Vallejo California Postcard Group

I recently dug through a fellow dealers unsorted postcard stock at a local show. I found an interesting 1940s real photo postcard from Vallejo California, a town near San Franscisco. The card had a really nice view of 40s cars, stores etc. so I put it aside to purchase.

A few minutes later I found another nice old view of the same town. And a few hundred cards later I found another, and another until I found eight different real photos from same town of Vallejo. I ending up buying them all as they were priced reasonably.

When I got home and looked through my purchases, I noticed that they were all sent from the same person in Vallejo to someone in Plainfield NJ. He sent one back east every few days, showing the recipient the town he lived in. He described on the back of each card what the view showed. A really nice snapshot of life in Vallejo Calif. around the late 1940s.

I considered breaking up the collection and probably would get more for the cards individually. But I kinda feel responsible now that I've got them all together again to keep them together. I'm hoping someone out there appreciates them as a collection as much as I do.....

It's coming...Belmar NJ 2009 !!!

The 2009 Belmar NJ postcard show is coming! Getting together lots of great postcards and Jersey Shore memorabilia for this years show. It's one of the last of the year for us and always one of the best!

Hope to see everyone there!

This weekends show....

Just got finished pricing another 1000 or so cards for this weekend South Jersey postcard show. Sounds like it might be a rainy weekend, so maybe the crowds will come out to the show instead of sitting inside.

As always I'll have lots of affordable cards in all states and topics. Drop me an email if I can bring anything special, ok?



Thanks and hope to see everyone there!



Kevin

Next Weekends South Jersey Show

Getting ready today for next Saturday's South Jersey postcard show! I have lots of great postcards to add to our stock, in all topics and states. Be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!

Hope to see everyone there!

Kevin

More Mainzer Cat Postcards Just Added

I've just purchased a nice large lot of Mainzer Dressed Cat postcards!

These are neat! Mainzer produced a super series of dressed cat postcards many years ago and they continue to be very collectible. Cats playing golf, cats eating in a sidewalk cafe, in a hospital, pushing a baby carriage etc. I've just listed approx. 25 nice old postcards on my site, all featuring cats and kittens! Stop by now for the best selection!

Garden State Show Recap

The Garden State Postcard Club Show was as always alot of fun. Saturday turned out to be the busiest of the two days, with sales steady throughout the day.

Sunday was quite a bit slower, even with the rain (you would have thought it would drive more people indoors?). I'm told attendence was somewhere around 400+ for the two days combined.

As always, it was nice to see many dealers I do not often see. Sunday brought in some new dealers that were not set up Saturday.

Popular topics were: Foreign, NJ views, nudes, Real Photos, misc. states, 50s chrome and linen postcards.

Thanks go out to Dan Herzog and the Garden State club for another great year!

Getting ready for this weekend two day postcard show in Parsippany NJ! This is not one to miss with almost 50 dealers of great old postcards, vintage photographs and other memorabilia.

I'll have over 60 boxes of cards there from all states and collectable topics. Email me ahead of time so I can bring something specific for you.


Show hrs are Sat. 9/26 10-6 and Sun. 9/27 10-4.

Hope to see everyone there!

Mainzer Cat Postcard Collection

I just purchased another nice old collection of postcards. These are from a west coast collector of Mainzer Cat postcards! Each has a cute imaged of dressed cats doing things like getting their hair cut in a barber shop, going on a cruise, driving cars, playing carnival games etc.

Check out my site now for the best selection of vintage Mainzer Cat postcards, as they will not last long at $2.99-$4.99 !

Thanks, Kevin

Tuckerton Clamtown Show

Just finished this weekends Tuckerton NJ Clamtown Antiques Flea Market. We were disappointed that we got rained out on Saturday, but Sunday turned out to be a much better day!

The ground was wet and slippery, but the crowds did come out to shop. Notice I said "shop" and not buy! Money continues to be tight, with many of the sales being between $5-$20. I did notice alot of people carrying items, so it was not a bad day for some dealers.

