The Postmark · 101 articles
The Postmark
All 101 articles from Vintagepostcards, newest first. Search, filter by topic, or sort to find the one you need.
Postcards of Vanished Amusement Parks: Rides, Midways and Maps
Postcards can preserve amusement parks that left few surviving buildings, but attraction names and park layouts changed over time.
Postcards of Vanished Amusement Parks: Rides, Midways and Maps
Postcards can preserve amusement parks that left few surviving buildings, but attraction names and park layouts changed over time.
Military Camp Postcards: Regimental Captions and Sensitive Context
Historical military camp cards need careful attribution because units moved and captions were sometimes generic.
WWI Embroidered Silk Postcards: Types, Themes, Condition and Care
How to identify and collect WWI embroidered silk postcards: envelope and plain types, regimental and flag designs, condition problems and safe storage.
Vintage Lighthouse Postcards: Identifying Lights, Keepers' Houses and Changing Views
How to collect vintage lighthouse postcards: identifying the right light, using keepers' houses and lenses as clues, lightships, eras and research tips.
Souvenir Postcard Folders: How to Collect, Date and Store Fold-Out View Sets
Souvenir postcard folders explained: accordion view strips, mailing covers, dating by printing style, completeness checks and how to store them flat.
Postcard Show Tips: How to Work the Dealer Boxes Without Wasting Your Day
How to shop a vintage postcard show: what to bring, how dealer boxes are sorted, show etiquette, building a want list and deciding fast at the table.
How to Frame and Display Vintage Postcards Without Ruining Them
Frame and display vintage postcards safely: UV glazing, acid-free mats, photo corners, showing both sides, rotating displays, and when to frame a copy.
Gifts for Postcard Collectors: What They Actually Want (and What to Skip)
A criteria-based gift guide for vintage postcard collectors: archival supplies, loupes, display ideas, hometown cards and how to shop without guessing wrong.
Cleaning and Flattening Old Postcards: What's Safe and What Ruins Them
Conservative ways to clean dusty, curled or stained vintage postcards, why most fixes hurt value, and when to stop and call a paper conservator instead.
Vintage Ballpark and Stadium Postcards: Lost Parks, Aerial Views and Town Teams
Collect vintage ballpark and stadium postcards: lost major league parks, aerial chrome views, minor league and town-team RPPCs, dating clues and research tips.
Undivided Back Postcards and Private Mailing Cards: Dating the Earliest US Cards
How to recognize private mailing cards and undivided back postcards, what the back wording tells you, and why early US cards are dated by ranges, not years.
Streetcar, Trolley and Interurban Postcards: Identifying Lines, Cars and Dates
How to collect and research streetcar, trolley and interurban postcards: identify the line, read car numbers and signs, date the scene and find the cards.
Real Photo vs Printed Postcard: How to Tell in Two Minutes With a Loupe
Is your old postcard a real photo or a printed image? Use a loupe to check for dots, grain and silvering, then confirm with the back and the stamp box.
Postcard Sleeves Compared: Polypropylene vs Polyester vs PVC
Which plastic sleeves are safe for vintage postcards? Polypropylene vs polyester vs PVC compared, plus sizes, PAT testing, top-loaders and what to avoid.
Postcard Abbreviations and Condition Terms: A Plain-English Glossary
What do UDB, DB, RPPC, PMC, WB, PM and NM mean on a postcard listing? A plain-English glossary of the abbreviations and condition terms collectors use.
How to Start a Postcard Collection (and Choose a Focus You Will Stick With)
New to deltiology? How to pick a collecting focus (a town, a topic, an era or a publisher), set simple rules, buy smart and avoid a shoebox of random cards.
How to Spot Reproduction and Reprint Postcards Before You Buy
Red flags that separate reproduction postcards from originals: modern backs, dot patterns, paper, size and listing wording, and how to check before you buy.
How to Catalog a Postcard Collection: A Spreadsheet System That Lasts
Set up a simple postcard inventory: ID numbers, the spreadsheet columns that matter, scanning and file names, and a filing system you can keep up with.
Buying Vintage Postcards on eBay: Saved Searches, Smart Bidding and Safe Shipping
eBay is where most collectors find the bulk of their postcards. Every day, cards arrive from estates, dealers' stock and attic boxes, and the specific card you are looking for may only…
Divided Back Postcards: How to Date Cards From the Golden Age
The divided back is the most familiar postcard layout in the world: a picture on one side, and on the other a line down the middle with the message on the left and the address on the right…
Yosemite Postcards: Hotels, Roads, Falls and the Same View Across Different Eras
Deep collector guide to Yosemite postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
World’s Fair and Exposition Postcards: Pavilions, Souvenirs, Publishers and Event Dating
Deep collector guide to world's fair and exposition postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
White-Border Postcards: Domestic Printing, View Changes and Why the Border Is Only One Clue
Deep collector guide to white-border postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Valentine Postcards: Mechanical Designs, Hearts, Humor and Artist-Signed Cards
Deep collector guide to vintage Valentine postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Halloween Postcards: Witches, Pumpkins, Divination, Artists and Reproduction Risks
Deep collector guide to vintage Halloween postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
World’s Fair Postcards: Buildings, Midways, and Souvenirs
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: World’s Fair Postcards: Buildings, Midways, and Souvenirs.
