Harlan Ullman began collecting old postcards at a young age while accompanying his mother to antique shops and flea markets in Cleveland.
During the past five decades, his personal collection of postcards is now in the tens of thousands — with many that are more than 100 years old.
Ullman trades, buys and collects old postcards at postcard shows, where like-minded collectors — called deltiologists — gather.
“Their reasons vary, but when it comes to collecting postcards, it’s the thrill of the chase to find things of interest,” he said.
Postcards are one of the world’s most popular collecting hobbies, along with stamps and coins, with some individual cards selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
Data on the collectible market is scarce, but the broader postcard market is expected to reach $2.78 billion this year, up from $2.38 billion in 2021, according to Cognitive Market Research.
Michael Cassara, president of New York City-based Metropolitan Postcard Club, the oldest postcard club in the United States, said postcard shows are an important part of the market.
“They keep the cultural heritage of postcards very much alive. While the internet might make it easier to search for postcards, shows are ideal for browsing. People usually come and they get hooked. Every card tells a story,” he said.
Ullman, president of the Cleveland-based Western Reserve Post Card Society, recalls meeting a man at one show who was looking through bunches of cards hoping to find one from a summer camp his mother had worked at when she was a teenager. He overheard the man say, “Oh my God, I found one and my mom is in the view!”
Both Ullman and Cassara said postcard collecting is gaining momentum.
“Postcards are of such value. They’re history, they’re art, they’re business. There’s so much to them and so many reasons to collect them,” Ullman said.
