Show your received mailing stiffeners

Hi doug534 ... Collecting Postcards (known to the people who do it as deltiology) is very similar in many ways to philately. That is, most old postcards, like most old stamps, aren't worth very much (from a financial perspective ... I happen to think old stamps and covers are priceless historical artifacts -- but that's just me, smile).

But, and this is important ... but, there are significant exceptions, as you know. 

Postcard clubs have the same discussions that stamp clubs do about what to do with inherited collections, and what does and does not have financial (and other kinds of) value. Personally, for example, I typically buy postcards only when they are postally used and / or have an interesting postmark or message. When I go to a postcard show, I turn the boxes around and look at the backs of the postcards not the front (smile). But, postcard collectors often find great value in picture postcards even the ones that are not used. There are rarities ... series, publishers and examples of printing and production techniques. There was a golden age of postcards. Some people, before cameras were easy to buy or use, bought picture postcards with no intention of mailing them. The photos were souvenirs to bring home or to enclose in a letter - that's just one reason why many were not mailed. Like postal history, postcards are historial artifacts of significance .. photos of ghost towns or of old battlefield ... of old industrial landscapes and winning sports teams of long ago. Some of them are the only photos that still exist. So called 'real photo postcards' are often one-of-a kind. Sorry, for going on but I guess I want to make the point that some of your cards might actually have value. For example, I recently paid almost C$100 for a card that had a very hard to find postmark. While dealers have boxes of fifty-cent cards (like fifty-cent covers), the prices for many cards are often $5, $10 and more. 

You might want to do some research. Here is a link to the Toronto postcard club ... the largest such club in Canada. You might find their webisite of some interest. There are similar clubs in the US. My wife is a deltiologist and active with several clubs. And, you don't want to know how many postcards she has. 

So, yes, some of your inherited cards will make great stiffeners. But, separate the stiffeners from those cards that collectors will value and want to add to their collection. 

Here is the link ...  torontopostcardclub.com/canadian-postcard-basics/#:~:text=RPPC%20prices%20can%20range%20from,for%20many%20hundreds%20of%20dollars.