It is difficult to talk about postcard collecting in anything other than generic terms unless we get specific. This is not because postcard collecting is a vague subject. It is because it is a VAST subject.
There are literally thousands of niche subjects to choose from. Then there are the niches within niches.
Where postcards are concerned, what you decide to immerse yourself in is very much a matter of personality and personal interests. Forinstance, you may decide that you are interested in collecting "Railway" postcards. Or you may think that "Signed Artist" postcards is the way to go. Ah yes. But which railway postcard era?
Which artist or artists?
Sooner or latter you just have to make a decision and leap in. That is the beauty of postcard collecting. Although it covers an awful lot of acreage, once you decide to knuckle down to a particular subject (or two), you will become very focused.
I started by collecting old photograph postcards. Any old photo postcards, just because they were real photo's and they were old. But as time went on, I became more selective and chose only cards between the two World Wars. Photo postcards containing people in their normal walks of life. But you can choose anything you like and you are not limited to just one subject or niche.
I know someone who collects seaside postcards. No, not those naughty ones. Not that there is anything wrong about collecting naughty seaside postcards, but the person I am talking about collects only seaside postcards that have a pier in them. So you see just how focused you can become if you wish.
There can be no doubt that whatever you choose to collect, you will find this hobby thoroughly absorbing and you will be amazed at how knowledgable you can become in your chosen subject.
Another advantage of this hobby, and not one to be dismissed in these days of financial downturn, is the very reasonable prices you need pay. You can easily add to your collection for ?1 per card. Often a lot less. It will depend on your sources and of course, the condition of a card will play its part. The better the condition, the more you pay, is the general rule. Some people not only don't mind a card with writing on the reverse - they actually prefer it. And why not? 'Whatever turns you on', is the name of this game. But personally I like them with not one drop of ink - when I can get them, that is.
I should mention that this is also a great hobby for children on a limited income. Yes, I know that they have computer games and all the rest of it, but unless I am very much mistaken, children can find this hobby very absorbing no-matter what technological age we are living in. This is especially true when a parent will share the interest with a child.
So go ahead and plunge in. There is a universe of interesting discoveries to be made.
Mark Sonderby runs the Postcard-Post website where you can find his postcards being auctioned on eBay.
