RPM757
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:14:31 PM new
I have a person who has about 100 postcards from the late 19th and early 20th century.
90% of these cards feature African Americans in the theme and style of that time.
Is there a market for them and are the restricted for sale in any way on ebay
thanks
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:22:30 PM new
I'm not a post card seller... but do sell vintage ads. My guess is that there would indeed be a market for those post cards (possibly even a considerable one). To the best of my knowledge, there should be no restriction of selling them on eBay. They likely represent a sad, yet important, part of our American History.
As far as vintage ads go... African Americans were very rarely pictured (with the exception of Raftus (cream of wheat) and Aunt Jemima (syrup). You'd occassionaly see additional subjects featured as railway porters... but not usually as a main focus during that era. If the post cards have them as the main subject, I would imagine they would be uncommon at the least, and most likely collectible. I hope that helps!
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Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:32:19 PM new
No restrictions that I know.
They should do very well on ebay as they are very collectible.
I'm sure an expert will pop by soon to confirm.
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neglus
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:36:03 PM new
They should do very well. Are they real photos on postcard backs?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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myfavorites4u
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:37:01 PM new
There is a even a separate category for them under postcards, ethnic, black americana.
I have some but can't bring myself to list them so will either dispose of them or sell them in bulk. I can't even bring myself to list the slave block postcards. It was such an ugly time in America...and I'm a Southerner from Texas.
Here's a link to the Ebay listings that are up now.
http://collectibles.listings.ebay.com/Ethnic_Black-Americana_W0QQfclZ3QQfromZR11QQsacatZ36081QQsocmdZListingItemList
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myfavorites4u
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:39:10 PM new
Many of them do appear to do well.
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pixiamom
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:49:07 PM new
I'm not very fond of ethnic cards but I believe they reached their peak about 5 years ago and have been declining since then. Our local Coon Chicken Inn postcards used to sell for up to several hundred dollars - they have been counterfeited so much that the price has dropped to a fraction of the high price even when postmarked. RPPC's that feature non-derogatory middle class African Americans go very high.
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neglus
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:50:21 PM new
I agree myfavorites - I have a hard time listing them too. I have heard that the biggest collectors of this type of postcard are African Americans. It just is so hard to list some of them that are so derogatory - ditto to the Native American postcards.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:56:10 PM new
myfavorites,
I understand exactly what you mean... some of the ads I have run across from the late 1800's have been completely racist, insensitive and outright offensive. (not only to African Americans, but to Native Americans as well). It is difficult to consider making a profit from such subject material. And yet, one would hope that by bringing material like this to an open market, it can help illustrate the mistakes from our past so that we can attempt to avoid future ones. Usually when I sell ads from that era with that subject material, I get the impression that most of my sales go to serious historians, educators, and even musuems. (Although, one must always worry that they are going to the KKK, skinheads, or other such organizations...) If you're not comfortable selling them... that's certainly an understandable ethical and moral decision. However, you might want to consider donating them to a museum or other organization. I truly believe this material should be preserved and displayed as a constant reminder of our past.
******************************
Vintage Paper Ads
http://www.vintagepaperads.com
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rpm757
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posted on December 11, 2006 05:56:26 PM new
MANY ARE PHOTOS ON ACTUALLY SENT POSTCARDS(STAMPS ON THEM)
ONE HAD AN ALLIGATOR CHASING AN AL JOLSON LIKE FIGURE.
I DID NOT WANT TO COMMIT TO THEM TILL I FELT THERE WAS A MARKET FOR THEM.
WITH E-BAY YOU NEVER KNOW IF THERE IS AN ILL WIND ON SOME ITEM AND AS OF LATE WHO NEEDS ANY PROBLEMS. WE GET THAT FROM E-BAY FOR FREE EACH DAY
THANKS
ALL
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neglus
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posted on December 11, 2006 07:25:46 PM new
rpm - by "photos" do you mean photographs printed on postcard backs (have a developed photo finish - not printed)? If so, they are worth QUITE A BIT. These are called RPPC (real photo post card) and can bring $$$$. Sadly, Ku Klux Klan and lynching etc postcards bring astounding prices.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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pixiamom
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posted on December 11, 2006 09:44:12 PM new
Postcards with color (no pun intended) are not real photos (except sepia-toned real photos and Cyanotype (blue) real photos) or hand tinted B & W real photos.
[ edited by pixiamom on Dec 11, 2006 09:44 PM ]
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mingotree
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posted on December 12, 2006 12:27:18 AM new
Use "Black Interest" or Black Americana in your title and sell them. Yes, I can understand your hesitation...I would NOT sell Nazi items on ebay....that's just me.
However, there are many serious collectors, both black and non-black, who would like your items for their collections.
For instance, Clinton Derricks, a black actor, collects golliwogs, black figures made popular 100 years ago....even wrote a book on them. Whoopee Goldberg also collects them.
Slave tags bring high prices...doesn't mean anyone advocates slavery....it's a part of history... a horrible ugly time but it shouldn't be hidden or forgotten.
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