How To Identify Valuable Postcards: A Hands-On Tutorial

About this video

• Video Title: How To Identify Valuable Postcards: A Hands-On Tutorial
• Channel: Mailseum
• Speakers: None explicitly named, but one primary speaker.
• Duration: 00:28:13

Overview

This video serves as a practical tutorial for identifying valuable postcards, particularly for resale on platforms like eBay. The speaker walks through 50 postcards they've selected, explaining the factors that make them potentially valuable, such as rarity, historical significance, unique imagery, and specific postmarks. The goal is to provide viewers with insights into what to look for when evaluating postcards.

Key takeaways

• Identify Value Factors: The speaker highlights various elements that contribute to a postcard's value, including the specific location depicted, the era it was produced (especially pre-1907 or with undivided backs), unique postmarks (like "D cancels"), uncommon views or subjects (e.g., specific buildings, events, or modes of transport), and the publisher.
• Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs) and Chrome Postcards: RPPCs and certain types of chrome postcards from the 1950s are often considered valuable, especially if they feature unique or uncommon scenes.
• Condition and Rarity: While condition matters, even damaged postcards can be valuable if they are rare or depict historically significant subjects. Rarity is a key driver, and the speaker emphasizes pulling postcards they haven't seen before.
• Location and Subject Matter: Certain locations (e.g., Texas, Florida, smaller towns, historical sites) and subjects (e.g., factories, bridges, trains, specific events, natural landmarks) tend to sell better. The speaker also notes that even seemingly common views can be valuable if they offer a unique perspective or detail.
• Publisher and Printing Style: The publisher (e.g., Albertype, Rotograph, Fred Harvey) and the printing style (e.g., high-quality Albertype, specific fonts, white borders) can indicate value and age.