Is It Best to Show Both Sides When Selling Postcards on eBay?

All view postcards, not just vintage collectable postcards, have two sides, one being the picture side and the other for the message and recipient's address. But just because there are two sides to every collectable postcard that doesn't mean collectors want to see both sides, except in the following main cases where showing both sides of your vintage postcard can significantly add to its selling price on eBay.

* The most common reaction is to show the image side of a vintage or more recent postcard, but in fact the image side may not be its main selling point. In reality the 'other' side might be much more interesting to collectors and help your card fetch ten times more money that the image side only. You'll sometimes hear the non-view side of a postcard called 'other' because many people - wrongly - assume the address side is less important than the picture side. However, very often the view side is plain and boring and lacks all interest to collectors and showing that side only in your eBay listing might mean your postcard goes unsold. The 'other' side though, well that may feature a rare stamp or an unusual postmark, or maybe it has a famous celebrity signature, all of which can turn an otherwise worthless picture side into a hot seller on eBay.

* If the image side of your postcard is in good condition and the back is stained, because the ink got smudged in the rain when it was delivered for instance, then your buyer will be very disappointed and could leave negative feedback on eBay if you didn't mention the stains on the back of the card or, better still, you uploaded an image showing those stains.

Those are just two instances when it's wise to show both sides of a postcard when selling it on eBay, there are many more, but none of those reasons involves adding to your eBay listing fees. That's because the best way to display postcards you are selling on eBay is to scan both sides then add the separate scans to one image so image and address sides show together in your eBay listing. That means you pay for one image to be uploaded but you actually show two. It's very easy and takes a few minutes longer to list your postcards but showing both sides can add significantly to your final selling prices on eBay.

Learn more about making big profits selling vintage TOPOGRAPHICAL VIEW POSTCARDS on eBay at http://www.sellpostcardsonebay.com

Old Postcards and Why You Can Buy Them Cheap and Sell Them for Triple Figure Prices on eBay

For more than forty years I've made the main part of my living selling vintage postcards, first at flea markets and collector's fairs, and latterly on eBay. They're just bits of paper, sometimes very attractive, sometimes not, but either way they can generate fabulous profits, even for items that cost you next to nothing at flea markets and boots sales, even on eBay. And you'll be quick to give this easy business a go once you know how items that cost you little or nothing can fetch triple figure sums on eBay.

It's a business that just gets better with time and this is why:

- People are always interested in the history of where they were born, or where they live, where they went to school, and that's why we're seeing a massive growth in sites where members can trace their family history over several centuries and other sites giving historical information about specific people and places.

- The best old postcards, usually real photographic, are rare and can attract good profits on eBay. That's because in the early 1900s skilled photographers were few and far between and most worked just a short distance from base and would spend more time developing photographs than actually leaving their darkroom to add more photographs to their stock. Additionally, most photographers specialised in family and personal portraits, usually taken in their own studios, and they rarely took to the streets to record topographical views. Moreover, because they're made from flimsy materials, most postcards from Victorian times were lost or damaged over the years and very few well preserved photographic photographs remain today. But there are still many thousands of postcards to pick up at boot sales and flea markets, just not many of each individual view. And it's the rarity in views themselves that make some postcards worth hundreds of thousands of pounds or dollars - or other country currency - each.

- Postcards are one of the most collectible subjects worldwide and represent a business anyone can start and make money from right away.

Learn more about making big profits selling vintage TOPOGRAPHICAL VIEW POSTCARDS on eBay at http://www.sellpostcardsonebay.com

Postcards - A Brief History Part I

Postcards. If you're old you probably remember being able to go to the post office and get one for about 3 cents. They weren't much to look at but they were a quick and easy way to drop off a message to someone without having to stuff a letter in an envelope.

