Learn How To Grade Your Postcard Collection

By Author: Colleen Davis
Total Articles: 100
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Do you find yourself drowning from all the postcards given by well-meaning relatives around the United States and abroad? Have you started collecting each one of them? Then why not bring your love of postcards from just a mere piece of paper to keep in touch with loved ones to a growing and enriching collection? You can become a serious collector with an extensive collection of postcards that is worthy to be showcased in exhibits. Postcard printing may sound easy if you haven’t tried it yet, but it can be a little complicated as well. So as a collector you would really want to place a value on your precious cards, right?

Postcard collectors have their own different ideas of what a valuable collection is. In order to make their collection extensive, they get involved in the trading, buying, or selling and trading of postcards. And as such they have also come up with a universal system to determine the condition of each card. Hence, the postcard grading system was born. Whenever a deal is going to be consumed, the grade is always taken into consideration, especially if the buyer has not seen the physical condition of ...
... the card, except in an online catalog.

1. The system of grading is not perfect but it is something you need to learn if you are going to get into trading, buying or selling of postcards. These universal categories are respected by all the collectors in the world and will give you a general idea of the card’s condition, especially if it is a vintage piece.

2. If a card is unused or in other words “pristine” condition, then it is called “mint” or in “mint condition.” You can also use this term for vintage cards that come in unopened packages.

3. “Excellent condition” is what you call a card with unbent corners even if it is already used. Somehow, the handling did not affect its appearance.

4. “Very good” is used to call a card that has some minimal damage due to wear and term. This could often refer to discoloration or marks caused by improper storage.

5. “Good” is the rating given to a card with many defects due to shipping and handling. It could have creases, discoloration, bent corners, etc. But the image on the front of the card should still be intact.

6. “Fair” is what you grade a card that already has a lot of damage. These cards usually have extensive staining, bent edges and corners, water damage, or creases. Fair postcards are no longer worthy for collecting. While it may not be your fault that it got damaged during shipping, there is really not much you can do with such cards.

7. “Poor” is how you call a card where the image has already been seriously damaged and compromised. While no serious collector would want such kinds of cards, they may consider it, if the image contained therein is rare. It could probably be an important historical artifact, like a signed postcard from a dead president, so you can still be able to sell it at a high price.

If you would like to venture into selling or trading postcards, you will need to take individual high-resolution photographs of the items in your collection. Postcard grading may differ as it depends on the postcard printing materials used on it along with so many other factors; but if you have high quality photos of your collection, they will become so much more appealing. Much of the trading and selling activities among postcard collectors take place online so it is best to sign up for those specialized sites frequented by collectors like you.

For more information, you can visit this page on postcard printing