Admit it. People are born collectors. As children they haul home rocks and sea shells and they collect dolls, baseball cards and stuffed animals. Many adults continue to acquire collections of art,books, coins, antiques, and other objects that catch their eye, and a growing number of people are collecting antique postcards.

You may not think of yourself as a postcard collector, but chances are you have a few postcards tucked away that someone sent you. You saved them because they remind you of a particular person or place. You probably even have some postcards that you bought on a trip, but could not bring yourself to part with. You are not alone. People have been sending, receiving and collecting postcards for over 100 years.

The first postcards were placed on sale at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. They were government printed postcards and privately printed "Souvenir Cards." In 1898, private printers were granted permission to print and sell cards that bore the inscription, "Private Mailing Card," and the use of the words "Post Card" was granted in 1901.

The "Golden Age of Postcards" lasted from 1900 to the beginning of World War One. Postcards were the email of the day, and almost every household had a box or album of postcards. The number of postcards sent during these years is staggering. For example, in 1907, US Postal Service records indicate that 577,777,798 postcards were mailed, when the population of the US was only 88,700,000. People send postcard in-between longer letters, postcards home from trips, and even postcards to neighbors across town.

After W.W.I, when travel became more accessible to the middle class, people collected and mailed home postcards that depicted their travels. Cards with real photographs on them allowed the folks back home to see how big the grandkids had grown, or see what life was like out west. Bright, colorful holiday cards marked each calendar event. Postcards recorded historical events both with pictures, like the Great San Francisco Earthquake, and the personal stories of friends and family.

Postcard collectors today value these little pieces of paper as interesting views of our culture, history, and art. People collect many categories of cards -- home towns, sports, politics, national parks, particular publishers or artists, or topics such as Santa Claus, Halloween, animals, or automobiles. Some people want a card that is postmarked and mailed with a message that adds to it's historical "story," and some want a mint condition card just as it came from the printers.

Here in Austin, there is a particularly rich history captured on old postcards. There are postcards that show the various changes to Congress Avenue or the University of Texas, views of the 1935 Austin flood, and real photo postcards of early sports teams, automobiles, houses and soldiers going off to war, just to name a few of the thousands of interesting Austin and Texas cards.

The hobby of postcard collecting can satisfy the collecting urge without excessive expense and a postcard collection doesn't have to take up much space. There is also a great "treasure hunting" aspect to it, because while most postcards have a very small monetary value, there are a few "needles in the haystack" that will bring much higher prices to collectors.

Where are old postcards found? Everywhere -- antique stores, attics, flea markets, or album of cards that were collected years ago by a family member. Today many collectors buy and sell cards on line and at postcard shows. A postcard show brings together dealers and collectors to buy, sell and trade postcards. There are postcard shows in almost every state.

Here in Texas there are shows in several of the larger cities, including the annual Capitol of Texas Postcard Show and Sale of the Capitol of Texas Postcard Club. This year's show was held Friday Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Woodward Hotel & Conference Center, 3401 S. I-35, Austin, Texas. The Austin club meets every month with interesting programs about the hobby as well as a chance to add to your collection. Their annual show has dealers from several states, with nearly a million cards including historical views, Railroadiana, Route 66, Halloween, Santas, and 1,000's of other topics.

Contact the author, Ken Wilson, at <texasgrey@aol.com> For inquiries about upcoming Texas postcard shows, contact Jim Taylor at 1-888-451-0340.

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See Below for

UPCOMING SHOW - EVENT INFORMATION

(Show Promoters, see info below for listings in our Postcard News from Courthouse Square -Show Calendar, $15 for 12 issues or until show date)

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Get out to a Postcard Show....it'll do you good!