Well, believe it or not, postcards have a fairly long history in the United States. Oh, and just for the record, the official name for postcard collecting is Deltiology. And currently postcard collecting is the third largest collectable hobby in the world. The only thing that tops it is stamps and coins. In the US it is also topped by baseball cards but that is purely a national thing. Postcards are popular because they have a very broad appeal. You can get a postcard with a photo of just about anything on it, with world landmarks such as buildings and bridges being the most popular things that you'll find. Today, travelers from all over the world collect postcards as reminders of where they have been and the landmarks they've visited.

For example, if a person was visiting New York City and went to the Empire State Building they could, upon leaving, pick up a postcard of the building itself right there. No need to search one out. They are as easy to find as ants at a picnic.

The first postcard was printed in 1861 during the Civil War. It was printed by J.P. Carlton. Eventually his copyright was transferred to H.L. Lipman. These are now known as Lipman Postal Cards. They continued to sell until 1873 when they were replaced by the U.S. Government postcards.

Between 1870 and 1898 was what was known as the pioneer era of postcards. This is when postcards started turning up in countries like Hungary, Great Britain, France and Germany. The first card showing a photo of the Eiffel Tower was printed in 1889.

The first of what was known as "exposition" cards was printed in the United States in 1873. It was a photo of the main building of Inter-State Industrial Exposition in Chicago. This card was not originally intended as a souvenir card but soon became a very sought after collectable and today is worth a lot of money. It should be noted that during this period all privately printed cards were required to have two cent postage while the government cards only required one cent postage.

It wasn't until 1898 that American publishers were allowed to print what were called Private Mailing Cards. These cards were printed with one cent stamps, the same as the United States Government issues. This was authorized by an act of congress on May 19, 1898. This was the most significant event to explode the use of private postal cards. Just like with the Government cards and the pioneer cards before them, writing on these cards was reserved for the front side only.

In our next article in this series we'll continue with the Undivided Back Era of postcards.

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Postcards [http://postcard.for-free-and-fun.com/]

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Postcards - A Variety Of Types

In this article we're going to discuss the various types of postcards that are available to the collector and even the casual "sender."

The general consensus is that a postcard is a postcard. Actually, that couldn't be farther from the truth. There are a variety of postcard styles, each with its own characteristics. We'll go over the most popular ones for the purpose of this article.

First we have what are called "view cards." Since the very early days of postcards, view cards have been the hottest item among the collectors. People have been trading cards showing photos of their home towns and places they've visited since the beginning of postcard time. View cards are known for showing historic references to buildings, streets and even towns that are no longer in existence or have changed greatly over the years. Even views of these towns that were produced in the photochrome era no longer look the same. The early cards offer so much to us in the form of history with depictions of early telegraph, telephone and power lines. Even the messages written on the cards by the people sending them give us an insight into the sentiment of the times. It is almost like having a first hand account of what it was like to live back then. Certainly it is like holding a piece of history in your hands.

The next type of postcard is what is known as the "greeting card." The greeting card is pretty much as basic as the view card was in the early days. However, the popularity of the greeting card has declined over the years. The most common greeting cards were Christmas, Easter and birthdays. Cards, such as Labor Day cards, which at one time were very popular and common are quite scarce today. Today most collectors specialize in maybe one or two topics of cards to collect. For example, some people will only collect Christmas cards showing photos of Santa if, and only if, he is wearing a green robe. In any case the early greeting cards were some of the most beautiful cards ever printed. Publishers would compete fiercely for sales and use the finest techniques available to print their cards.

The next type of cards are what are known as "historical cards." These cards were printed to celebrate some historical event such as a battle of a war, a parade, or some political event. These cards today are very rare and bring a good amount of money to the serious collector. With so much history to choose from and so many historical cards printed, there is a wide open field and much to offer for anyone who happens to be interested in twentieth century history. Often the cards were printed with real photographs with very few printed, which made them very rare and a true collectors item. One of the most famous cards was one with a photo of the raising of the American flag on Iwa Jima during World War II.

Next, we have what are called "art cards." Art cards are probably the most important in the antique category. These are cards that were made with actual paintings of famous artists. The skill of the artist of the period along with the rarity of these cards make them very popular among collectors today.

