Are old Christmas postcards worth anything?

Are old Christmas postcards worth anything?

“And the most popular one obviously is Christmas.” Vintage cards in good condition can fetch about $10 to $50 apiece, she says, but particularly valuable ones can shoot up into the three- or even four-figure range. …

What is the oldest Christmas card?

In the collection of Hallmark Cards, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, is another English card, long thought to be the oldest. It’s over 120 years old and was made at the suggestion of Sir Henry Cole. He asked an artist friend, John Callcott Horsley of the Royal Academy, to design the card.

When was the first Christmas card posted?

1843
Queen Victoria sent the first official Christmas card, and Sir Henry Cole, who amongst other things was an assistant to Sir Rowland Hill in the introduction of the penny post and the first Director of the V&A, commissioned the first commercial Christmas card in 1843.

Who Invented Christmas cards or postcards?

Sir Henry Cole
Also on the manuscript were four poems and a song – so rather more than are on cards today! The custom of sending Christmas cards, as we know them today, was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.

How do you date an old postcard?

The easiest way to distinguish a real photo postcard is to look at it under a magnifying glass; it will show smooth transitions from one tone to another. Click here for links for dating real photos. Postcards with a divided back were permitted in the U.S. beginning on March 1, 1907.

Do old postcards have any value?

The value of old postcards is affected by many variable factors, but demand, condition and rarity often have the greatest influence on how much a postcard’s worth. Childhood Memories: A beautiful postcard by Scottish artist Jessie King (1875 – 1949) from a set of 6 depicting nursery rhymes in an art nouveau style.

Why were Victorian Christmas cards Creepy?

Some historians have suggested that the portrayal of dead animals on nineteenth century Christmas cards were meant to serve as a reminder of the poor and hungry during the holiday season. Stories of poor children freezing to death were common during the winter in Victorian England.

What were the children drinking in the first Christmas card?

SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL However, those very first Christmas cards weren’t without controversy. The fact that the family were drinking wine was, so the advocates of temperance argued, promoting drunkenness.

Who invented Xmas cards?

Henry Cole
Christmas card/Inventors

The first commercially available card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Callcott Horsley in London 1843. The central picture showed three generations of a family raising a toast to the card’s recipient: on either side were scenes of charity, with food and clothing being given to the poor.

How do I know if my old postcards are valuable?

Rarity. As with all antique items, rarity brings up the value of postcards. If only a few of the cards were printed or only a small number have survived the ages, your card may be very valuable. However, rarity goes hand-in-hand with other characteristics; if only a single card was printed, that makes it rare.

What are the most valuable vintage postcards?

Some of the most valuable postcards include photos of ocean liners or railroads, as collectors are interested in making these rare images part of a collection. Photos from the early 1900s of homes, families and other personal scenes are also popular, falling under the name Real Photo Postcards.

Why is a dead bird on a Christmas card?

Though many cards seem to be capricious one-offs, a few themes did emerge. Dead birds in many of these cards are thought to either represent the plight of the poor—who were likely to die in the cold winter streets—or to be a more general symbol for the winter season.