How To Collect And Store Vintage Postcards

Postcard collecting is a popular hobby with a history that reaches back to the late 1800s. The first postcards entered the market in the late Victorian era as rewards for schoolchildren or promotional materials. The Smithsonian Institute published a short article on this history of postcards, which you can read on their website. Due to the wide range of styles and subjects, collectors tend to focus on one or two types, such as mailed postcards from the Edwardian era.

Postcards generally come in two sizes. The older, vintage cards are typically 3.5″ x 5.5″, while modern, or continental, postcards are 4″ x 6″. Regardless of size, the same basic principles apply to keeping them in the best condition possible.

The first consideration is how to store them. Collectors usually store them either in boxes or in albums. Of the two, a box is easiest, but there are some other considerations to make as well. First and foremost, sleeves are essential. They not only keep the cards safe from any acids or oils that may damage them, but sleeves also help keep the cards from wearing out as they are sorted in the box. You may also want to use toploaders with your postcards for an extra layer of protection. In either case, dividers will help organize your collection, making them a must have as well.

Albums work best when you want to show your collection off. As the pages show both sides of the card, they also work great for specimens that went through the postal system or otherwise have writing on them. You will want to measure your postcards to make sure you get the right size of pages. Depending on your collection, you may find the 4-Pocket or 3-Pocket photo pages most useful.

Postcard collecting is perfect for a wide range of collectors. Despite its popularity, collectible postcards tend to sell for lower prices for comparable pieces in other formats. This gives it a low barrier of entry. Likewise, there is likely at least 1 postcard for any area of interest. Either as a primary or even secondary hobby, postcard collecting is a fun and rewarding experience.