Collectors Guide to Real Photo Postcards

What is a Real Photo Postcard?

Real photo postcards are actual photographs that have been printed in a darkroom on postcard paper. Cards that are based on real photos but are printed by lithography or other methods are not considered real photo postcards.

A very brief history:

In 1903 the Eastman Kodak Company developed photographic printing paper. Shortly there after they introduced the affordable No.3A Folding Pocket Kodak camera which allowed the general public to take photos and print them on paper with postcard backs. A small "door" in the back of the camera allowed the user to write a caption on their photo with an attached scribe. Early real photo postcards that are identifiable are one of a kind creations and are highly sought after by collectors. Other real photo cards were produced in quantity by publishers such as Bamforth and Valentine. While still quite desirable to collectors, they do not hold quite the same allure as amateur postcards.

How to identify real photo postcards:

1.) Look at the postcard through a magnifying glass. If the image is comprised of a series of dots (similar to what you would see in a magazine or news photo), the card is not a real photo.

2.) The paper used in real photo postcards is frequently identified in the stamp box by name and of symbols. A few of the more common are EKC, DOPS, Velox, AZO, Kodak, and ANSCO. Many of the mass produced postcards will simply have printed on the reverse "Real Photo Postcard".

3.) As noted above, real photo cards will often have a hand printed caption. 4.) Early real photo cards will sometimes have a shiny "patina" which is due to the oxidation of silver deposits.

Dating real photo postcards:

If the card is used, the postmark date is the obvious choice in determining the relative age. Keep in mind however that the photographer may have taken the actual photo many years before it was posted. For unused postcards the paper type noted in the stamp box can be used to correlate an approximate age.

Valuation:

Determining the value of any postcard can often be a very subjective. A card worth a great deal to one individual due to a particular subject may have little or no value to another collector. As a general rule, postcards will an identification of the subject are more valuable than unidentified cards. Likewise, cards of smaller towns, transportation subjects, or cards with an identifiable subject within the photo (i.e. a store sign or truck company)tend to be of greater value. Age and condition of the postcard are also determinants of value. Good references for postcard valuation are the J.L. Mashburn Postcard Price Guides.

The author is owner of http://www.postcard-city.com Postcard City Vintage Postcards and webmaster of http://www.auction-lynx.com Internet Auction Resource Directory.

Photo Cards: The Great Indian Virtual Express
Photo Cards: The Great Indian Virtual ExpressTheyre happening. Theyre fun. And theyre Photo Cards. Whether its New Year Greetings and Diwali Cards, or whether its a birthday card or gift card or personalised post cards, photo cards are the latest must-haves. Offering express service all the way, pour-your-heart-out photo greeting cards or digital p...

Collecting Ephemera
Do you collect Ephemera (e phem er a)? You just might and dont even know it, because Ephemera refers to hundreds of hand written or printed paper items published with a short intended life span or something short-lived and without lasting significance. The word Ephemera derives from the Greek meaning of things lasting no more than a day.Some of t...

How to Make a Calendar
Making a calendar does not have to be a difficult process, it can be done rather easily at any good quality online photo service. These services make the process very simply and guide you step-by-step. The digital images, its quick and easy and the end result is a perfect, unique gift. Grandparents especially enjoy receiving these photo calendars o...

Are Debt Collectors Harrassing You? Know Your Rights!
Calls from debt collectors can ruffle the toughest of feathers. People have changed their phone numbers and even disconnected phones to avoid the bill-collector.Consumers do have rights. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you can tell debt collectors to stop calling you. Collectors prefer to hassle you on the phone because they want t...

A Brief History Of Postcard Marketing
The first postcardsThe first postcards really werent postcards as we know them at all. The idea came from envelopes that featured printed pictures. The first card sent post in the United States was privately printed and copyrighted in 1861. It certainly didnt have anything to do with postcard marketing. Indeed, many postcards first evolved as sort ...

Wield the Marketing Powers of Postcard Printing
Postcards come in a neat little package. These print materials are no more than 6 x 11 as its biggest size. The postcard is a highly recognizable print that is sturdy and popular. This print even dates back to more than a century ago and still persists today.What is it about postcards that make it enduring? Assuming that all we get in the mails are...

How to Create a Scrapbook With Only Four Supplies
Wonderful scrapbooks can be created with only four supplies; an album, adhesive, paper and a corner rounder.I remember being invited to a scrapbook party. Inwardly I groaned. I still draw stick figures. I have never possessed artistic ability. I remember almost crying in school when we had to do an art project. I could envision great things, but I...