Old postcards
Old Postcards: The Charm of Deltiology and the Value Hidden in the Past
The collecting and study of old postcards is known as deltiology. While traditional correspondence has almost completely disappeared today due to electronic communication, postcards were once an essential and widely used way for people to send messages, greetings, and travel notes.
Interestingly, the design of postcards has changed over time. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the back of the postcard was reserved exclusively for the address, while the written message was placed on the front—directly over the image. Only later did the now‑standard format appear, with both the address and the message on the back.
On older postcards, we can even find postage stamps affixed to the front side, sometimes overlapping the illustration itself. For collectors, this is a highly attractive detail that can significantly increase both the historical and collectible value of the postcard.
Fig. 1: Italian postcard from the period of World War I. Military themes are among the most popular in deltiology.
What Determines the Value of an Old Postcard?
The market value of old postcards can vary greatly. It is influenced mainly by:
- physical condition of the postcard,
- print run and rarity,
- popularity of the theme among collectors,
- historical or regional significance,
- presence of a postage stamp and postmark if the postcard was mailed.
The last point is especially important. If a postcard was actually sent through the postal system, it should include a postage stamp with a cancellation mark. It is not uncommon to find a rare or highly interesting stamp on a postcard—sometimes with a value exceeding that of the postcard itself.
The study of postage stamps, however, belongs to a separate field known as philately. Deltiology and philately often overlap, but each has its own focus and collecting methods.
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Photo used in this article – private collection of the author.