Why postcards get damaged in the mail
Mail sorting is mechanical. Envelopes are fed through rollers and bent around curves, boxes are stacked and dropped, and packages sit in trucks that can be hot, cold or damp. A loose postcard in a plain envelope can be creased by a sorting machine; a box with empty space lets stacks fall over and corners crush. Almost all shipping damage comes from three things: bending, shifting and moisture. Good packing prevents all three.
Shipping a single postcard
- Sleeve it. Slide the card into a clear archival sleeve. It protects the surface from scuffs and moisture.
- Board it. Place the sleeved card between two pieces of stiff cardboard, cut a little larger than the card on every side. Tape the boards together at the edges, not on the card.
- Envelope it. Use a rigid mailer or a padded envelope. Mark it do not bend.
- Track it. For anything worth more than a few dollars, use a trackable service so you and the buyer can follow it.
Never mail a valuable card on its own as a postcard, and never fold or roll one to fit a smaller envelope.
Shipping a few dozen cards
Stack the cards upright in a small box, or wrap a stack loosely in paper and place it in a sturdy box with padding on all sides. Sleeve the best cards individually first. Avoid rubber bands, which stain and dent; a band of paper around each stack works better.
Shipping a whole collection
This is where most damage happens, simply because there is so much to move.
Albums. Leave them closed, with every card in place. Lay them flat in the box, largest on the bottom. If the box has room around them, fill it with crumpled paper so they cannot slide.
Loose cards. Stand them upright on their long edges in bundles of about an inch each, wrapped loosely with paper bands. Pack bundles tightly side by side so they support each other, then fill any gaps.
Boxes of cards. If cards are already in shoeboxes or dealer boxes, check they are full enough not to slump; add crumpled paper at the end of each row. Place the smaller boxes inside a larger shipping box with padding around them.
Moisture. Put albums and bundles inside plastic bags before boxing. Rain and humid trucks are a real risk.
Weight. Postcards are heavy in quantity. Use sturdy, double-walled boxes, and keep each box to a weight one person can lift comfortably. Several medium boxes are safer than one huge one.
Tape. Tape every seam of the box, top and bottom, with packing tape, not masking tape.
Label. Attach the shipping label flat on the top, and put a second copy of the address inside the box in case the outer label is damaged.
Insurance and tracking
Insure any package of real value for the amount agreed or what you expect it is worth. Keep the drop-off receipt and tracking number until the package is delivered and the transaction is complete.
When you sell a collection to me, the shipping label is prepaid and already insured for the agreed value, with one label per box, so you only need to pack and hand the boxes to the carrier. The risk in transit is mine.
Common mistakes
- Plain envelopes for single cards. The most common cause of bent corners.
- Half-empty boxes. Stacks fall over and corners crush.
- Rubber bands. They perish, stick and stain.
- No moisture protection. One wet day can ruin a collection.
- Overweight boxes. They split and get dropped.
- Removing cards from albums to save space. It risks tearing them and loses the album's context.
Supplies worth having
- Clear archival postcard sleeves.
- Stiff cardboard or chipboard for single cards.
- Rigid or padded mailers.
- Sturdy double-walled boxes in a few sizes.
- Crumpled paper or packing paper for filling space.
- Plastic bags large enough for albums.
- Good packing tape.
Most of these cost very little, and the protection is worth far more than the materials.
Shipping across seasons
Summer heat and winter cold both affect paper, but moisture is the real enemy. In wet seasons, double-bag albums and bundles. In very hot weather, avoid leaving packed boxes in a car or on a porch for long; heat can soften old glue and make glossy cards stick together.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to mail a single postcard so it does not bend?
Sleeve it, sandwich it between two stiff boards, and use a rigid mailer marked do not bend.
Can I mail an old postcard as a postcard?
You can, but it will be exposed to sorting machines and likely damaged. Never do this with a collectible card.
How do I ship a large postcard collection?
In several sturdy boxes, albums flat, loose cards upright in snug bundles, everything bagged against moisture, every seam taped and the package insured.
Who pays shipping when I sell to you?
I do. You receive prepaid, insured labels, one per box.
What if a box is damaged in transit?
With an insured label, the claim is handled with the carrier. When you ship to me on my label, that is my responsibility, not yours.
A final check before sealing
Give each box a gentle shake before you tape it shut. If you can hear or feel anything moving, add more filling until it is silent and solid. That simple test catches most packing problems before they become damaged cards.
Sources and further reading
Ready to sell? Compare where to sell old postcards, or see how to sell old postcards step by step.