Auction Consignment for Vintage Postcards & Collections
CONSOLIDATE VINTAGE POSTCARD COLLECTIONSInterested in selling a vintage postcard collection at auction? We offer auction consignment for collectible vintage postcards.
Auctions for vintage postcards and postcard collections
Rare, Unusual & Historical postcards
We offer auction consignment for collectible vintage postcards and full collections.
Vintage postcards that have value are typically small-town street scenes, disasters, railroad depots and the like. If people are the subjects of the old postcards, those most in demand would include risque postcards or historic notables including military, political or sports figures dating from the 1930’s and earlier.
Please note that very seldom do RPPC postcards of ordinary people have any value, so if you’re interested in selling vintage RPPCs of people of no significant social or historical value, please understand that in most cases we will not be interested.
Auction consignment for vintage RPPC Postcards
Some of the most desirable vintage postcards are RPPCs, or real-photo postcards. RPPC postcards became common at the turn of the 20th century and refer to photographs developed directly onto photo paper with a printed postcard backing.
RPPCs feature a wide range of subjects, from street views to transportation imagery or photos documenting historical or political moments.
Wondering how to tell a real photo postcard? In the simplest of terms, an RPPC can be identified if the photograph has a postcard backing on the reverse side. Many times, if the postcard has been posted, a postal stamp will be visible which allows you to date it.
We are primarily interested in auctioning pre-1930’s real photo postcards.
Auction consignment for vintage Halloween postcards
The golden age of Halloween postcards was around 1908-1930 and featured colorful artwork of spooky witches, ghosts, black cats, goblins, pumpkins.
Anthropomorphic figures (meaning, non-human creatures or characters who are depicted as having human-like features) are often the subjects in these Halloween postcards. Characters such as Jack-O-Lanterns with arms and legs, moons with laughing faces and dancing devils are often highlighted in the artwork.
Some of the most famous and collectible postcard publishers who produced Halloween cards include Raphael Tuck & Son, John Winsch, Stecher, Gibson Art, and Valentine & Son, and International Art Pub. Co. Collectible artists often include Samuel Schmucker and Ellen Clapsaddle.
Please note, we are only interested in consigning original, vintage Halloween postcards – no reproductions.
Vintage / Collectible Postcards Auction Results
Prices achieved at our past online auctions
c1910 Mechanical Halloween Postcard, Ellen Clapsaddle #1236
$125-$150
$200
Mechanical Halloween Postcard Ellen Clapsaddle Black Americana Series #1236
$175-200
$276
Schmucker White-on-White Variant Embossed Halloween Postcards by John Winsch
$400 – $500
$1,353
Complete Collection of Winsch Mask Set Embossed Halloween Postcards, 1913
$500-600
$1,476
Jack London Signed 1907 Postcard to Blanche Partington + Unpublished Photo
$400-500
$799
Black Americana Family “Merry Xmas” Christmas Postcard c1915
N / A
$338
Vintage 1911 Halloween Postcard, Pumpkin Hot Air Balloon & Bonfire
N / A
$90
Most Desirable Vintage Postcard Subjects
- Black Americana
- War / Military
- Chinese / Japanese military
- Xinhai Revolution
- Mexican Revolution / street scenes
- Risque
- Lynching / Executions
- Magic / Conjuring
- Anthropomorphic Characters
- Strongmen / musclemen
- Circus / Side Show Freaks
- Fairgrounds / Amusement Parks
- Sports / Baseball
- Holidays
- Halloween
- Easter
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- Ships / Ocean Liners
- Titanicana
- Whaling / Fishing
- Logging
- Railroad / Trains / Train Depots
- Transportation
- Natural Disasters
- American Roadside Photography
- Hotels, gas stations, diners
- Early street views
- Cowboy / Western towns
- Store fronts
- Casinos
- Tattooing / tattoo parlors
- Hotels
- Advertising
- Weird and bizarre