Postcard sales were a bit slow. But local memorabilia sold ok. Inexpensive general antiques also sold well. I did not do much buying, as prices seemed pretty high, with many delaers not budging on price. There were a few items I had my eye on, but their selling price with no discount left no room for profit. Even at the end of the day, a few dealers would not negotiate.

Overall it was a fun day, sharing conversation with other dealers and friends coming by our space.

We're getting ready now for another event this month, our Parsippany NJ two day show up North. Hope to see everyone there!

Kevin
www.postcardguy.com

Vintage Red Star Line Ocean Liner Postcards

I've just acquired a super collection of early Ocean Liner postcards. Each has hardly seen the light of day in over 90 years! They were nicely preserved in an album, and almost every card was produced by the Red Star Line Company.

Click on the blog title above to visit the cards currently up for auction.

The Art Deco style artwork is quite beautiful, and they resemble their larger cousins, the vintage travel posters of the day. This poster art can be quite valuable, especially with the travel posters. The postcards are miniature works of art!

The postcards were "official" premiums given away. They could have been obtained back then when you booked passage on one of the Red Star liners. A few of the postcards even describe how to receive these cards!

Check out my latest offerings on eBay under seller id Postcardguyantiques, on Delcampe and also on my own website at http://www.postcardguy.com/

Vintage Circus Photographs

Every now and then a vintage photograph comes along that begs further investigation. Such was the case of the one shown above. At first glance, it seemed like just a random photo of a happy couple. But closer examination shed some light on the couple.

The image was taken by a photographer probably during the 1890s-1910 era. The cabinet photo measures approx. 4" x 6". It pictures a super view of a young man and woman, but both of a very large size! The back of the photo read "Chauncey Morlan, Age 25, Wt 602, Wife age 22, Wt 526". A quick "google" search revealed that they were a circus side show attraction of some type. The photographer turned out to be famous circus / sideshow / freak photographer Wendt of Boonton NJ. He was famous for his rare images of midgets, giants, fatmen, sword swollowers, jugglers and bearded ladies!

Chauncy Royse Morlan and Annie Bell were married in 1892 at Huber's Museum in New York. Afterward the couple toured with the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Europe. Upon returning to the US, they continued to travel as the fattest married couple in the world "with a combined weight of 912 pounds". During the off season the Morlans returned to their home in Indianapolis, Indiana - Chauncy's home state. Annie would die at age 31, and Chauncey at age 43.

I'm happy to offer this neat piece up for bid now on eBay. A neat old piece of photographic Circus history!

New Collection Just Purchased

I've recently purchased a super collection of thousands of old postcards. Most if not all centered around the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri. The cards were carefully cared for all these years, even though not kept in albums or protective postcard sleeves.

The collector must have truly loved their postcards! What is amazing is the sheer number of real photo postcards in the collection! I would guess probably 400-500 of the cards were RP's ! The focus of the collection was small town views, from 1920 until around 1950 or so. Some super images of storefronts, cars, factories, lighthouses, steamboats etc. I'm proud to be offering these in the coming weeks on eBay.

Whats interesting is that I found a handful of cards in the collection that date to the 40s, but were written on and mailed after 1970! They apparently collected them, held onto them for many years, and then pulled them out and mailed them later!

New Trailer Items Just Added !

Hi Trailer Guys and Girls!

I apologize for being slow lately adding new trailer items to my site for sale. But only because I have been so busy buying up new super trailer items to offer to eveyone!

I have about 50 new items to add and have just listed approx. 25 new additions on my site tonight. More to follow over the next few nights! Postcards, trailer brochures, match books and more!

Shop now for the best selection! As always, I offer Flat Rate $2.00 shipping regardless of quantity! Thanks for your past business...

Click below for the latest offerings...Thanks, Kevin

http://www.postcardguy.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=TopicPostcards&Sub=152&isThumbs=No&Thumbs=

More trailer items.....

I've been beating the bushes looking for more neat trailer items for my site. I was happy to get in several nice lots this week. Some like the one shown above have super colorful graphics. These travel trailers were truly home away from homes with every convenience of the times!



Several pieces in my latest lots acquired are nice WW2 era pieces, including one describing how travel trailers are helping us win the war! Stop by my site and check out all the latest pieces of trailer memorabilia for sale!