Finally, we have what are called "photographic art cards." These are cards that feature real photographs of very beautiful women. These cards are usually hand tinted in fine detail and in the most beautiful colors you can imagine. The photomatage techniques available made it so that these cards could be converted into original art creations, making them truly unique.

See, a postcard isn't just a postcard.

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Postcards [http://postcard.for-free-and-fun.com/]

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The Thrill Of Obtaining Collectibles

Almost all of us feel a strong urge to acquire collectibles.

After finding a reliable source of essentials like food, water and clothing, after securing a mate and adequate shelter, mankind turns to satisfying less essential, but nevertheless important, goals. One of those goals is the acquisition of material goods.

Almost all of us feel a strong urge to surround ourselves with tangible items that are interesting, beautiful, rare or otherwise appealing - in other words, objects that are collectibles. It's almost as if it's part of our nature.

Collectibles are ...

Just about any type of object you could possibly imagine, including some that you would never think of as being collectible. Without a doubt, some of the items that intrigue you would not interest other people that you know. After all, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." But as we all know, something, somehow, somewhere, appeals to every one of us, and those things can form the basis of a large or small collection.

Items that relate to or somehow touch upon a topic that interests or appeals to people are, to those people, collectible. Put 100 people into a room, and because everyone's interests are so different, there probably won't be much duplication in what they collect. Collectors seek thousands of different types of items, everything from dolls to barbed wire, rare first-edition books to vinyl records, vintage clothing to movie memorabilia, matchbook covers to vintage postcards. Just pick whatever type of object or topic interests you.

The thrill of the hunt.

Many people are willing and even eager to expend a great deal of time, money and/or energy in order to obtain collectibles and collectible memorabilia, simply because the items relate to a favorite subject or theme. Some collectibles are very valuable, but others are inexpensive or even free.

The main reason that most collectors seek out and acquire collectibles isn't because they are valuable (although some are) - it's because to the collector, collectibles and their subject are fascinating. The advent of the internet and online shopping has made the acquisition of collectibles even more exciting than in the past, expanding the scope of the hunt by opening up the entire world as a place to look for "that certain something."

Thousands upon thousands of items are collectible today. And many other items, including some that seem mundane and ordinary today, will become collectibles in the future. Collectors are very passionate - and very diligent - about their collections. And they are always "on the hunt" for collectibles that relate to their topic.

Sometimes a collector must spend quite a bit of money in order to add a very hard-to-find item to his or her collection. Other collectibles are relatively inexpensive, and obtaining these types of pieces may require more time and effort than money. But collectors happily invest their time, trying to find these types of collectibles, even though they may have very little monetary value. A collector will go to great lengths to track down and obtain an inexpensive piece that fills an important place in his or her collection. And jump for joy when that important, but inexpensive, collectible is finally located. For a collector, the "thrill of the hunt," and finally finding an elusive collectible, is an extremely satisfying feeling.

Diane Hamments is a freelance author who writes on various subjects including Collectibles, and Memorabilia.

Visit http://www.societygifts.com for more information.

Uncommon Collectibles

If you have ever visited a garage sale or a flea market and wondered who in the world would buy some of the things that were for sale, you need to pay a visit to the world of uncommon collectibles. The fact is, it seems that there is a collector for almost anything you can imagine. A visit to an antique shop or the eBay collectibles category should convince you of this in a hurry. If it has been produced and sold, someone is probably collecting it somewhere.

Before you go on an all out spree and start throwing away what you see as old clutter in your attic or basement, you should take a few minutes to check whether or not someone out there might be looking for the item you are about to discard. If you are willing to list it for sale, you might actually make a few dollars.

There are some older items that people automatically think of as collectible. These would be things like vintage dolls or possibly old glassware. These are the things that almost always show up in antique shops. People expect to see them there. Take a closer look at what people bid on in eBay's collectibles category though, and you might be surprised. This is the new marketplace for people who collect oddball items like vintage globes or old matchbook covers. These items can be very difficult for collectors to find because most people who are having sales never even think to put them out. They just get tossed aside or even thrown away because no one in the family wants them anymore.

