| I'vde always loved postcards. At first, I was interested | | | | still available. Today, the creme de la creme of the |
| in the messages. Postcards provide an incomparable | | | | Halloween card are the ones by the Winsch Brothers |
| glimpse into the society during the period they were | | | | of Germany. The quality of the cards and beauty of |
| used. Some messages were funny, some sad, and | | | | the designs have always made them popular. Today, |
| some just plain strange. One, showing a donkey on the | | | | they are worth in the hundreds of dollars in top |
| front read, "When are going stop being an a** and | | | | condition.So far we haven't mentioned condition. As |
| write to me?" Another, "This is a photo of the town. | | | | with all collectibles, condition is the main concern |
| The place I marked with an X is where a father and | | | | besides content. Tears, missing corners, creases, any |
| his two sons were killed when a train stuck their | | | | of these can reduce a valuable card to next to nothing. |
| haywagon. We're holding a memorial service on | | | | I have seen more rare cards with these problems than |
| Wednesday." The strangest one I ever read was: | | | | I care to think of. Anyone interested in collecting cards |
| "Ellen thinks you're a lobster. I think you're cute. Doris." It | | | | must keep condition in mind at all times.Fads can affect |
| sounds to me as if Doris had an interest in the | | | | price, too. At one time, real photo postcards were |
| recipient. What she meant about him being a lobster, I | | | | considered so undesirable that a purchaser would pull |
| don't know.I also loved the images. Postcards were in | | | | them out and discard them as worthless. Now they |
| some cases minitaure photographs of a bygone era. | | | | are among the most valuable. In the early 1900s, cards |
| Real photo postcards can be found showing town | | | | showing flowers or woodland scenes were the |
| streets, families, motorcycles, circuses, deep-sea diving | | | | desired one. They were also the most common. During |
| equipment, nudes and just about any other topic you | | | | the heyday of the postcard, more than a billion were |
| can imagine, including lynchings. I once purchased a | | | | delivered in a single year. Today, woodland scenes |
| horrendous collection of six cards that showed scenes | | | | and flowers are worth next to nothing. The despised |
| of the 1916 genocide of Armenians in Palestine, | | | | real photos showing main street will always bring at |
| including one with soldiers showing off the heads of | | | | least five dollars in good condition. Long sets showing |
| three of their victims. Fortunately, most cards deal with | | | | carnivals or circuses are worth in the thousands.If you |
| happier topics.Non-real-photo cards abound and show | | | | are starting a postcard collection, go after the ones |
| can show just about anything.Pretty women are a | | | | that you have an interest in. If you live in a particular |
| common topic and are very collectible. Some artists | | | | neighborhood in a city, you can usually find cards to |
| such as Beaulieu and F. Earle Christie, are extremely | | | | collect. Nearly every important building in every city has |
| popular and can bring in the hundreds of | | | | been photographed and made into a card at one time |
| dollars.Holidays were by far the most popluar subjects | | | | or another. If you have a hobby, look for cards dealing |
| and literally millions of Christmas postcards can still be | | | | with Chess or gardening, or whatever else your fancy. |
| found. Most are of little value, but Santa Clauses are | | | | If you have no idea where to begin, eBay or a local |
| always collectible. Find one in a yellow or green suit | | | | postcard show are your best bets. You will get an |
| and you have a minor treasure. Ones that have been | | | | idea of prices and what's available. Plus you'll meet |
| manufactured to light up when viewed are known as | | | | some great people while you're at it.Finally, in a single |
| hold-to-light or HTLs. Most of these are very collectible | | | | word: ENJOY!Copyright 2005 by John AndersonJohn |
| and some are worth in the hundreds of dollars. If you | | | | Anderson has sold collectibles for more than three |
| ever find a HTL with Uncle Sam as Santa, you have | | | | decades. At present he is retired and is a full-time |
| one that is worth in the thousands of dollars. Easter is | | | | free-lance writer. His first novel, The Cellini Masterpiece, |
| probably the least-favored topic. The most favored by | | | | was published by iUniverse under the penname of |
| far is Halloween.Halloween cards were popular at the | | | | Raymond John (ISBN 0595328059). John welcomes |
| time they were sent. Collectors avidly put them aside, | | | | correspondence. |
| and for this reason, a large number of the cards are | | | | |