postcardiva postcard blog: An International Postcard Exchange

Monday, September 20, 2010

An International Postcard Exchange

I'm delighted to add a link at the bottom of the Postcardiva blog to postcrossing.com, which is an easy and fun way to exchange postcards with people around the world. Check this out - I think you'll like it! It would also make a great activity for a youngster who loves to get "real mail".

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Collecting Tips

To begin or upgrade your collection, take advantage of these learning opportunities.

1) Build a collection of postcard books & guides. When you can recognize an artist's work or identify a specific style or publisher, you can shop for the postcards you want more efficiently.

2) Browse the auction sites like Bidstart and eBay often to learn the current prices of items you want. You can compare sites to find the best price and you'll know when to bid/buy and when to just watch. Buy low works with building a postcard collection just as it does with building a stock portfolio.

3) Attend your local postcard club meetings; go to as many postcard shows as you can. You'll see postcards you haven't seen anywhere else, find some good items to add to your collection, perhaps bring home a bargain and meet some friendly deltiologists!

How to Use Online Sites to Build a Collection

You can build a valuable collection through online sites like Bidstart and eBay if you know how to shop and bid wisely.

1) Use Favorite Searches to keep informed about the postcards you want as they are listed. For instance, if you're in the market for WWII battleships, or Ellen Clapsaddle holiday images, search for them easily using Favorite Searches to have emails sent to you whenever a new item in the category becomes available. You can refine your search, of course. Perhaps you only want real photo postcards of the battleships, in which case your search would look like this on eBay: (RP*, real photo) WWII (ship*, battleship*). Bidstart uses a slightly different search process: (RP or RPPC or real photo) WWII (ship or ships or battleship or battleships). Words or designations that stand alone (WWII here) will bring you listings with that specifically in the title. Parentheses will get you any listing with any of those words in the title.

For your Ellen Clapsaddle search, you may wish to refine to Clapsaddle (Easter, Christmas, children) (IAP, International Art Publishing) on eBay. On Bidstart, search Clapsaddle (Easter or Christmas or children) (IAP or International Art Publishing.) Clapsaddle's designs from IAP are embossed, whereas her designs from Wolf Publishers are flat. Choices, choices!

2) Use a Completed Listings search to see what postcards have already sold for. This will help you learn what prices you can expect for the cards you want.

3) Before bidding, search the other listings for the same postcard. It may be possible to find another auction listing the identical postcard which will go for a lower bid. I once wanted a card that had just gone for a bid over $80. Within a week, I bought it on another seller's auction for under $30.

4) Search the eBay and Bidstart stores to find the range of prices being asked for a card that interests you. Be sure to check the listings and examine each postcard carefully - mint condition comes at a price. However, if you are collecting as an investment, buying top quality at the lowest possible price is your goal. Be aware that tears, holes, and surface loss dramatically reduce the value of any postcard, but especially holidays. Some store sellers consistently list high, others consistently list at more reasonable prices. Research seller ratings, and place the sellers you trust in your Favorite Sellers list so you can check their offerings on a regular basis.

postcardiva postcard blog

Monday, September 20, 2010

An International Postcard Exchange

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Collecting Tips

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How to Use Online Sites to Build a Collection

International Postcard Exchange

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