Clink on the link below to visit lots more great trailer items! http://www.postcardguy.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=TopicPostcards&Sub=152&isThumbs=No&Thumbs==

Getting ready for another show....

It's Friday April 24th...just sitting here sorting, sleeving and pricing another nice group of postcards for a show next weekend in Brick NJ. Its fun going through new cards and interesting reading! You'd be surprised what people used to write on postcards!

Just ran across one that tells of "a neighbor down the road that now has electric light"! Imagine how exciting that must have been for those who did not yet have it yet in their homes. Another postcard tells of a family member passing, and what a nice time they all had at the wake!

Also another nice lot of vintage trailer memorabila just arrived. I'll be scanning and listing it for sale on my website soon...

Details on next Sundays Brick NJ Bottle and Paper show is available on my site at www.postcardguy.com.

The night before the show....

I left work tonight and headed up to Ocean Grove to get a jump on setting up....I probably have 50 or so boxes of cards ready to go. I saw lots of the regular dealers there...Tony Mac, Jim Estelle, Jim Lindemuth, John McGrath etc. Looks to be a good show and the weather sounds perfect!

Hope to see everyone there...something for everyone at this larger show!

Getting Ready For The Ocean Grove Show

Getting ready for the Ocean Grove NJ postcard show this Saturday.

Working tonight on sorting and pricing another thousand or so old postcards I recently picked up. I like to sort them into three categories: show stock, my website inventory and eBay items. I find that some cards sell better in one area or another.

I'll then go through and sleeve them in nice new postcard sleeves, stack them up in topics or states and then begin to price them. I like to think I'm usually on the low side of pricing, always pricing what I feel is a bit below or at a fair market value. I sell very well to dealers, so I must be pricing fairly!

I'll also load up the truck tonight and will probably bring approx. 50 boxes of nice old cards to the show. But it never fails...I'll leave my foreign postcards home time time, and then someone will walk up at the show and ask for them! But you cannot bring everything....

Stop by my table and say hello!
Kevin

More and more old trailer items!

Just added another 25 or so nice old trailer items to my site for sale today. Some really neat trailer catalogs, a nice lot of linen comic trailer postcards and even a trailer dealer promotional set of playing cards!

Stop by and take a look!

http://www.postcardguy.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=TopicPostcards&Sub=152&isThumbs=No&Thumbs=

Kevin

More Trailer Postcards

Just listed a nice old lot of trailer postcards on my site tonight. They are quite interesting to look at, with all the great 1940s and 50s trailers and autos in view. What fun it must have been to hook up your car to one of these rigs and travel across the US in search for adventure!

Vintage Travel Trailer Brochures

Old dealer advertising brochures showing vintage travel trailers are great for restorers and collectors of these "over the road" houses on wheels. They show the newest models of the time, all available options, colors, floor plans and pricing. I'm always on the hunt for these old advertising pieces, as I have many collector friends who enjoy collecting them. I've recently bought a nice collection of older brochures and have listed many for sale in my online store Postcardguy.com. A sample of a really nice one is shown above. By the way, old postcards showing trailers or mobile homes are also a favorite of mine. I always try to keep a nice selection of trailer cards available at all times. Stop by my store often for the latest arrivals! Click here

Old Route 66 Postcards-The Mother Road

I've always loved the history around "The Mother Road"...old Rt 66! The roadside attractions, diners, gas stations, motels. What a historic slice of Americana! I've been picking up old Rt 66 postcards at shows for some time now and have just listed a nice selection for sale on eBay today! Why not stop by my auctions and start a great collection today! To see my ebay auctions, please click HERE!

Vintage Trailer Postcards

Some of the most popular postcards searched for on the internet and on eBay are vintage trailer postcards.

Pictured above are just a few cards we have featured in our online store.

The first card shown is a 60's VW & Travel Trailer! Here's a neat old 60's view of the Fundy Nat. park in Canada. A vintage Volkswagon sits alongside an old trailer. Other mobile homes are in view. Back of card is divided and postally unused. Condition-Excellent

The second card is a 40's Real Photo Washington State Ferry w/Trailer This is a super Real Photo postcard image! It pictures the Anacortes Victoria San Juan Ferry at Anacortes Wash. State. Look at all the great 40's cars, trucks and travel trailer! Back of card is undivided and postally unused with an "E K C PLace Stamp Here" stamp box. Condition is excellent.

