Loading Spinner

Postcards

Plain postcards were used by government postal agencies in the mid-1800s. Called "postals," these postcards had the postage from each country already applied. John P. Charlton of Philadelphia invented the private postcard in 1861. The patent for this postcard was later transferred to H.L. Lipman. These postcards were used in the United States until 1873, when government postcards appeared. In other countries, picture postcards began appearing about 1869.

While private postcards produced in other countries can be much older, privately manufactured postcards were not allowed in the United States until May 19, 1898. After this date, a much larger variety of postcards appeared on the market. Writing was not allowed on the address side of postcards, so the person sending the card had to write messages across the picture on the front.

Photo postcards were first published around 1900. Writing was still required to be across the front of the card, but starting with England in 1902, countries gradually allowed postcards to have a divided back. This design put the address on one side and space for a message on the other. The United States began to allow the divided back in 1907, and after this date, postcards became enormously popular. Today, collecting vintage postcards is one of the most popular collecting hobbies in America, preceded only by the collecting of stamps and coins.


Quick Facts

  • A survey of the world's best selling art postcards listed the postcard of Claude Monet's "Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies" from 1899 as the world's best selling art postcard
  • The hobby of postcard collecting is called "deltiology." Professor Randall Rhoades of Ashland, Ohio coined this term in 1945
  • Swiss businessman Adolf Feller acquired the world's largest collection of vintage postcards from the late 1890s until his death in 1931. The collection is now held by Swiss university ETH Zurich and includes more than 54,000 examples

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

Postcard of Boy Tattooed by Charlie Wagner (Detroit, ca. 1925) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Boy Tattooed by Charlie Wagner (Detroit, ca. 1925) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $150- $250
$2255 Bids
Job Lot- Set of 14 Real Photo Postcards
Jul 19, 10:00 AM EDT
Job Lot- Set of 14 Real Photo Postcards
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$603 Bids
Postcard of Charlie Wagner's Tattoo Shop (America, ca. 1950) 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Charlie Wagner's Tattoo Shop (America, ca. 1950) 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $150- $250
$1503 Bids
Postcards of Tattoo Artist William Grimshaw (Detroit, ca. 1913) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcards of Tattoo Artist William Grimshaw (Detroit, ca. 1913) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $400- $600
$3003 Bids
18 Risque Art Nouveau/Vintage Erotica Postcard/Cards B
Jul 25, 10:30 AM EDT
18 Risque Art Nouveau/Vintage Erotica Postcard/Cards B
by South Florida Auction & Estate Sale Services
Est: $6- $1,000
$242 Bids
1950's Wnbc Jackie Robinson Jumbo Postcard
Jul 14, 2:00 PM EDT
1950's Wnbc Jackie Robinson Jumbo Postcard
by Saco River Auction
Est: $300- $400
$252 Bids
Postcards of Tattooed Lady Betty Broadbent (America, ca. 1935) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcards of Tattooed Lady Betty Broadbent (America, ca. 1935) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$1752 Bids
Box of Vintage Postcards
Aug 14, 11:00 AM EDT
Box of Vintage Postcards
by Bodnar's Auction Sales
Est: $100- $200
$152 Bids
Postcard of Man Tattooed by Charlie Wagner (New York, ca. 1922) 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (13.3 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Man Tattooed by Charlie Wagner (New York, ca. 1922) 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (13.3 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $300- $500
$2502 Bids
Postcard of Man with Buffalo Bill Tattoo (America, ca. 1915) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Man with Buffalo Bill Tattoo (America, ca. 1915) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $100- $200
$1002 Bids
Postcard of Tattooed Man 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Tattooed Man 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $100- $200
$1002 Bids
bp parity badge
Lot of B&W Photos, Travel Postcards, in Wooden Box, including (5) interior shots at Selinsgrove Times Office
Jul 30, 10:00 AM EDT
Lot of B&W Photos, Travel Postcards, in Wooden Box, including (5) interior shots at Selinsgrove Times Office
by Hassinger & Courtney Auctioneering
Est: $0- $0
$51 Bid
bp parity badge
Antique Native American Real Photo Postcard
Jul 23, 9:00 AM PDT
Antique Native American Real Photo Postcard
by Grant Zahajko Auctions, LLC
Est: $30- $50
$101 Bid
Antique 1906 Monument Beach, Mass. Baseball Game Real Photo Postcard
Jul 21, 5:00 PM EDT
Antique 1906 Monument Beach, Mass. Baseball Game Real Photo Postcard
by One Source Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Oversize Postcard of Tattooed Athlete (England, 1923) 7 x 4 in. (17.8 x 10.2 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Oversize Postcard of Tattooed Athlete (England, 1923) 7 x 4 in. (17.8 x 10.2 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
Postcard of Tattoo Artist Nick Melroy (Milwaukee, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
Jul 13, 11:00 AM EDT
Postcard of Tattoo Artist Nick Melroy (Milwaukee, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14 x 8.9 cm.)
by Bray & Co. Auctions
Est: $300- $500
$2501 Bid
MEXICAN REVOLUTION 1917 AANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC by Robert Runyon
Jul 19, 9:00 AM EDT
MEXICAN REVOLUTION 1917 AANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC by Robert Runyon
by ZevAntiques
Est: $250- $350
$501 Bid
FIVE LADIES AMERICAN FLAG DRESS ANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC patriotic
Jul 19, 9:00 AM EDT
FIVE LADIES AMERICAN FLAG DRESS ANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC patriotic
by ZevAntiques
Est: $250- $350
$501 Bid
WILDBOOD NJ BOY w/ US FLAG & TOMAHAWK PATRIOTIC ANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC
Jul 19, 9:00 AM EDT
WILDBOOD NJ BOY w/ US FLAG & TOMAHAWK PATRIOTIC ANTIQUE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD RPPC
by ZevAntiques
Est: $250- $350
$501 Bid

Sellers Who Sell Postcards


Bray & Co. Auctions

Bray & Co. Auctions

One Source Auctions

One Source Auctions