 

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UPCOMING 2006 SHOWS

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Little Rock Arkansas Friday Mar 24, 2006, 10 AM to 6 PM (Early Bird at 9am) Saturday Mar 25 , 2006, 10 AM to 4 PM

Comfort Inn and Suites-Downtown 707 Interstate 30 at 6th and 9th sts Easy Access, on Interstate 30 (host motel reservations 501 687 7700 )

Early bird admission ($5) will be available at 9am Friday Regular admission is $2

1-888-451-0340 or jmtaylor@ipa.net

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Oklahoma City Postcard and Paper Americana Show and Sale Saturday April 8, 2006 9a-5p Sunday April 9, 2006, 11a - 5p NOTE:THIS IS A SATURDAY-SUNDAY SHOW in conjunction with the HUGE Buchanan Antiques and Collectibles Market Oklahoma State Fairgrounds 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73107 (Off I-40 AND MAY AVE) LOTS OF FREE PARKING, Restaurants, Hotels,call for details)

NOTE: THIS IS A HUGE MONTHLY ANTIQUE MARKET, IN A GREAT VENUE, WITH OVER A HUNDRED EXHIBITORS, A COUPLE OF THOUSAND SHOPPERS, AND OUR SHOW IS PART OF IT. ONE $3 ADMISSION FOR BOTH ADJOINING SHOWS. BUCHANANS HAS A $10 EARLY BIRD ON FRIDAYS WHICH WE WILL ALSO HONOR, CALL OR EMAIL US FOR DETAILS 1-417-451-3463

1-888-451-0340 or jmtaylor@ipa.net

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Greater Chicago Postcard Show coming up April 14-15, 2006. Don't miss the largest show in the midwest with over 100 tables of fabulous merchandise. Show hours are Friday from 10-6 and Sat from 9-4 for a $3 per day admission or attend both days at 8:30 in the morning for a $20 early bird fee.Located At the Engineer's Hall Local 150, 6200 Joliet Road, Countryside, IL just south of Ohare Airport, an easy exit off Hwy 55. At the intersection of 294 and 55, across the street from the Holiday Inn Willian Tell, just follow their billboards to find the show. The Local is a tall three story black glass building with the show entrance in the rear with Free parking. Hope to see you then...Susan Brown Nicholson

 

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RBF Vintage Collectibles show April 29th-30th, 2006 Orange County Fair Ground, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, California.Morgan Majors and Ralph Bowman hope to bring you a weekend full of choice material in postcards, paper, and an array of vintage antique collectibles, including all of the leading fruit and cigar label dealers. We will bring 30 years of experience and a dealer friendly environment. Along with the RBF Show, only 100 feet away is a two day Antique Market, with 18 to 20 thousand people attending over the two days. We are pleased to announce attending dealers from all over the country, include John Butler, NV, Dennis Goreham of UT, Jim Dehne of TX, Jim Taylor of MO, Doug Wayne of CA, Dan Da Palma of CA, Marty Michaels of CA, Ralph Bowman of CA, Jim Reid of CA, Margo Essman of CA, John Heleva of CA, Vern Potter of CA, Mike Bianca of CA, Nick Farago of CA, Dave McPheters of CA, Roger and Jeremy LeRoque of CA, John Nutting of NV, Ted Jackson of CA, John Star of CA, Glenn Schinke of CA, Mark Santa Maria of CA, Del Rosa Stamp and Coin of CA, Leo Costanza of CA, Sandy Cloud of CA, Bob Chatt of CA, Larry Stone of CA, Don Ney of CA, Ron De Bijl of Holland, B & B Paper, CA,; Norm Sturgis, CA; Marshall Humphries, CA; Frank Frisch; Frank Gallucci, Sid Emerson, Blue Moon Antiques, John Schelmale, John and Rosalinda Sheaffer, Robert Sawyer, and many more!You can contact us by phone (619) 273-9049 or email: therbfshow@mac.com

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Tulsa Oklahoma Friday May 12, 2006, 10 AM to 6 PM (Early Bird at 9am) Saturday May 13 , 2006, 10 AM to 4 PM

Holiday Inn - South Exit 145th St, Broken Arrow Expressway 2600 N Aspen Broken Arrow OK 74012

(host motel reservations 918-258-7085) Early bird admission ($5) will be available at 9am FridayRegular admission is $2

Broken Arrow OK 1-888-451-0340 or jmtaylor@ipa.net

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The International Postcard Scene...European Shows

Ron from Holland

Another BIG show, now in the UK.

