posted on June 30, 2005 04:14:11 AM new
BC; thanks for the advice on how to even approach doing these boxfuls ...
neglus: thanks! ... that Coram Calif. card was the only super duper sale I'd gotten so far, out of these postcards. Had a few that went for 20-40$ too.
couple of questions: what is pre-chrome?
what do you call the early (1920-40) postcards that look (to me) like they're originated from a real photo but they've obviously been colorized/enhanced?
Also, I gotta say thank goodness for the timeliness of this thread. Hubby and I got a cell call from my brother yesterday about an estate sale going on just a few blocks from here; he said they had a bunch of interesting old things out in the yard, and a dumpster full of stuff. Hightailed it over there. It was 2 daughters cleaning out their parents home. (we're going back today too) ... anyway, she let me go through a big box of old paper stuff, and I knew which postcards to pull out because of this thread! lol ... there weren't a lot of postcards, just a few. I picked 3 vintage Las Vegas ones (Desert Inn, The Dunes, and The Wedding Place of The Stars {wedding chapel adjacent to The Strip}), a couple of old hotels, and 2 Ocean City Maryland beach scenes.
Also in the paper lot, picked up a few old calendars, 1 w/nice pictures, and 2 girlie/nude ones, lots of vintage Soap Box Derby brochures and a pennant, Big Boy Restaurant comic books, a really neat 1949 Elsie the Cow Bordens milkman thing, "No need to write a note; Place this signal in empty bottle with flags erect showing amount of Extra Items Wanted." and the 18 little tabs/flags that fan up all state a diff. dairy item & other mssgs. to their milkman. Yep, going back there today to see what else they've dug out. (oh! she told me she has a 'silver xmas tree' she is going to sell me when she gets it out of storage.. wuhoo)
posted on June 30, 2005 05:19:20 AM new
I use very simplistic terms when dating postcards -
1)Pioneer era -1893-1898 Undivided back, usually "souvenir card" or "mail Card" printed on back
2)Private Mailing Card - 1898-1901 Undivided back "private Mailing Card printed on back (PMC)
3)Undivided Back (UDB) 1901-1907
4)Divided Back (1907-1915) - No border (Usually - except Detroit Publishing). Mostly printed in Germany prior to WWI
5) White Border - 1915-1930
6) Linen 1930-1955 (you can see the linen "weave " of paper) Curt Teich cards can be dated by numbers on front - A=1930 + year (ie A7=1937) B=1940, C=1950
7) Photochrome - 1950-to present
9) Real Photo RPPC - photos printed on postcard backs - all eras . These are dated by backs (usually the stamp box). Heres a link to the "bible" for dating: http://www.playle.com/realphoto/
10. Continental photochrome - 1950S to present - Supersized (4x6) postcards
Marcia - the kind of postcard you are asking about is probably a litho-chrome or chromolith (I've seen it both ways) divided back era unless there is a white border.
PS- $20 & $40 cards are very good prices too. The $100 ones are few and far between!
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posted on June 30, 2005 08:03:01 AM new
What a great and informational thread. I occasionally sell postcards, well when I want to sit and scan which isn't very often but I have sold RPPC and one of a simple landmark in Duluth Minnesota which I thought was a dud went for $67.00. I also sold a RPPC one for a small town in Washington State of $30.00. But also in this card was an old car besides the name of the town.
What value does a RPPC card if the store owners names are written on the card. It is a main street in a city in Minnesota. One of the stores was my great grandfathers but I think my mother or someone wrote all the names above the store?
I also have and I don't know if they are RPPCs or not. There are of Victorian girls and the pictures have been colored. Some of the coloring is beautiful. Do they have value?
I have to give postcard collectors a lot of credit. I know even if i write all the information I need to get a good image it still takes me a lot of time. Thanks again for a great thread.
posted on June 30, 2005 10:24:39 AM new
Libra - I think I know the kind of card with the Victorian girls - those are tinted real photos - put " victorian girl tinted rppc " in the title and holiday or floral or whatever the postcard is about - if it's just the girl "pretty lady" "beautiful lady" or "beautiful woman" - I don't list many non-view postcards - generally when I do I sell for what I list at and not much more.
