I had recently won an auction lot of antique postcards. They ranged from Real Photo Postcards Of people, places or events that were big news at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. I was so fascinated by this lot. The quick notes scribbled on the back gave you just enough of a peak into someone else’s life that got to travel from California to Vermont. She was a teacher, a wife, a mother, a sister. She got to see sites I would love to see. From the fashions worn to the transportation depicted in the photos, I was immediately captivated.
It’s like being offered a window into the past. We’re tearing down old structures and building up new homes so quickly that we lose sight of the natural beauty of the past landscape. My postcards made me want to visit these places. See what this person had seen over a hundred years ago. I’d like to hold up my new found postcard next to the background and see how much has changed. I obviously am not the only one with these thoughts. Postcard collecting, or deltiology, as it’s also known is the third most common form of hobby collecting, behind coin and stamp collecting.
You can own or sell a small window of time. Maybe this is what attracts others to purchase these small, affordable snapshots of historical treasures. Whether you want to add to your own collection or sell them, take a moment to look over antique postcards. I was pleasantly surprised and happy to start my own collection and look forward to finding more.
Happy treasure hunting!