booth is that way now, might as well! ;)

As far as Delcampe, great place for research, but I will list these here, if anything, the postcards will bring people to my booth and maybe they will look around at other things I have.

I kinda look at my booth as a “general store” or catch all. I had two other booths at one time here on Bonanza and it was just too much work, so shut the others down and brought all the inventory under one “roof”.

Kim ![URL removed]

@ Karoden – Thanks for the info and the offer of Help! ♥

@ Wygmngal – Thanks – that is VERY encouraging!

@ Abby – Thanks!

@ Blarney – WOW! That is great information – I never would have thought of the stamp collectors!

@MomsPennies – Thanks for the link – that site looks like a GREAT one!

@FroggieB – Thanks! I check’d out the site and here is the page for post card supplies! [URL removed]

I can tell you in my career (haven’t sold/listed any here on Bonanza) I have made some fantastic $$$ on Postcards and most of those were early Real Photos – lots of people tend to collect for the rare history these cards tell…………

I also try to include towns, names, and any other special feature, etc that are on the card, as I’ve fond that people are looking for these as well as the subject of the card. For instance I sold a card of a restaurant, and the name of the manager was someone’s Grandfather.

The best price I have found for the protective sleeve in any size, cards, stereoviews, magazines, anything, is The2Buds.com.