February 24-25 Shepton Mallet, Somerset, was the place to go. A huge hall with perfect loading in and out, big tables and lots of space for the dealers to bring 100.000 'nds of postcards. How many dealers?? 140 plus!! Yes, over 140 dealers and that means a paradise for the collector. There were dealers from all over Europe too but very little buyers from Europe.There were 4 US dealers shopping and they had fun. If all the dealers had fun is a question. The show is way out in Somerset with no big city near by, no easy driving to it and hard to get there with public transport. And on a snowy weekend like this the attendance, still over a 1000, was off compared with last year, when it was held at Yeovil, 30 miles away. And 1000 collectors is not enough to keep everybody happy. The Somerset area is not a huge collectors bastion which can supply enough collectors for a big show like this. A big city within 1 or 2  hours reach and an easy way to get there is a necessity for big shows like this. You do not hear me complain, because can you imagine what I was able to find??!!  And for next year, mark this date. If you take away the disappointed dealers, there are still 100 + dealers left!! O yes, I almost forgot, there are not too many hotels around, so B and B is the answer for that and that is in Somerset very, very good together with a steak and a pint in the pub and you are on holiday as well. Cheers.    

Ron from Holland email ronsas@zonnet.nl

(editors note: Ron Debijl, is a well-known Dutch postcard dealer that exhibits in shows in Europe and the U.S.,

and sells on Ebay, seller id " globalhistory "....thanks Ron for the show info, Jim)

 

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DEL'S PAPER TREASURY

Real photo postcards, photography, printed postcards, posters, covers, broadsides.

All types of collectible paper goods. DEL's Paper Treasury will soon be offering an online auction of real photo postcards and photography. These auctions will be held online at their website delspapertreasury.com. Lyn Knight's 40 + years experience in building collections of U.S. currency and coins as well as 20 years in the auction business, helps make this a great opportunity to build your collection. Sales will be online, and catalogues will be available to subscribers. DON'T Miss This Opportunity.

Just Click here to Visit DEL'S PAPER TREASURY,, complete form to get on his list.

1. Ebay, Ralph Bowman, thousands of listings, click on thepapergallery2 05.06
2. Playle, Ebay, Skurfan Postcards, state views by the thousands, click on /SKURFAN/ or seach seller id "skurfan" on ebay 05.06
3. Ebay, Hal Ottaway, Ebay , great postcards and other fabulous collectibles, click on taos 05.06
4. Ebay Ron from Holland, click on GLOBALHISTORY Views and Topicals Worldwide, every month 1000 plus cards in auction. Email EURODELTIOLOGY@wanadoo.nl 05.06
5. Ebay, sebagopaper great real photo postcards and other paper 05.06

Our friend Jim Mehrer conducts bimonthly Postal History Mail Bid Sales containing thousands of individually described covers and postcards. Jim also offers a wide selection of reference literature titles and storage supplies for collectors and dealers. To visit Jim Mehrer's Postal History, click HERE.

Hello to all!

My Postal History Mail Bid Sale #70, containing more than 6,900 lots, is now available for viewing on my web site. Among the featured lots in this sale are items from the collections of Bob Payne, Tom Hayes, Lynn Langdon and William Bomar.

To see the catalog, go to: http://www.postal-history.com/cover.html and follow the links to view the categories of your choice. The catalog is divided into seven sections. Please allow a few seconds

for each page to load. The sale closes on Tuesday, April 18, at 10 PM Central Time. You can submit your bids anytime between now and then, by email, regular mail, fax, or phone. To submit bids in person, call our regular phone line: (309) 786-6539. To leave your bids on either of our TWO digital voice recorders: (309) 786-6551 or 786-7526. To fax your bids, use any of our THREE fax lines: (309) 786-4840 or 786-7526 or 786-6551.

Dear Postcard Dealers and Collectors,I invite you to advertise in Postcard Collector, the best monthly publication, for 23 years, dedicated to your postcard business and collecting. I have all kinds of advertising options to fit your budget. Call or Email me at 1-800-482-7151 or Lenore.Howard@fwpubs.com , Postcard Collector

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 Are you looking for a postcard show or stamp show near you? Visit Jim Mehrer's Show Calendar for Collectors of Stamps, Postal History and Postcards by clicking HERE.

