Postal Cards

I think most of you have figured out that I exagerate a bit when it comes to supllies/catalogs/albums.

For Postal Cards, Scott has albums for these, but then how do you mount them? Do you use the HUGE Showgard mounts? That seems expensive for the relative CV of these things. I've also read khg's comments about how corner mounts are bad and I totally agree with that.

I'm thinking a FDC or Cover album may be the easiest/best solution?

I dunno. I like Postal Cards because they seem to be under the radar screen and are quite cheap to collect. Just wondering.....

I like postal cards and postal stationery items, too, for the same reason as you: they are quite cheap to collect. That being said, they probably will never appreciate much in value, either. I have never used a mount on them, though. I either stack them in a box along with other covers or if I want to display them I use a cover album, but even at that the cost of a cover album is probably several times the value of the cards or postal staionery items being displayed, so as always, you have to weigh cost versus benefit.

Every so often I pickup something or another in a dollar store that works for my specific needs. For example, they were liquidating some panorama photo albums back from the day when those Kodak cartridge or disc film with panaoramic settings were popular. I picked them up for $1 or $2 and they work great for #10 envelopes, and even for my small paper currency collection, and some are said to even be archival quality.

I have some two-pocket 2-sided Vario pages that I use for different sized envelopes and cards. I don't have many envelopes or cards though.

If they have 3-pocket pages (2-sided) that would be good for post cards too I would think.

argh, I just looked on ebay and the 3s 3-pocket ones are just a little too small for a #6-3/4 envelope. Ah well.

I'm sure there are a lot of options out there. One that works for me is the "ITOYA Art Profolio". Here's one in a 4" x 6" size. But they have them as big as 18" x 24", too, so it is possible to use them for unfolded sheets, aerogrammes, booklets, postcards, covers, small posters, etc. Further they are archival safe and 100% acid free.



Although they can get a bit pricey (especially the larger sized ones), I typically buy them at a craft store such as Michael's or AC Moore (in the art departments) and if you shop the papers or internet you can often find a 40% or 50% off coupon, making them quite reasonable.

Note they lie flat, too, for scanning, such as in this example:

I use clear mylar transparency film (like they use on the old overhead projectors). I just cut it to size to cover the card and mount with clear photo corner mounts. I get the mylar at Staples its made by Avery. Last time I bought it was about $40 for a pox of 100 8-1/2x11 sheets.

I use a FDC album with the two-pocket pages. However it only accommodates the small size envelopes. There is still a problem with the legal size covers. I have not fully solved the problem. Presently I insert the legal size in the lower pocket and let it stick up over the upper pocket---not a really satisfactory solution. I like the post above about using the two pocket Vario pages. If you have a lot of legal size covers, the cost can add up fast.

I look now at the size before I buy and try to get only the small size. But sometimes a larger cover is just too "juicy" to pass up.

However, if you only want to store postal cards, then a FDC album should work okay.

I would suggest photo albums... you can get them extremely cheaply.. I got 6 of them for "free" and the are all great.. pockets are designed to hold 1 photo each. they are by nature of archival quality, don't get the sticky ones.. I use them to store maxi cards, CP, SP's, #10 envelopes, etc.. I just slit the seems between pockets and have space for a maxi card.. and they look very nice..