RE; the RPPC of Minnesota store with names written on I would think would bring a good price. Generally, divided back postcards should not have writing on the face but I would think the historical benefit of having the card annotated would outweigh this (maybe not for the purist collectors). On the other side Minnesotan's are careful with their $ - so you probably won't get the price for a card like that that you would in some other states BUT if a couple of descendents of people pictured get in a bidding war.. WOOOO HOOO!!! Make sure you write all of the names in the description.
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posted on June 30, 2005 02:21:21 PM new
Finally here is my postcard - a little fuzzy (or is it just me???)
OK no top hat or tails - I had not seen it in a couple of year. Am I close on the date?
Would this have any value - it's yellowed and a little dirty.
[ edited by LADYJEWELS2000 on Jun 30, 2005 02:23 PM ]
[ edited by LADYJEWELS2000 on Jun 30, 2005 02:24 PM ]
posted on June 30, 2005 03:18:39 PM new
VERY FUZZY!! not just you Lady. I couldn't find anything about that artist under "postcard" but did under silhouette. One of his silhouettes was offered at auction in Oct 2004:
Lot #198:
Antique Silhouette, half length portrait depicting a young lady in a hat holding flowers, with added floral accents, marked on verso "Ed. H. L. Swanberg Silhouette Artist", 5 1/2" h, framed. ($100-200)
If you wil note, 51/2" high is exactly the size of a postcard.
It looks like it is circa 1902 at the earliest (use of the term "post card" and not in the best condition (or is that the fuzziness?) I don't have any idea how to price it or how well it will do. Condition is VERY CRITICAL in this type of card - is the card water damaged?
posted on June 30, 2005 05:30:35 PM new
I think something is wrong with my camera. I'll try again in the am. It's not really water damage - I don't think.
posted on July 1, 2005 03:24:50 PM new
neglus
I re-did the photo and it does look better. I don't know what is up with my camera???
Anyway thanks for the information on the artist. I never could find anything but that was a few years back.
I don't think it is water damaged just not too clean. I guess it doesn't have much value because of the condition?? Oh Well!!!!
posted on July 1, 2005 04:33:03 PM new
LadyJewels, There are really enthuastic silhouette collectors. Be careful of the spelling of "silhouette". It seems to be an easy word for typos. We have several early 19th century silhouettes and some books about them. I am not sure if any of them go as late as this one but I will take a look.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on July 1, 2005 05:54:16 PM new
neeglus, vintage, et al:
I want to thank all of you for chipping in, and for the tons of marvellous info, tips, sites for research, etc.
It's my hope that by us taking some of the mystery out of postcards, newcomers, and perhaps some not so new, will be less intimidated by them and might be encouraged to more fully participate in this great and neat hobby.
Even if they decide collecting these little bits of history are "not for them", at least more folks out there will realize that they are worthy of saving, and that there can also be good to awesome value to the right ones.
estate: good for you for having the jump to chase that lead! I've had much the same thing happen to me before and it can be sometimes surprisingly rewarding/gratifying when it happens. In fact, when you've permission to scan through an interesting estate's leavings, one of life's small pleasures really is that thrill of the hunt. I hope you did go back for more.
I just wanted to add something I've learned from experience in situations like that. If you're not sure if something is good or not, take it with you! You an always check it once you get home and if it turns out to be less than worthy then you can always toss it, whereas if you don't take it right away, then later might be too late.
posted on July 1, 2005 07:03:49 PM new
It is always great when one seller helps another one out. Notice it was a thread where there were several postcard sellers and there much information traded between each one. It shows that sellers are willing to help each other even when they sell the same items. I don't think that happens to much but I sure did learn a lot about postcards. Thanks
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posted on July 1, 2005 07:12:43 PM new
Libra - you are so right. I learn so much from Outlook and try to help when I can.
I have enjoyed this post even it my PC turns out to be a $3.00 item.
posted on July 1, 2005 07:26:58 PM new
ladyjewels,
i googled swannberg and silhouette and got one interesting hit at an auction house
http://www.danielbuckauctions.com/oct9_4.html
(someday, i'll learn how to make clickable links!)
Lot #198:
Antique Silhouette, half length portrait depicting a young lady in a hat holding flowers, with added floral accents, marked on verso "Ed. H. L. Swanberg Silhouette Artist", 5 1/2" h, framed. ($100-200)
notice though, that it says "added floral accents" and framed. so probably deduct some for yours. that was the pre-auction estimate. don't know what the final sales price was.
