Postcards used to be a cheap way to keep in touch, but some are now worth thousands. From historic events to famous faces, here’s a look at a few that collectors have paid big money for, and why.
1. The Penny Penates (1840) – £31,750
Regarded as the world’s oldest known postcard, the “Penny Penates” was mailed by English writer and prankster Theodore Hook to himself in 1840.
Featuring a hand-drawn caricature of postal clerks and bearing a Penny Black stamp, the first adhesive postage stamp, it was a satirical jab at the postal system.
Discovered in 2001, this unique piece sold at a London auction in 2002 for £31,750 (approximately $44,300), setting a record for the most expensive postcard sold at auction. Credit: Wikipedia
2. Hank Aaron Negro Leagues Postcard (1952) – $199,750
A rare souvenir postcard picturing Hank Aaron as a rookie with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues sold for nearly $200,000 at a baseball memorabilia auction.
The Aaron postcard from the scrapbook of scout Ed Scott, who discovered Aaron, went for $199,750 following a bidding war that soared past the pre-sale estimate of $5,000–$10,000.
3. Titanic Passenger’s Postcard (1912) – £20,000
Credit: Henry Aldridge & Son.
A poignant example is a postcard penned by first-class passenger Richard William Smith, mailed just days before the ship’s ill-fated voyage.
Expressing hopes for his journey to America, the card fetched £20,000 at auction. Such items offer a tangible connection to one of history’s most tragic maritime disasters.
4. Alphonse Mucha’s Waverley Bicycles Postcard (1898) – $12,650
Celebrated Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha’s influence extends beyond posters and paintings. An unused 1898 watercolour postcard advertising Waverley Bicycles, showcasing Mucha’s signature style, sold for $12,650 in 2005. Its pristine condition and artistic merit contributed to its high valuation.
5. Cleveland Indians Team Postcard (1905) – £11,000
Baseball enthusiasts treasure a monochromatic postcard from 1905 featuring 20 Cleveland Indians players, including Hall of Famers Nap Lajoie and Addie Joss.
This rare snapshot of early 20th-century baseball history sold for £11,000 at auction, highlighting the enduring appeal of sports memorabilia.
6. “Tower Behind the Trees” by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1911) – €28,000
Credit: Quittenbaum
German expressionist Karl Schmidt-Rottluff’s hand-drawn postcard, titled “Tower Behind the Trees,” exemplifies the intersection of art and correspondence. Created in 1911, this unique piece fetched €28,000 (approximately $30,000) at auction, valued for its artistic significance and rarity.
7. African American Mother and Son with Flag Postcard – ~$20,000
A powerful photographic postcard depicting an African American mother and her son standing before an American flag has resonated deeply with collectors.
Though specific auction details are scarce, it’s believed to have sold for nearly $20,000, underscoring the importance of representation and historical context in collectable items.
8. Lincolnshire Postcard Collection – £22,000
In 2018, a collection of over 16,000 postcards chronicling life in Lincolnshire from the Victorian era onward was auctioned for nearly £22,000.
Assembled by local historian David Robinson, the collection’s value lay in its extensive documentation of regional history, with individual lots fetching up to £2,500.
9. 1915 Boston Red Sox Postcard Featuring Babe Ruth – $84,000
A rare 1915 postcard capturing the Boston Red Sox team, including a young Babe Ruth in his rookie year, sold for $84,000.
This early image of the baseball icon predates his rookie card, making it a prized possession for collectors and fans alike.
10. RMS Lusitania Postcard (1907) – £60–£100
Credit: easyliveauction.com
Postcards of the RMS Lusitania, the British ocean liner sunk during World War I, are highly sought after. A 1907 postcard depicting the ship in its prime has fetched between £60 and £100, valued for its connection to a significant historical event and its rarity.
Conclusion
These postcards might seem like small pieces of paper, but they connect us to important moments in history, sport, and everyday life. Their value isn’t just in the price they fetch, but in the stories they carry and the people they remind us of.
