They retain the immediacy of the moment they were sent to a family member or friend, to share a trip with them or bring them a piece of their home. They traveled by boat or plane and arrived at their destination, losing their new power and perhaps ending up in a drawer where "those little things" are kept.
But time has revalued them under the watchful eye of collectors who found in cartophilia a way to recover historical memory.
"At the end of the 19th century, in addition to philatelists, who collected postal stationery issued by various post offices, the first postcard collectors appeared who shared the same hobby," notes Alejandro Argüello, head of one of the most prominent houses in both fields. "Although unlike philatelists, cartophiles prefer new postcards or those with the best possible image. Except in the case of rare or difficult-to-access postcards, when they are not so demanding regarding the state of preservation."
A curious fact is that "many women became postcard collectors because most of their correspondence was sent by this means, which cost half the price of a regular letter and was in vogue in our grandparents' time. Thus, we find a lot of correspondence from lovers or travelers who sent postcards from every place they visited."
Behind the counter of his shop, Argüello is used to dealing with a special type of customer: foreign tourists who come as if on pilgrimage in search of old postcards from their home country or even the steamship their ancestors traveled on, a demand that has greatly increased online.
"Generally, collectors look for postcards from their places of origin or for a theme or iconography from a place that interests them. Although most collect out of sympathy, that is, they buy what appeals to them," he notes, "for the preservation of postcards, there are albums, protective envelopes, etc., which are inexpensive products."
There's something for every taste and budget, given that "you can start a collection with a small investment of $50 to $8,000. The most expensive postcards are those of low emission and of historical or artistic interest that attract collectors."
While "many of the postcards are of low value and don't generate much interest in the market, when a good collection comes up for sale, the bidding is significant," Argüello emphasizes.
Meanwhile, "unlike philately or numismatics, a cartophile doesn't need any specific knowledge. They do need to know a little about history and about postcard publishing houses, for which there are catalogs with listed prices."
In terms of a hobby, in addition to distracting oneself from everyday worries, "it allows the collector to travel to different places around the world, learning about customs and cultures."
Practical, economical and with several nuances
Its origin dates back to October 1869, with the idea of circulating without an envelope and for short communications. Although the original idea was from Dr. Heinrich Von Stephan of Prussia (now Germany), it was the Austrians who first implemented this postal product, with the aim of increasing the use of the mail. The invention fulfilled its purpose, as 1,500,000 postcards were sold in the first month. The original measurements were 10 x 16 cm and had a postage stamp printed on the front where the address should appear.
At the end of that century, private publishers entered the business, while post offices retained exclusive distribution rights. These were carefully crafted prints of landscapes, monuments, or illustrations by famous artists, suitable for collectors.
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
