When selling vintage postcards, understanding which types are in high demand can significantly increase your success. Collectors often seek out specific categories with special value due to their rarity, historical significance, or unique features. By focusing on these sought-after categories, you can better target your audience and maximise your sales. Here are some key types of vintage postcards to look out for:
Real Photo Postcards (RPPC)
These postcards feature actual photographic prints rather than printed images. They were popular in the early 20th century.
They’re unique, often one-of-a-kind images of towns, events, or people. Historical documentation and rarity increase their value.
Artist-Signed Postcards
Postcards featuring artwork by notable artists are often signed or printed with the artist’s name. Collectors seek specific artists, especially those from the “Golden Age of Postcards” (1898-1915).
Artists like Raphael Kirchner, Louis Wain, Mac (Lucy Dawson) and Ellen Clapsaddle are popular.
Topographical Postcards
These postcards depict specific locations, such as towns, cities, landmarks, or landscapes. People collect postcards from their hometowns, places they’ve visited, or locations with historical significance. Rare images of small towns or now-demolished landmarks are especially sought after.
Holiday and Greeting Postcards
These postcards are themed around holidays (e.g., Christmas, Halloween, Easter) or special occasions (e.g., birthdays, weddings).
Holiday postcards, particularly those from the early 20th century with detailed illustrations or embossed designs, are popular among collectors. Halloween postcards, in particular, can be very valuable.
Historical Events
Postcards depicting significant historical events, such as World War I and II, the sinking of the Titanic, or the 1906 San Francisco earthquake are valuable.
These postcards serve as historical records, and collectors seek them for their rarity and connection to major events.
Exposition and World’s Fair Postcards
Postcards from world expositions or fairs, such as the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair or the 1900 Paris Exposition are collectable.
These events were significant in showcasing technological and cultural achievements, and postcards from these fairs often feature unique and ornate designs.
Advertising Postcards
These types of postcards were used as marketing tools for products, services, or businesses, often featuring vintage brands or advertisements.
Collectors are drawn to old advertisements, especially those featuring now-defunct brands or iconic products.
Novelty and Mechanical Postcards
Look out for postcards with unique features like pop-ups, pull tabs, or those made from unusual materials (e.g., leather, wood).
Their unusual designs make them interesting and collectable. Mechanical postcards that move or have interactive elements are particularly sought after.
Military and Patriotic Postcards
Postcards related to military themes, such as soldiers, battles, patriotic symbols, or wartime propaganda are popular among military history collectors and those interested in specific conflicts or national pride.
Comic or Humorous Postcards
Postcards featuring jokes, cartoons, or humorous themes, often with exaggerated or caricatured imagery, hold a unique appeal.
Vintage humour, particularly from the early 20th century, can differ markedly from modern tastes, making these postcards especially attractive to collectors who value historical or niche humour.
Transportation Postcards
Postcards showcasing trains, ships, aeroplanes, or automobiles, especially early examples or those connected to specific companies or routes, are highly sought after. Transportation enthusiasts and collectors are particularly drawn to images of vintage vehicles or routes that are no longer in operation.
Ethnographic and Cultural Postcards
Postcards depicting people, customs, and cultures worldwide, frequently highlighting indigenous groups or exotic locations, provide valuable historical insights into diverse cultures.
They are often prized for their anthropological significance and appeal to collectors interested in cultural heritage.
By focusing on these types of postcards, you can tap into the interests of serious collectors and potentially increase your sales and profits on platforms like eBay and Etsy.