Train Station Postcards: Identifying Depots and Railroads
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Train Station Postcards: Identifying Depots and Railroads.
How to Sort a Large Vintage Postcard Lot
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: How to Sort a Large Vintage Postcard Lot.
Antique Postcard Albums: Preservation and Removal Risks
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Antique Postcard Albums: Preservation and Removal Risks.
Main Street Postcards as Local History
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Main Street Postcards as Local History.
Leather Postcards: Dating and Condition
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Leather Postcards: Dating and Condition.
Vintage Halloween Postcards: Witches, Pumpkins, and Publishers
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Vintage Halloween Postcards: Witches, Pumpkins, and Publishers.
Exaggeration Postcards: Giant Crops and Tall Tales
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Exaggeration Postcards: Giant Crops and Tall Tales.
Disaster Postcards: Fires, Floods, and Historical Context
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Disaster Postcards: Fires, Floods, and Historical Context.
Black Americana Postcards: History, Harm, and Responsible Description
Queued VintagePostcards.co guide: Black Americana Postcards: History, Harm, and Responsible Description.
Yellowstone Postcards: Old Faithful, Lodges, Roads, Wildlife and View Variations
Deep collector guide to Yellowstone National Park postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Thanksgiving Postcards: Turkeys, Harvest Scenes, Humor and Mechanical Cards
Deep collector guide to vintage Thanksgiving postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Santa Christmas Postcards: Artist Style, Embossing, Publisher and Collector Demand
Deep collector guide to vintage Santa Christmas postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Easter Postcards: Chicks, Rabbits, Religious Scenes and Publisher Clues
Deep collector guide to vintage Easter postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Dog and Animal Postcards: Breeds, Artists, Real Photos and Advertising Uses
Deep collector guide to vintage dog and animal postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Cat Postcards: Illustrated Kittens, Real Photos, Artists and Greeting Themes
Deep collector guide to vintage cat postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Tichnor Brothers Postcards: Linen Views, Numbers, Regional Subjects and Dating Clues
Deep collector guide to Tichnor Brothers postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Small-Town Main Street Postcards: The Local-History Collector’s Sweet Spot
Deep collector guide to small-town main-street postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Storefront and Business RPPCs: Signs, Owners, Addresses and Vanished Local History
Deep collector guide to business storefront RPPCs: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Small-Town Main Street RPPCs: Storefronts, Signs, Vehicles and Local-History Value
Deep collector guide to small-town main-street real photo postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
School, Church and Public-Building RPPCs: Dating Architecture and Community Views
Deep collector guide to school and church RPPCs: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Occupational RPPCs: Factories, Farms, Mines, Shops and Workers at Their Jobs
Deep collector guide to occupational real photo postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Disaster RPPCs: Fires, Floods, Storm Damage and How to Research the Exact Event
Deep collector guide to disaster real photo postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Old Postcard Albums: When to Leave Cards in Place and How to Handle Stuck Corners
Deep collector guide to postcards in old albums: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Raphael Tuck Postcards: Series Numbers, Oilette Cards, Artists and Research Workflow
Deep collector guide to Raphael Tuck postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Posted vs Unused Postcards: When Writing, Stamps and Postmarks Help or Hurt
Deep collector guide to posted and unused vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Postcard Storage: Sleeves, Boxes, Dividers, Albums and What to Avoid
Deep collector guide to postcard storage systems: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Using the Stamp and Postage on a Vintage Postcard as a Dating Clue
Deep collector guide to postage and stamps on vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
How to Research a Postcard Postmark: Town Names, Dates, Stations and Hard-to-Read Cancels
Deep collector guide to vintage postcard postmarks: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Postcard Mailing Date vs Printing Date vs Image Date: Why the Three Can Be Different
Deep collector guide to postcard printing, image and mailing dates: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Handwriting on Old Postcards: Names, Addresses, Family Connections and Provenance Clues
Deep collector guide to handwritten vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Photo-Paper Stamp Boxes on RPPCs: AZO, CYKO, EKC and a Safer Dating Workflow
Deep collector guide to real-photo postcard stamp-box marks: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Patriotic and Flag Postcards: Military Eras, Presidents, Eagles and Event Context
Deep collector guide to patriotic vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Ocean-Liner and Ship Postcards: Vessel Names, Lines, Routes and Reissue Risks
Deep collector guide to ship and ocean-liner postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage National Park Map Postcards: Illustrated Routes, Scenic Icons and Collector Research
Deep collector guide to national park map postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
National Park Lodge Postcards: Hotels, Dining Rooms, Cabins and Lost Architecture
Deep collector guide to national park lodge postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Motel Postcards: Neon Signs, Pools, Architecture and the Roadside-America Market
Deep collector guide to vintage motel postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Miami Beach Postcards: Hotels, Oceanfront Views, Linen Cards and Chrome-Era Changes
