As one becomes more and more involved with postcards, we all want to know more about the artist, the subject, the value and the history of the card (see our guide on the history of postcards) itself. 

There are many different types of postcards, from artist drawn to real photographs of cities and towns. 

The price guide reference book you see most often is by J. L. MASHBURN: The Postcard Price Guide published by Colonial House, USA.  It has all types of postcards.  Basically the value of having this book is to check the BOOK value of a postcard.  The price or value of the postcard is very subjective.  What you see in this guide is often very different than what you will see it sell for on eBay or other webpages.  Prices change from year to year.  Condition is also important in deciding value of the card.  Too much writing on the front of the card, too much spotting on the card (foxing) or creasing will greatly lower the value.

Many of the signatures on the artist signed postcards are difficult to read.  One terrific book on signatures is by Nouhad A. SALEH: Guide to Artists’ signatures and monograms on Postcards published by Minerva Press, Inc. USA. 

If you want to know more about the artist and the year they published their cards, there are many books on artist.  A much harder book to find than the Mashburn Book but very valueable is by Peter JAMES: Catalogue of Picture Postcard Artists printed by Capita Business Services Ltd., Sommerset England.

Some collectors are even more specific in what they collect then just the name of the artist.  There as many postcards as there are subjects.

One great book which is out of print now but still available for the Art Nouveau Collector is by Giovanni FANELLI and Ezio GODOL: Art Nouveau Postcards,  published by Phaidon and Christie’s Limited, Littlegate House, Oxford England.

For artist of Children,  a most wonderful book is by Dawn and Peter COPE: Postcards from the Nursery, The illustrators of children’s books and postcards 1900-1950 published by New Cavendish Books, London England.

Some books might seem obscure but to the collector, they are very valueable.  For the British Postcard collector there is one by A. W. COYSH: The Dictionary of Picture Postcards in Britain 1894-1939 published by Antique Collectors’ Club published by Donside Mills, Suffolk, England.

Some people collect specific artist postcards.  There are books about the top artist.  One such book is by Naomi WELCH: American and European Postcards of Harrison Fisher Illustrator published by La Selva Beach, California.

One other famous artist who is often collected is Raphael Kirschner.  There is a great book on this artist which is now difficult to find.  It is by Antonio and Pia DELL’AQUILA: Raphael Kirchner and his Postcards published by Mario Adda Editore, Bari, Italy.

To see some of these postcards, check my ebay EyeDEAL Postcards