The strong historical appeal and the internet are two reasons for the growing interest in postcards, says David Smith, who runs IPM Promotions’ monthly postcard and collectors’ fair in Central London.
The next fair at the Royal National Hotel,
Woburn Place is this Sunday, November 25, where there will be 90
stalls packed with postcards, cigarette cards, autographs and
ephemera.
The son of the late Cyril Smith, founder of
the fair, who began publishing the annual Picture Postcard
Values in 1976, David is himself a keen collector of
local history cards.
He is the owner of the Memories Picture
Library in Hendon, North London, which specialises in social
history and themed photographs.
He believes that interest in genealogy,
fanned by television programmes such as Who Do You Think You
Are?, the work of the Ephemera Society and efforts by the
National Archives to publicise historical research, have all led to
an increase in the formation of local and family history groups,
with the knock-on effect of more collectors in this niche
market.
He adds: "The internet has had a good effect
in one sense, in that there are more buyers at the fairs,
particularly a younger crowd looking to sell on eBay - cards are
easy to scan and sell. But we don't have as many younger dealers
standing at our fairs - it seems to be older folk."
Tel: 020 8203 1500.
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