Deep collector guide to Miami Beach postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Mechanical and Novelty Postcards: Wheels, Foldouts, Add-Ons and Missing-Part Checks
Deep collector guide to mechanical novelty postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Foreign Postcards: Paris, Venice, Japan and How to Research Cards Across Languages
Deep collector guide to international vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Inherited a Postcard Collection? The First Hour Before You Sort, Sell or Throw Anything Away
Deep collector guide to inherited postcard collections: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Hotel and Resort Postcards: Lobby Views, Dining Rooms, Pools and Name Changes
Deep collector guide to vintage hotel and resort postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Hand-Colored and Tinted Postcards: How to Separate Added Color From Printed Color
Deep collector guide to hand-colored and tinted postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Grand Canyon Postcards: Lodges, Railroad Connections, Rim Views and Publisher Variants
Deep collector guide to Grand Canyon postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Florida Large-Letter Postcards: Variations, Publishers, Cities and Collector Comparisons
Deep collector guide to Florida large-letter postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
How to Use eBay Sold Listings for Vintage Postcards Without Averaging Garbage
Deep collector guide to eBay sold comps for vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Diner and Gas-Station Postcards: Signs, Brands, Roads and Vanished Businesses
Deep collector guide to diner and gas-station postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Dexter Press Chrome Postcards: Motels, Roadsides, Color Views and Number Research
Deep collector guide to Dexter Press chrome postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Detroit Publishing Postcards: Photochrom Views, Numbering and Scenic American Collecting
Deep collector guide to Detroit Publishing postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Vintage Comic Postcards: Regional Jokes, Stereotypes, Artists and Collector Context
Deep collector guide to vintage comic postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Chrome Postcards: Glossy Color, Motels, Highways and Mid-Century Collector Demand
Deep collector guide to chrome-era postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Buying Unsorted Postcard Lots: What Photos Reveal, What Sellers Miss and When to Pass
Deep collector guide to unsorted vintage postcard lots: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
AZO Stamp Boxes on Real Photo Postcards: How to Use the Mark Without Overdating the Card
Deep collector guide to AZO stamp-box real photo postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Artist-Signed Greeting Postcards: Signatures, Publisher Series and Researching the Artwork
Deep collector guide to artist-signed vintage postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Albertype Postcards: Collotype-Look Views, Buildings, Campuses and Publisher Marks
Deep collector guide to Albertype postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
Acadia and Bar Harbor Postcards: Cadillac Mountain, Hotels, Roads and Coastal Views
Deep collector guide to Acadia and Bar Harbor postcards: identification, dating, local-history research, condition and completed-sale comparisons.
How Much Are Old Postcards Worth?
Find out how postcard subject, local scarcity, publisher, condition and completed sales affect value. Learn to compare sold examples rather than asking prices.
How to Identify and Date Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs)
Learn how to identify and date real photo postcards (RPPCs) using photo paper marks, stamp boxes, divided backs, postmarks and image evidence.
Vintage Postcard Eras: A Practical Timeline
Private Mailing Card through photochrome, with the limits of era-based dating.
Using eBay Sold Listings for Postcard Research
Compare the same place, view, publisher, era, and condition instead of broad asking prices.
Transportation Postcards: Trains, Ships, Streetcars, and Aviation
Identify equipment, route, station, operator, and historical setting.
Roadside America Postcards: Motels, Diners, and Neon
Collector appeal around highways, signs, attractions, and vanished businesses.
Rare Postcard Subjects Collectors Watch For
Vanished businesses, small towns, unusual transportation, disasters, and social history.
Researching the Town on a Vintage Postcard
Directories, maps, newspapers, local archives, and exact caption searches.
Common Postcard Publisher Marks and Where to Research Them
Collector note: Dates are research ranges and values are market observations, not guarantees. Scan both sides and verify specialist claims against institutional or publisher records.
Postcard Condition: Creases, Corners, Writing, and Damage
Evaluate antique postcard condition using corners, surface wear, creases, writing and paper damage. Compare prices for the exact card and condition.
National Park Postcards: Lodges, Roads, and Scenic Views
Research location, publisher, era, view, and park-history context.
Linen Postcards: Texture, Color, and Dating
Learn how to recognize linen-finish postcards, colored printing and publisher clues. Date examples using paper texture, imprint, postmark and scene evidence.
Large Letter Postcards: States, Cities, and Values
Research the publisher, place, variation, condition, and collector demand.
How to Store Vintage Postcards Safely
Archival sleeves, boxes, light, humidity, handling, and organization.
How to Sell Vintage Postcards
Identify, group, describe, photograph, price, and ship collections.
How to Scan Vintage Postcards
Capture fronts, backs, postmarks, details, and color accurately.
Vintage Hotel Postcards: Buildings, Rates, and Road Trips
What hotels, motor courts, and resorts reveal about travel history.
Vintage Holiday Postcards: Artists, Publishers, and Series
Seasonal iconography, artist signatures, publisher series, and condition.
Curt Teich Postcards: Identification and Dating
Identify Curt Teich postcards using publisher codes, card numbers, printing characteristics and the Newberry archive before comparing collectible examples.
Best Places to Buy Vintage Postcards
Shows, dealers, auctions, marketplaces, paper fairs, and estate sales.