Postcard Question - Are Unused Postcards Of Any Philatelic Value?

Hi everyone,

I just acquired some older postcards in good condition that have not been used by sending through the mail. I am wondering if there is any philatelic value in these older postcards, although I am guessing there is not. I did want to double check here on this board to find out for sure - here is one of them from the Russian River area in Sonoma County, California:



I suspect there is no philatelic value since these have not gone through the mail. I also have some color postcards with native american indians (don't know what is PC term for native americans these days) in full ceremonial attire. There is a smallish box full of those and a bunch of other older unused postcards. Any reflections, information, or other useful feed back would be most appreciated. Thank you, Julie

Postcard collecting is BIG - and it has, I would guess - thousands of participants in North America. There's even a name for the hobby but can't recall it. But philatelic - no. Now postal cards - used or unused - is a different thing. What you have BTW is a RPPC - a Real Photo Post Card - and this is a VERY popular domain.

Deltiology is the word you're looking for - the collection and study of picture postcards.

Thanks to both CanadaStamp and 22Crows for your swift responses to my question.

CanadaStamp said:


I am new to all this terminology, what is the difference between a postcard and a postal card?

And thank you so much 22crows for this, I have learned a new word very early in the morning, thank you!

"Postal card" issued by a national post office. "Post card" - a commercial, non government product. I'm not sure this is in the official lexicons but it is generally accepted.

Real Photo post cards especially like the Duncan Mills Card you show are quite collectable and you will find a good market for them.
Now, if you have some of those cards used from Mendocino or Humboldt counties, we'll talk!

Thank you CanadaStamp for explaining the difference to me, I appreciate it!




The geographic ones all seem to be from Sonoma county, the only thing I have around here from those two counties is myself, was born in Arcata, and spent every summer at my grandmother's in Ft Bragg as a child - have not been up there (maybe now that I am where I am at now, it would be over there) in many, many years, would like to revisit sometime. :)

Thanks, Julie

All unused postcards have some value. However, an unused one would be of more value to a deltiologist more so than a philatelist or postal historian due to lacking a postmark and / or stamp(s).

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thank you Bujutsu for clarifying about the deltiologist for me, I do appreciate it.

In the meantime CanadaStamp, you said:




Thank you so much, I just had a look at the RPPC post cards on eBay and almost fell out of my chair! I cannot believe the prices I am seeing, I am amazed. Thank you for your help today, Julie

I must correct the information in this thread as it had me confused and wondering what was going on with the prices for these types of cards. I went to this website: http://www.playle.com/realphoto/

On the front page of the website is this blurb:




So, the post card that I scanned in at the beginning of this thread is not an RPPC - when looking at the photo portion of the card you can see the dots that make up the image - I have another post card here that is an rppc - and there really are not any dots on the image under magnification on those particular post cards.

So, I did not strike oil with these post cards either, but it sure is fun learning about this stuff - keeps the brain active and senility at bay I am hoping :) Julie

I have several unmailed real photo postcards in a county post office exhibit. Since my material is very thin for some offices, a related RPPC, while unmailed, is a nice addition and really helps the exhibit come to life.

I have a lot of memories going to places like your pictured post card, and to Mendocino, Ft. Bragg, etc. as well. Even though these unused post cards aren't postal history, they are, as mentioned, quite collectible and fun to look at.

Agreed.

There also exist, forged postcards, I found some in a suitcase of stamps I once bought, the picture, stamp and postmark all copied.
Probably sold to tourists somewhere.
I recall one of the Titanic, dashed if I can find it in my database.

Found them.
I had them logged under "Faux", I have renamed them.

These are forged Postcards.

Wow Rod, that is simply amazing, the post card and everything about it looks so authentic. How in the world do you tell if a post card is forged? Or a stamp or post mark? How do you even get suspicious? Is because something just isn't striking you right? I am just amazed at this, you are like Sherlock Holmes Rod!

Oh, I do like the card though, even if it is forged - I did not know the Titanic had a sister ship - or did it, was the Olympic ever built? Or is the whole thing, including a sister ship, just bogus? I guess it always boils down to doing one's due diligence and researching thoroughly. Thank you so much for the post Rod - I enjoyed it very much, Julie :)

Hi Julie,
at the beginning, it's just a gut feeling, but more than that, if it were a real Titanic postcard, it would be immensely valuable.

The cards just had a pale aura about them.

So under the scanner it went, The old scanner reveals beauty up close and personal.

Here's a guess: Perhaps these were ephemera that attended promotions of the Titanic Movie? or a display of some sort? who knows.



Here is the result..........