A hobby as old as postcards
People began collecting postcards almost as soon as picture postcards existed. In the golden age of about 1907 to 1915, collecting was a national craze: families filled albums, friends traded cards by mail, and clubs formed to exchange cards with strangers in other states and countries. Many of the albums that turn up in attics today were made by those first collectors.
The word deltiology came later, in the mid-twentieth century, as the hobby organized itself into clubs, shows and publications. Today it is one of the most popular collecting hobbies in the world, alongside stamps and coins.
What collectors collect
No one collects all postcards. Collectors specialize, and their specialties drive what cards are worth.
By place. The largest group. Collectors focus on a state, county, town or even a single street. A collector of a small Ohio county may own every known view of its villages and keep searching for the few they lack.
By topic. Railroads, depots, fire departments, mining, logging, breweries, circuses, aviation, automobiles, disasters, expositions, Halloween, Santa Claus, cats and many more.
By type. Real photo postcards, linens, chromes, hold-to-lights, silks, leather cards, mechanical cards.
By artist or publisher. Illustrators such as Ellen Clapsaddle and Frances Brundage, and publishers such as Raphael Tuck & Sons, John Winsch and Curt Teich.
By postal history. Postmarks, discontinued post offices, rates and routes.
Because specialties overlap, a single card can appeal to several groups at once. A real photo of a small-town depot with a train in appeals to collectors of that town, of that railroad, of depots generally, and of real photos. That overlap is why such cards command strong prices.
How collectors find cards
- Postcard shows, organized by regional clubs, where dealers bring long boxes of cards filed by state and topic. See postcard shows and dealers.
- Online marketplaces such as eBay and Delcampe, where collectors search by town and subject.
- Dealers, who specialize in regions or topics.
- Clubs and publications, where members trade, sell and share research.
- Estate sales and auctions, for collectors willing to search through mixed lots.
Why collectors care about condition and identification
Serious collectors want cards they can identify and place, so captions, postmarks and readable signs matter. They also compare copies, so condition matters most for cards that survive in quantity. For scarce cards, a collector may accept wear because a better copy may never appear.
How collections end up for sale
Most collections come to market when a collector passes away or downsizes, or when a family inherits an album they did not build. That is how many of the cards collectors are looking for become available again, and why buyers of whole collections play a useful role: they take on the sorting and pass the cards to the collectors who want them.
Getting started as a collector
- Pick a focus, such as your hometown, a topic you love, or a type like real photos.
- Visit a show or join a club. Collectors are generous with knowledge.
- Learn to date cards. The dating guide is a good start.
- Buy what you love, and learn prices from sold results, not asking prices.
- Store cards properly. See how to store old postcards.
How collectors value a card
Most collectors weigh the same handful of questions when they consider buying a card:
- Do I already have it? Collectors fill gaps; a card they already own is worth less to them.
- Is it identified? A caption, sign or postmark that places the card.
- Is it a real photo? Usually preferred for views and topicals.
- What is happening in it? People, vehicles, work and events add interest.
- What condition is it in? Especially for cards that survive in quantity.
That is why the same card can be worth very little to one collector and a great deal to another, and why the postcard market rewards finding the right buyer for each card. Buyers of whole collections earn their margin by doing exactly that matching, one card at a time, over months.
Postcards and local history
Many deltiologists are also local historians. Postcards are often the only photographs of buildings, businesses and events in small towns, and collectors frequently share their cards with historical societies, write local histories illustrated with them, and help identify unlabeled views. If you have a collection focused on one area, there is a good chance someone in the hobby has been waiting to see it.
Questions people ask
What is a postcard collector called?
A deltiologist.
Is postcard collecting still popular?
Yes. Clubs, shows and online marketplaces remain active, and interest in real photo postcards and local history is strong.
Do people still collect old postcards?
Very much so, especially real photos, small-town views and early holiday cards.
What is the most popular kind of postcard to collect?
Collecting by place is the most common specialty, and real photo postcards are among the most sought-after types.
My own collecting
I am a passionate collector myself, with a soft spot for real photo postcards of small American towns: general stores, depots, main streets and the people who lived along them. Buying whole collections lets me see thousands of cards I would never otherwise find, and pass them on to collectors who have been searching for exactly those views. If you are curious about a collection you have inherited or found, I am always happy to look.
Where can I learn more about postcard collecting? Regional postcard clubs, collector publications and postcard shows are the best places to start, and many collectors are glad to answer questions from newcomers.
Sources and further reading
Ready to sell? Compare where to sell old postcards, or see how to sell old postcards step by step.