Stamp Collector At Postcard Shows: What Do You Look For?

As for stamp collectors at dealers' tables, I try to not be too in-your-face about it, so I haven't run into too much trouble yet. Plus I'm pretty sociable, so if a dealer is chatty, we can usually hit it off.

At one particular show, there's a dealer there who used to also be a stamp dealer, and was, more importantly, a stamp collector, so when he puts things aside in his "philatelic" section, they are pretty curated, as well as reasonably priced (although not a steal).

A couple of the subjects folks have mentioned here tonight I'm not familiar with, so will be doing a little research and probably asking some follow-up questions later on this evening.

I've really been enjoying this discussion. I should've posted it here originally!

-- Dave

Spain: You said:




This is my challenge. I know Japanese cancels (and some China and Korea) fairly well, but, like I said in the first post, I just never see this kind of material at shows anymore. I think it's heading directly onto ebay and to overseas auctions, rather than making it to the shows.

That's why I wanted to find some other areas to become better acquainted with, and have really appreciated people's suggestions here!

-- Dave

Slogan cancels for local events, especially state fairs and street fairs can be higher value cancels. Some streetcar RPO cancels can also carry a nice premium.

What is a "Dear Doctor" card?

I used to compare going to postcard shows with slot machines - with one important difference!
When you are searching postcards you do not have to put your quarter in until AFTER you have seen the cherries.

ps: google 'dear doctor postcards' I collect them also.

Ok. Did some research last night ... got my list and notes together ... heading out!

Good luck! Please post your findings and experience.

Sidenote: The one thing that really disturbs me the most while searching postcards is when someone in the past torn the stamp off the postcard...not soaked, but torn off and damaging the stamp and postcard. Usually from the postmark you sometimes could tell that would have been a keeper if it just had the stamp intact.

Well, I'm reporting back early ... Something has changed, and the show is about half the size it was the last time, which was just 4 months ago. It's the last time at this venue, there were fewer dealers, no catering truck, etc. It could just be natural attrition, or possibly some kind of disagreement with some of the dealers. There are 3-4 dealers I can usually count on to have stuff that's interesting for me to look through. None of them was there this time. I spent a little bit of time looking at some of the other offerings, but just couldn't get engaged in the hunt process.

But I appreciate everyone's comments, and I've already learned some new things, and will be prepared for the next show (that has a different promoter).

-- Dave

edited for clarity

Know the EDU dates for stamps most often used on post cards. I collect W/Fs, and I do check the cancellation dates on 331,332,374 and 375s. Any and all W/F coils--hard to find. Look for exposition/fair post cards with Expo. station cancels. I also look for W/F imperfs. used on post cards--also hard to find. Look for Washington D.C. cancels from Jan.-May 1909 for W/F 356 or 357s. There are also some 356/357s used outside of Washington--but usually cities close to D.C. If you're interested in territorials, Early New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma can be found and on DPOs too. You can find up-rated early postal cards. Foreign and domestic post cards with postage dues. Dayton Ohio precancel for W/F 544 (I think) Late Dec. 1921, early Jan. 1922 for W/F 544. Summer 1921 for W/F 545/546. Interesting auxiliary markings. Multi-forwarded cards. All the above and pretty much anything that looks unusual, out of the ordinary or otherwise strikes my interest. I do get some strange looks and interesting comments when dealers see me looking at cards backwards. Sometimes, when talking with dealers, I find they have some stamps and covers that they don't have displayed that they will show me. I have managed to find some nice stuff at post card shows.

Hmmm, postcard shows. I look for women about 30, no rings, but perhaps a magnifying glass on a chain around her neck. I watch for a callus on the inside of her index finger (from stamp tongs), the kind of woman who would rather get a $1 Columbian than diamond earrings for her birthday.

If she drives a rattletrap station wagon with a "I brake for garage sales" bumper sticker, I might introduce myself. If she has more than ten stamp "apps" on her smartphone, I'm hooked. If I sit at a dealer's table, turn around a box of cards and look at the stamp (sides) first, and she sits down after me, and looks through the very same cards again, well I am blown away, case closed. Deltiologist fantasies...

@ doug

Cancelation and stamp!

I can only suggest you look for what strikes your fancy!

Being both a stamp collector and ephemeraologist, postcard shows make me overload and my head explodes. While I stand there at dealer's tables, I have a hard enough time remembering which TOWN or TOPIC to look for. Trying to pay attention to the STAMPS is impossible! Who knows what niftiness I have missed through the years...

Way back, though, somehow I was able to find some nice stamps on postcards, but from what I remember, these were bought at multi-dealer antique shops in Maine. These days, I never find anything at shops, and postcard shows tend to result in overpriced cards and annoying vendors...

You can find bargains if you persevere.

I found a valuable Chinese stamp on the back of a postcard in the 25c bin. It was valued in SG from memory at £50

Another nice find was a 40c postcard with a extremely rare German perfin (private use). I also discovered the card was rare and worth $50 even without the perfin.

I always check postcards offered for sale and I buy what catches me and I can afford at that moment.
I found this hidden among expensive litho postcards at a flea market. It was cheap (couple of cents)- Agfa photo and a nice slogan cancel (Fernsprecher spart Zeit und Geld- Telephone saves time and money) sent from Nurnberg to Dobsina-Czehoslovakia in 1930.