Collection buyers
A collection buyer purchases postcards by the album, box or estate, usually by mail. They quote the whole lot, pay once, and handle the sorting and reselling themselves. I am one: I buy complete collections from anywhere in the United States.
What they want: whole collections and large lots, with the common cards included. Most are especially interested in real photo postcards, small-town views, holiday cards and topicals.
What to expect: a quote from photos, a prepaid shipping label, and payment soon after the collection arrives. The price reflects the whole collection rather than retail prices for the best cards.
Postcard dealers
Dealers buy cards to resell, mostly at postcard shows and through online stores. Many specialize by region or topic.
What they want: cards they know they can sell. Dealers often prefer to choose the best cards from a collection rather than buy everything.
What to expect: a fast offer if you can get the cards in front of them, often at a show. Most dealers do not have shops, so meeting one usually means going to a show or arranging a visit.
Individual collectors
Collectors buy for themselves, usually one card at a time. Many collect a single state, county or town; others collect a topic such as railroads, Halloween or fire departments.
What they want: the specific cards that fill gaps in their collections. A collector of a small Ohio town may pay well for one real photo view of its main street and ignore everything else.
What to expect: collectors find cards through eBay, Delcampe and shows. Reaching them means listing cards individually with good photos and descriptions.
Auction houses
Regional auctioneers and specialist paper and ephemera auctions sell postcard collections, usually in large lots, on consignment.
What they want: collections substantial enough to justify a lot, ideally with notable cards they can feature.
What to expect: a seller's commission on the hammer price, an unpredictable result, and payment some weeks after the sale.
Museums, libraries and historical societies
Institutions collect postcards that document their area, but they rarely buy. Most accept donations, and some will gladly take local views from a collection.
What they want: cards of their own town, county or state, especially real photo views of buildings, businesses and events.
What to expect: an appreciative home for local history, but usually no payment. For a donation of significant value you may need an independent appraisal for tax purposes; see postcard appraisals.
Does anyone buy common postcards?
This is the question behind many searches. Common printed views of big cities, national parks and tourist spots, and most glossy chrome cards from the 1950s on, sell for very little individually, and almost no one will buy them one at a time. They do have value in quantity, and a buyer of whole collections pays for them as part of the lot. That is often the only way they sell at all.
How to find the right buyer
- Work out what you have, at least roughly: how many cards, what kinds, what era. The step-by-step selling guide shows how.
- Decide whether you want to sell whole or in pieces. Whole means a collection buyer or an auction. Pieces means eBay, Delcampe or shows.
- Get a quote on the whole collection first. It costs nothing and gives you a benchmark.
- Be wary of anyone who wants to pick out a few cards before making an offer on the rest. Those few cards are often most of the value.
What about postcard buyers near me?
Searching for a buyer near you usually turns up antique shops and estate dealers rather than postcard specialists, because most specialists work by mail and at shows. Selling by mail is safe and straightforward when the buyer provides a prepaid, insured label, as I do, and it lets you reach buyers who know postcards well regardless of where they live.
Questions people ask
Do antique dealers buy old postcards?
Some do, usually by the box and at low prices, since postcards are a small part of what they sell. Specialist postcard dealers and collection buyers know the cards better and typically pay more for good material.
Do libraries or museums buy postcards?
Rarely. Most collect through donations, and some will gladly accept local views. If you want to be paid, you will need to sell to a buyer.
Who buys postcards for cash?
Collection buyers and dealers pay directly. I pay by PayPal, check, Zelle or Venmo within two business days of the collection arriving.
Will a buyer take the whole collection, including the ordinary cards?
A buyer of whole collections will. Many dealers and marketplaces will only take the best cards. Selling the best cards separately leaves you with the rest, which is much harder to sell.
How do I know a buyer is trustworthy?
Look for clear written terms, a prepaid insured shipping label, no fee to quote, and a willingness to explain the offer. Be cautious with anyone who asks for payment from you, rushes you, or wants to pick out a few cards first.
What every buyer looks at first
Whoever you sell to, the first look is the same. An experienced buyer flips through quickly for real photographs, because they carry most of the value in most collections. Next comes place: small towns and identifiable businesses beat famous landmarks. Then subject: people at work, vehicles, events and early holiday designs. Condition comes last, because a little wear is expected on cards a century old, while heavy creases, stains and missing corners are not.
Knowing this helps you describe your collection in a way any buyer can use. "About 600 cards, maybe 80 real photos, mostly Pennsylvania small towns, some Halloween" tells a buyer far more than "a box of old postcards".
The more specific the description, the faster and more accurate any offer will be.
Sources and further reading
Ready to sell? Compare where to sell old postcards, or see how to sell old postcards step by step.