There are many items you should keep your eyes open for next time you climb into the attic. Almost any old military memorabilia is a popular collectible. If you have something that is specific to a particular branch or specialty area, that is even better. Airborne memorabilia in particular is quite popular. Another popular collectible is old Halloween postcards. If you happen across a collection of postcards that Grandma stashed away in a box, you should definitely not throw it away. Postcard collectors are a very devoted bunch and they will pay for the cards they want when they find them. The vintage artwork on postcards specifically made for Halloween is very much sought after and collectors will pay hundreds of dollars for some better examples of these cards.

This is just a very small sampling of uncommon collectibles that people look for as they try to build up their collections. It can be frustrating for them to find the items they want in good condition, so when they do find them for sale, they are often ready to spend. Be sure to do some research the next time you Spring clean.

The author is a vintage world globe and map collector and she is slowly building a collection. Her small collection now includes two vintage Replogle globes which were found online.

Vintage Illustrations on Postcards - The Old Still Appeal To The New

Vintage postcards are the thing nowadays. Illustrations that are vintage have been the most popular pictures and images used in many postcard printing projects. In fact, many have even made a collection of vintage postcards as a hobby.

One major factor of these vintage postcards being popular is that the vintage illustrations have helped the postcards to stimulate curiosity and interest of those who are not familiar with a certain era. Attraction have been generated for most people that made it easy for most vintage postcard printing design to catch the eyes of their target readers.

It's a proven fact though that people are most certainly attracted to things that are unfamiliar to them. Likewise, anything that speaks of, or illustrates an era gone by piques almost anyone's curiosity. What do people of a certain time have in fashion? Or what is the lifestyle during a particular time?

It seems that the less modern graphics are used, the more attention your project can get from your target readers.

But do you know how these vintage postcards came to be? When did they start becoming popular?

From 1939 to the present times, vintage postcard printing first came to being during the photochrome era. This is during the late 1930s. Also known as the Modern Chromes, the postcard printing pieces of that age were catching the eyes of many collectors mostly because of the colors applied. The colors appealed to a population that has embraced color images not only in their postcards, but most importantly in their movie industry. Hence, the popularity of The Wizard of Oz film.

The very first "Chrome" postcards were launched by the Union Oil Company in their service stations in the western part of the US. In 1939, they were the most widespread print material in the marketing industry. They were quickly reproduced, with high quality results, and most significantly, they were printed in color.

The spread of these vintage postcard printing pieces were momentarily subdued during WWII because of shortage in supply. But they were later revived and eventually replaced both linen and black-and-white postcards in 1945.

From 1900 to the present, there was also the vintage Real Photo Postcards that were produced from photos and developed onto photographic paper. It is very difficult to know their exact dates because most have lost their postmark or the photographer have not been able to indicate it in their postcards. Hence, there is much confusion in identifying them in the present time as there is nothing to indicate if they are reproductions or not.

Collectors of vintage postcards tell the real from the reel by looking at these postcard printing pieces with a magnifying glass. A real "Real Photo Postcard" has solid picture, while a reprinted one is made up of a lot of little dots.

Then there's the Art Deco Era (1910 to 1930s) that made popular the vintage postcards that have vibrant colors as their design. Art Deco subjects are usually of the past such as the ancient Greeks, Middle Eastern themes, and Egyptian artifacts, among others. The most common illustrations on Art Deco vintage postcards were ladies in fancy vogue style clothing; as well as the presence of sharp angles and straight lines.

Although vintage postcard printing has supposedly ended around the 1930s, it was during this era that the greatest volume of postcard printing pieces have been produced.

Lynne Saarte is a writer that hails from Texas. She has been in the Internet business for some years now, specializing in Internet marketing and other online business strategies.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit: Postcard Printing Company