Deltiology 101: reasons to keep postcards

My mom just gave me a postcard that I had sent her in 1985.  She kept it for 28 years.  She didn't remember if it was because of the tender message, or that I was apologizing for something, or if it was because she's a pack rat.  Either way, I'm so excited that she gave it back to me.  I'm choosing to believe she saved it because she is deep down sentimental and knew I loved her despite all the grief I was giving her.

Deltiology 101: National Postcard Week

Photo courtesy of NPCW

Happy National Postcard Week everyone!

I am uploading images of postcards that I receive throughout the week (and perhaps a little before since there were early birds, and a little after since there will be procrastinators).  You can see them all here in flickr.

I am also tweeting all week about NPCW, using #NPCW2013 if you want to follow along!

Tweets about "#npcw2013"

Are you sending out postcards this week?  What is your favorite so far? 

www.flickr.com Max and Co Post's NPCW 2013 photoset

Deltiology 101: Is Social Media Killing the Postcard

I recently read an article from Australia pointing out that social media is killing the postcard.  It's a sad concept to think that people are replacing handwritten notes with short 140-word virtual blip, or maybe a broadcasted instant photo taken from a smart phone.

There are 3 reasons to send & save postcards:

• to share happiness
• to inspire to dream
• to document

TO SHARE HAPPINESS:
I started collecting postcards as a way to connect with my only living grandparent who lived on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in an era where long-distance calls were expensive and the price of airline tickets was insane.  I saved every card he sent me (they had cute illustrations on them like Hummels) and my parents (view cards from where he lived and travelled).  My grandfather died in Germany when I was 19.  I only got to see him 3 times in my life.  But I did know him, and I felt like he knew me.  We wrote a lot on those postcards.  I still have them all.

Fast forward to 2013.  I recently met my 90-year old Great Uncle. I make a point of sending him  postcards, so he has something to hold in his hands and show to friends.  He is tech savvy and could easily be on Facebook.  But unless he gathered his cronies around his computer, how would he share stories about me?

TO INSPIRE TO DREAM:
My daughter is a story teller and a historian.  She loves hearing stories about the "old days" and is constantly poring over photo albums.  Every now and then I let her flip through my old postcard albums.  She asks questions about where or what is that, who wrote that, "Ew", "Ah", and the occasional "Oh".  On our recent trip to Paris & Rome she even picked out sculptures that she had seen on postcards.

I am a nomad.  I love to travel and explore.  I grew up studying National Geographic and dreaming about being an explorer in the jungle.  I also grew up piecing together the world through postcards.  Yes, I could've seen travel pictures from friends on Facebook.  But let's face it, Facebook travel albums are like the vacation slide shows from the 1970's.  They are blips (sometimes too many blips), that are easily forgotten because they go away as quickly as they came.  And they have no personal statement attached.  A postcard can be viewed for centuries and has the bonus note on the back to personalize it - even if it was not written to you, it was still written by someone.

TO DOCUMENT:
The best postcards that I am currently receiving?  Postcards written by kids - my daughter, my nephew & niece, and my daughter's friends.  It's fun watching their handwriting change and their ideas mature.  I think one day I will put them all together in a book and return them to the sender.  It will be a nice mini-autobiography.

Facebook and Twitter may be killing the postcard and the Christmas card - but it is also killing personal histories and REAL social connections.  Make your mark in history, and send out handwritten notes!

NPCW 2013 (aka National Postcard Week)

National Postcard Week was started 30 years ago to celebrate deltiology. Individuals and clubs participate, each creating their own unique postcard. **Soon there will be a website with images of the 3000+ postcards that have been collected over the years. There is a gallery of past postcards here at Barr's Postcard News, but it appears to be for subscribers only.

It's time to start making your cards and get signed up for National Postcard Week. I pasted her instructions below. There are two ways to join - either email Demaris (address below) or you can sign up though Swap Bot (http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/141926) - skip past the break to see instructions ↓

I signed up and have 100 cards printed and ready to send. Want to trade? Leave me a comment below that you are interested and make sure Demaris adds your address to the database.

If you are looking for an online printer to print your cards, I recommend Overnight Prints (http://www.overnightprints.com/) or you can find more links and info here: http://maxandcopost.blogspot.com/2013/01/deltiology-101-postcard-self-print.html

Deltiology 101: How to start a meaningful postcard collection

Frank Warren had an idea.  He printed up 3,000 postcards that were blank on the front, and had directions and his address on the back.  He instructed people to write a secret on the front, then mail the postcard to the address on the back.  That was in 2004.  He still receives postcards today, not from that original 3,000, but hand made or store bought - with a plethora of anonymous secrets.  Some of them are really moving - watch the video to see his favorites.  The ending of this video made me cry.

He posts the postcards on his blog:  PostSecret.com

Deltiology 101: A guide to Grading Postcards

Here is a link to a guide for grading postcards.  It is quite extensive and discusses term as like album marks, pioneers, and silvering.   For example - did you know there are SIX grades of conditions of postcards, from Mint (perfect, like it was just printed)  to Poor (incomplete card)?  If you are purchasing cards over the internet, this will be a helpful guideline to decide if the card is right for your needs - or if the description isn't adequate, it will help you ask the right questions so that you know exactly what you are getting.   It is also quite useful for someone who is getting into serious collecting.

Deltiology 101: the Martha Stewart Postcard Album

I really want to make myself one of these albums.  Martha Stewart shows how to make cut-out pages with mats so that you can see both sides of the postcard.  It would be a great way to archive all of those postcards from my Grandparents, written from the 1930's on!

Deltiology 101: A Brief History of Postcards

Click on the image for a brief discussion of how postcards came to be from 1840-1915.

Deltiology 101: Self-Print Paper Weight / Density

                                  
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The Art of Sending a Postcard, part 1

This video is about 5 minutes long, so grab yourself a cup of tea and enjoy - it's well worth 5 minutes of your life :)

Christmas Postcard Display

                                  
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How to remove stamps from postcards

saving stamps and the postcard can be difficult

Here is an interesting tutorial by Ken Stewart of Junior Philatelists on how to remove stamps from postcards saving both the stamp and the postcard.

How to Write an International Address

The Universal Postal Union has a very handy feature on their website.  It allows you to choose the country that you are addressing your letter or postcard to (or package for that matter).  It then displays a pdf specific to addresses in that country!  Fantastic!  click here to use it