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Looking for a series of Santa Fe, New Mexico postcards made with woodcut printing technique and identified by Gustave Baumann on the reverse side of the postcard. Hal Ottaway, PO Box 780282, Wichita KS 67278. hottaway@cox.net ... 06.06

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I'm always buying better U.S. Postal History material. What do you have for sale? Email Jim Mehrer at mehrer@postal-history.com ... 06.06

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WANTED TO BUY: PRE-1950 VINITA OKLAHOMA POSTCARDS AND OTHER ITEMS. Jim, jmtaylor@ipa.net....05.06

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WANTED TO BUY: TEXANA, OLD EARLY TEXAS HISTORICAL ITEMS PHOTOS AND POSTCARDS. Wallace, rebltexn@comcast.net 05.06

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FOR SALE: Newsletter Classifieds, see below, or email for details Classifieds@CourthouseSquare.net, Newsletter is Free, Classifieds are inexpensive. 05.06

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WANTED TO BUY -  Veterinary Related Postcards & Trade Cards including the topics of animal freaks, animal welfare,  antivivisectionists, pet cemeteries, rendering, lice, insecticides, pesticides and parasitology.   Trenton Boyd:    BoydT@missouri.edu 07.06

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BUYER: We are always buying collections and accumulations, all state views and topical postcards, also travel, photos, brochures, movie, Hollywood, props, costumes, stills, call Ralph, Paper Gallery, 1-760-749-9737, ralph@papergallery.com 05.06

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WANTED "HALL PHOTO CO." CARDS

I am working on a book about the postcard photographer George E. Hall. He was in business from 1906-1918 and worked exclusively in Stone and Taney Counties, Missouri. He made approximately 900 real photo view cards of the Shepherd of the Hills area which includes the towns of Branson, Hollister, Galena and Reeds Spring. I am seeking examples of his work and would like to purchase what you have. If you have something and do not wish to sell then I would appreciate having a scan or a photocopy of the image. This would help document our checklist of his output. Contact: C. Trenton Boyd 09.06

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Classifed Ad Introductory Offer:

$15 for 12 issues,. Maximum: 30 words. Ads and announcements should be related to postcards and other collectibles. Text is subject to our approval. Paypal payment is preferred. Want ads, For sale ads, announcements, etc. We reserve the right to refund and/or refuse ads. Email your ad to Classifieds@courthousesquare.net. To pay by Paypal use "Pay Now" button, or mail to Classifieds@CourthouseSquare, PO Box 399, Neosho MO 64850. We will confirm your ad before placing it (via email.) It will then appear in next 12 issues of the free newsletter "Postcard News from Courthouse Square," both in the email text and on the web page.

 Show Listings, Introductory Offer

$15 for 12 issues or until show dates, which ever is first. Text is subject to our approval. Paypal payment preferred. We reserve right to refund and/r refuse ads. Email your ad to ShowListing@Courthousesquare.net. To pay by paypal use "Pay Now" button on website or mail payment to showlisting@CourthouseSquare, PO Box 399, Neosho MO 64850. We will confirm your listing before placement. It will then appear in next 12 issues of the free newsletter "Postcard News from Courthouse Square," both in the email text and on the web page.

Before reproducing or quoting from Postcard News from Courthouse Square, credit and permissions will be required. Email us at PostcardNews@courthouseSquare.net with request. Thanks, Jim

  

Jim Taylor

Courthouse Square Antique Cards

PO Box 399

Neosho MO 64850

Member APS IFPD

Specializing in Mail Approvals, Sales, and Shows, of Antique Postcards,

Historical Photographs Paper Americana and Archival Supplies

Visit the front page of our Web site at:

http://www.CourthouseSquare.net

email: Postcards@CourthouseSquare.net

Helping build great postcard collections is our speciality...

• Postcard/Paper Show Schedule
• Postcard News from Courthouse Square, the Newsletter
• Rick Geary Check List/Order Form
• Mail Approval Order Form
• Credit Card Charge Authorization
• Postcard Net Price Sale
• What We Want To Buy
• Reference Materials, Books, Price Guides
• Archival Postcard/Paper Supplies for Sale
• Some Helpful Postcard Collector Information 

Email: jmtaylor@ipa.net.

Jim Taylor

PO Box 399

Neosho MO 64850

Visit our pages at Jim Mehrer's 'deltiology.com' site just click here

 ©2001-2005 JMT Enterprises. REPRODUCTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE, IN PART OR WHOLE, IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

This site was created and launched by Jim Taylor. For information email me at jmtaylor@ipa.net