posted on September 29, 2002 01:50:03 PM
Hi, all: A shop near me is going out of business. I asked one day what he wanted for all his postcards (most in protective sleeves), and he said $100, including the table-top carousel they were in. I thought there were about 100, but he assured me there were "at least 200." Next day I bought them, got them home, started counting, and there are about 800! So I got them for 8 cents each, which I know is a good price. I've had success in the past with some old family postcards on ebay.
My question is how to deal with them without going nuts. Here's my tentative plan, and please tell me if you'd do something different. So that I don't flood the market with, say, lots of old Chicago or old Yellowstone Park cards, I'll sort them into topic-categories - or state categories. Perhaps list four from EACH category at a time.
Would you do this differently? (I don't want to go to shows and try to sell them.) Thanks in advance for your advice. ~Adele
posted on September 29, 2002 02:08:14 PM
What a find. I am a collector of Post Cards and what I look for are mainly from my Home Town or Santa Claus Cards. I would separate them into states first as that would be easier, I think, make your self a box put dividers in and sort. Of interest to many are old railroad depots as most have been torn down, or anything involving railroads. Real Photos, Cards with old Cars, bikes etc. There are so many possitilities, but I am sure it is going to take you a while, but a lot of fun. Good Luck
posted on September 29, 2002 02:08:44 PM
I guess just work through them and in a few years hopefully they'll be gone !!
I bought a large lot of vintage match books at auction 2 years ago .. at first went gung ho and sold quite a few on ebay but got tired of it and there they sit in a large clear cracker jar in my rec room !! BUT .. the few I did sell paid for the whole lot !! LOL !!
Good luck to you !
Post cards are fun, bidders love them & they sure are cheap & easy to ship !!
posted on September 29, 2002 02:10:19 PM
Three more things. Any card that is signed by the artist. Also collectible on these cards are post marks as there are no postmarks anymore. Stamps are also collectible.
posted on September 30, 2002 10:37:51 AM
gina50: I know what you mean about the matchcovers. About a year ago I purchased a box of over 2,000 at a very good price. Lots of old ones from the 40's and 50's. I listed just a few and made more than what I paid for the whole lot, then got tired of scanning each one (front and back) and the rest are still sitting in the box in the closet. There is also a matchcover salesman's book with samples that is in mint condition.
posted on September 30, 2002 12:41:52 PM
if you need to sell matchcovers laying around the house, try www.Isellmatchcoverslayingaroundthehouse.com *** they also sell oldrecordslayingaroundthehouse.com
posted on September 30, 2002 12:51:41 PM
silly me for taking you seriously! I didn't really think there was such a site, but I had to check.
I have over 5,000 postcards so was just curious about how this thread would go.
Of course, I did like everyone else. I listed a couple of hundred when I first bought these and got my money back plus a little then got tired of the 10 to 15% sell through rate and high Ebay fees and they are just stacked with other such purchases in my storage.
They do bring in nice bids if anyone is looking, and they do eventually sell after a couple of listings, but the listing fees and work involved was just too much.
[ edited by lindajean on Oct 1, 2002 01:00 PM ]
posted on October 1, 2002 12:35:09 PM
sorry, I was just being flippant>>>no such website. but if you're tired of scanning the matchcovers or postcards individually, just load as many as you can on the scanner and scan it all at one time. it'll make a nice collage for the prospective bidders to see!
[ edited by waynebm on Oct 1, 2002 12:50 PM ]
