posted on November 17, 2000 06:49:47 AM
Hi,
I got this HUGE album of post cards from a recent RL auction. It has 600+ cards most dated 1900 - 1911. Many with mainstreets, RL photos and historical sights.
After I won the auction I didn't take the time to look at it till I got home. I discovered that ALL the post cards are glued to the album pages.
Now what I want to know is:
Is this a big problem for the post card collectors? I was a little dismayed about it.
The album went quit high, what prompted me to bid was the auctioneer said there were post cards from my home town in it(thats where the auction was held). But I found none in it from here.
Its a great old album, but I fear the gluing on the pages may have a big affect on it when trying to auction it off.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. What are CHROME post cards?
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edited for packer by packer!!
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Having a BAD HAIR DAY! ...
[ edited by packer on Nov 17, 2000 06:51 AM ]
posted on November 17, 2000 07:59:58 AM
When I have had a good book with a bad adhesive sticker on it, I use a hair dryer to heat it. The glue melts and the sticker can be removed without tearing the dust jacket or book cover. You might want to give this a try on one of the less important post cards.
posted on November 17, 2000 02:00:21 PM
Hi Packer,
Sounds like some of our local auctioneers!! To answer your questions, if you carefully can remove the cards, maybe with a long kitchen knife's help, being careful not to crease or cut the card, you can get them free of the page. They probably used the old paper paste (like Elmer's) to glue them in and only moisture would melt the glue, but would also ruin the cards in the process. The cards won't be as good (bring as much money) as mint cards, but should still bring high bids if they are unique. From the dates you mentioned, you shouldn't have any chrome cards, as they date from the 40's on. They are the same ones as you can buy now, shiney, color photo cards. Your best cards would be real photograph (black and white) cards of street scenes identified as to where they were taken. Many people collect cards from the towns they live in or lived in, and they can bring high bids if the right bidders are involved. Small town scenes from the west and the plains seem to do really well for me. If the cards were mailed, you can look at the post mark to determine the origin if it's not written on the front or back. Another option would be to sell whole album pages of similar subjects, especially if the album has hand written notes about the scenes. Even with the glue, you'll have fun selling them and probably some good bids.
posted on November 17, 2000 02:21:52 PM
Hi sunyside,
Thanks for the reply.
On the cards that have fallen off natually, the glue is brown, you remember as kids we had those little glue bottles with the rubber end and a slit in it. You push and slide at the same time and about a 1/2" wide swath would come out. It was a yucky brown, well thats what this looks like.
Anyway...this album is 18" x 12" x 2-1/4" thick. It can hold up to 10 cards per page. About 75 pages in this thing. She does have written who they are from and the date, and she has them catogorized by town and state(mostly Iowa towns).
I'm not going to try and take them off the paper, its to risky.
If I list and sell as one big lot its going to be a nightmare on which cards to photograph as I think they are ALL worth a mention.
Geesh...how do I get into these messes.
There is an auction running now where the seller is selling 400+ cards and she listed every last one of them.
I see a headache coming, if I were to try that.
I gotta think about this somemore!
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edited for packer by packer!!
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Having a BAD HAIR DAY! ...
posted on November 17, 2000 02:52:06 PM
To a real collector of hometown scenes, disasters, etc., the glue isn't going to make a big difference. What's important is the image on the front. As long as that looks good, you're in business. Don't risk ruining the whole card by taking extreme measures to get the glue off. In the long run, it won't matter much.
posted on November 17, 2000 03:18:27 PM
Hi packer,
I buy cards from my hometown (when I don't have to bid against some of my customers) and my ancestor's towns. I don't care whether they have glue spots on the back or not. Sometimes I even buy when the front leaves alot to be desired.
I also sell some postcards. As long as you are honest and show the back you shouldn't have any problems. I don't know about Iowa, but my home county area buyers have been going nuts for both real photo and regular main street pictures. I usually stop at $10.00 because I already have alot, but continue to watch others bid to 20.00 and beyond sometimes.
With cards that old would you please make sure you offer insurance? I purchased a card from a post card dealer with a large number fb. I ask for insurance...but he didn't respond. I felt I was buying the card, I had a right to protect it as best I could. Never heard from him... all communication was automated. [He of course didn't give fb either...just continued to get it from his customers...but that is another story.]
Have fun. People are so happy to get a great
postcard of their hometown!
And by the way I have seen a few disaster cards go for big bucks too. Now if you had a postcard of a certain Indiana tornado....
[ edited by labrat4gmos on Nov 17, 2000 03:23 PM ]
