posted on January 24, 2007 01:26:48 PM new
I'm beginning to wade through the pile of postcards I have here, hoping to list a lot and get them out of my eBay office.
What's the definition of a real photo postcard? Does it have to be photographic paper on a card? I ask, because I have postcards with b&w pictures but the pictures aren't shiny like a photo.
Also, I have lots of postcards from the people's travels in Europe, museum postcards (again, b&w photos but . . .) of vases and all sorts of museum stuff. I seem to recall that foreign cards don't do as well. Is my memory correct?
See how much I don't know about this?!
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A person who is nice to you but rude to a waiter is not a
nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.) ~Dave Barry
posted on January 24, 2007 02:34:44 PM new
Hi Adele - Real Photo Post Cards (RPPC's) usually look just like photographs and are mounted on photographic postcards backs.
Here is a link that helpds identify and date the backs by stampbox.Just below that is a section identifying backs without stampboxes.
I have had some success selling foregin postcards but they usually are of small towns or of people doing something or trains or horses and buggies etc - not museums and vases..but who knows?
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posted on January 24, 2007 03:02:45 PM new
Roadsmith,
It has to be a print on photogrphic paper. Remeber that not all photogrpahic paper is shiny. It can have a matte finish as well. The good test would be to look at the card with a magnifing glass or loupe. If you see a dot pattern it is printed and not a real photo.
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“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on January 24, 2007 04:51:20 PM new
Thanks, people! I appreciate your help. I do have a loupe, so I'll examine the "photos" that way.
I guess I just have to dive in and try some of these cards; I don't intend to sell postcards much in the future, just need to get rid of these that are bugging me every time I look at the stack.
If I do have any luck with European museum cards, I'll let you all know. I rather doubt that will happen, though.
_____________________
A person who is nice to you but rude to a waiter is not a
nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.) ~Dave Barry
posted on January 24, 2007 06:19:46 PM new
When in doubt, leave out the RPPC - Europeans, especially, love black and white lithos. The black and white museum pieces are going to be a hard sell. Try grouping them so you aren't bit by eBay listing fees. Other scenes that don't do well: Cathedrals, tourist spots (Eiffel tower is the exception). Small towns or neighborhood street scenes do well. My g-g-aunt 'did' Europe in 1912 and bought a g-zillion postcards, many from museums. The color fine art postcards are gorgeous, and I priced them high because I love them. I decided against listing the black and white museum cards.
posted on January 24, 2007 09:09:23 PM new
Another possibility for European postcards is a web site that has many European buyers.....www.delchampe.com
There is no insertion fee, but there is a 4% FVF fee. They allow 3 images at no charge.
I haven't tried them yet, but I'm going to soon for European related paper items.
