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