Do you collect vintage travel trailer or mobile home memorabilia? Postcards are a super addition to your collection! Watch our store often new additions to our Trailer category. Click here to see our latest offerings!

Learning About Old Postcards

Vintage postcards are an affordable and fun hobby! Cards can range from a few cents apiece to the hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars each! Finding the true value of a card can be hard, with so many factors affecting its price.

I'll try to list here some common things that affect a postcards value or price.

Age: The age of a postcard can sometimes add to its monetary value. Many collectors today look for the earlier postcards, from around 1898 until the 1940's. But as these cards become harder to find, a new market for cards produced from the 1940's until the present have been created. If you think about it, cards produced in the 1950's are already over 50 years old!

Condition: Condition is a huge factor in evaluating postcards. A card in excellent to mint condition demands a much higher price than those with defects. Small creases, tears, bends or ink marks can cut the price of a postcard up to half! Postcards are often mishandled, and that little crease or rounded corner may not seem like much. But to a true collector, it can make a big difference. $20 postcards can often be found in a dealers 10 cent box due to its condition.

Topic: Some postcard topics are more desirable than others. For example, in the Holiday postcard field, Birthday postcards are considered quite common. Although beautiful, and often produced by famous publishers, they cannot rival the value of a Halloween postcard produced by the very same publisher. Black and white postcards are great examples of view postcards, but a true Real Photo postcard of the same place most often demands a much higher price.

Rarity: How many of this particular postcard were produced? Was it made by a small town publisher, maybe in a small quantity of 100? Or by a large city publisher, produced in the thousands? This will greatly affect the cards collectible value. How many are still around? How many have you seen on eBay or at shows? It is not uncommon to see two identical cards at a show, with a great difference in asking price. Postcard grading will probably never be as precise as coin or baseball card collecting, with manufacturers production numbers and standardized price guides. As for vintage postcards, some "one of a kind" cards can be worth big $$$!

Postcard Types/Dating: Dating postcards can be somewhat easy when postmarked on the back when sent. But using this method can be deceiving, as cards were often printed and stored for years before being sold and mailed. Postcards fall into several age categories. Clues on the actual cards can help date them, when they are not postmarked by a post office.

Pioneer Postcards: The earliest known postcards are commonly called "Pioneers". They were produced before the date July 1, 1898. Most often they have vignettes or images printed directly onto Government Postal cards, but can sometimes be found printed on private publishers card stock as well.

Early Century: Early Century postcards are those from the dates of 1898 until around 1918 or so. This group is commonly known as the "Golden Age" of postcard publishing, as it contained some of the most outstanding examples of postcard publishing. During this time, postcards would begin to become standardized, most being printed in the more popular 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" size format. Included as sub groups within this group were "Private Mailing" postcards, "undivided back", "divided back" and "Real Photo" postcards. Undivided cards required all writing correspondence to be on the front (picture) side and the address only on the back, while the divided back allowed both a handwritten message and a space for an address on the back side. Real Photo, RP or RPPC postcards were made from images taken with an actual camera. They were developed in a darkroom and printed onto postcard stock, often in a brown sepia tone.

Mid Century: Cards produced from 1919 to around 1940 or so. This group contains the ever popular "linen" postcard type, with a sort of "fabric" type feel to them, produced in the 40's. Also produced during these years were the "white border" postcards. These are normally black and white view images with white borders around the outside.

Chrome Era: Chrome postcards were produced from the 1950's until present. These late century postcards used a new "chromolithic" process, with lifelike vibrant colors, resembling more of a true photograph, then a printed postcard image. A new size format was also introduced during this age, measuring approx. 4"x6" and popularly called "continental" size. Modern/Rack Postcards: Cards made today are commonly called "moderns". A new type of collectible postcard is the promotional advertising postcards called "rack cards" or "free cards", as they are often found as give aways in restaurant and retail racks.