Postcard sellers, can you help me please

[raindropsies]

I brought a few bundles of postcards today because they were too much of a bargain at the car boot to simply ignore.

The carbooter was not a dealer as I asked them and they were a normal car booter & having a major clearout.

So my questions are

1) if a postcard has not been written on is it "correct" to list as 'unused'?

2) is there a book like there is for vinyls that tells you what postcards are roughly worth, & if so what is the book / books called

3)If the postcard has been used, is it best to photo / scan both sides

4) some of the postcards have squiggly edges (in other words not straight) and obviously this is how they were cut when they were made. So does the Squiggly design edges have a name other than squiggly?

5) if they are date stamped is this generally a good indication as to the age, in other words if I put that the date stamp is 1935 for example, would this help a collector know more about it than I would?

6) is 39p a too low a starting price with no BIN? or should a postcard get to it's value no matter what the start price is (or near the value price) Even if I make 10p a card i will be more than happy

[mainlypostcards]

Lots of questions there, Sarah.

If a postcard has not been sent, it's postally unused.
There are so many 1000's of postcards it would be impossible to valuate them in a book - I learned by experience (listed everything at 99p "over there") and just watched what happened.
Generally a postmark date gives a pretty good indication of the date of the card.
The squiggly edge is called "decal", not sure of the spelling.
As it's now free to add multiple pictures to your listings, you may as well show both sides of the cards.
As to the value, that's very difficult to determine - could be anywhere between 10p and £20+ . Without seeing what you got, I can't advise you on that one.

Some pc collectors only collect certain publisher.
Have a look at my postcard listings - they all state the same: postally used/unused and if used the date and where it was posted from - condition and publisher.

[raindropsies]

Many thanks Marianne, thats given me some useful info, now off to look at your listings, I promise i won't nick your ideas

[mainlypostcards]

You're welcome.
I'm sure when Nigel spots your thread he'll put his tuppence worth in.

[raindropsies]

You're welcome.
I'm sure when Nigel spots your thread he'll put his tuppence worth in.

Just photographed them all, and now they are uploading to a file on photobucket, so when it's uploaded I'll post the album url so you can have a nosey

[mainlypostcards]

ps

welcome to the minefield world of a postcard seller

And if you're anything like me it's a minefield you don't want to get away from.
Apart from making a bit of money, I love browsing through them and reading the messages on the back. It seems incredible to think that pre world war II, a postcard was more or less the equivalent to nowadays text message!

[raindropsies]

cant add too much to mariannes post.... except.... if it is published by FRITH put that in the title as frith cards are copyrighted

if they are published by valentines or judges there will be a numbor on the card put this number in the discription

there is a book called picture postcard values... (have sent you a PM on that)

if you can read the postmark date put that in the discription as well

if it is postally unused but there is a message on the back state that in the discription as well... if the stamp has been removed ditto

by all means look through my listings as well if that will help

if you get stuck.... PM either me or marianne I am sure one of us can help you

So does this mean if a postcard is copywritten you have todosomething special with the picture, like get permission from the company? I have not seen a Frith one but I have one (4th on the list) that is by Eagle photos and it says copyright before their name.

OK the first in the list is a valentines (well thats what it says on the top) but I cannot see a number on the rear, is it the number on the front like H 2958?

The 2nd to list says 8330 colorphoto H. Steinhauer, Interlaken, so am I right in thinking that this was postcard 8330 by colourphoto & photographed by H Steinhauer who lives in Interlaken

[mainlypostcards]

even more amazing is the fact you could post a card at lands end at 10am and it could well arrive at john o'groats by 5pm the same day.

and I wouldn't do anything else for a living either marianne

When I wrote my previous post I was thinking of cards posted in the morning with words along the line off: "I'll be arriving back on the 6.30 pm train tonight" or "I'll be back in time for supper tonight".
The sort of thing we'd now send a text to the recipient.

[raindropsies]

Heres the photobucket album

http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/m...es2/postcards/

[mainlypostcards]

Heres the photobucket album

http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/m...es2/postcards/

Had a look and there's nothing "valuable" there. I'd suggest about 90p for the multiviews and £1 for the others.
You got a couple of Peck maps - there is a current "wanted" for them.
Also spotted some John Hinde cards - again there is a current "wanted".