Featured Recent Estate Auction Gamble: Box Lot Of Postcards & Ephemera

Discussion in 'Ephemera and Photographs' started by Joe2007, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

    In the Finds Thread I alluded that I had recently purchased a box of antique postcards and other ephemera at an estate auction for $45. The estate auction was fairly crowded and I didn't get the opportunity to preview the box as much as I would have liked and also didn't really want to draw too much unneeded attention to it. In my cursory glance I didn't see any particularly nice or valuable cards, just bread and butter holiday greetings cards and the like with very few "place" based cards with buildings on them. I did however notice that almost all of the cards were old, pre-1920s postcards and that there were approximately 200 cards in the box.

    I ended up winning the bid without a lot of competition, only one opposing bidder, ending up at the winning bid of $45. I was quite pleased at this outcome since I was willing to continue bidding up until $70 due to the fact that the postcards were older. I estimate there is around 200 to 250 postcards in the lot and I pulled 81 keepers for my collection. I expect I will eventually sell the rest someday. There was also some other neat goodies in the box including a neat 1909 summary of the events of the Coshocton, OH county fair, quite a few advertising/trade cards, a couple of old photographs, two pieces of vintage doll clothing, and a bunch of Coca-Cola nature trading cards.

    Here are some of the postcards I thought were keepers. I will need to post them in several posts due to the 10 attachment limit.

    I'd like to hear your thoughts on the lot. I am fairly happy with them, doesn't get a lot cheaper then 22 cents a card for older assortments of postcards. I think the Halloween & Christmas cards alone probably "pay" for the lot.

    postcard lot - an easy mark.jpg postcard lot - l would sooner be here than there.jpg postcard lot - ladies in hats.jpg postcard lot - leap year maiden wear the pants.jpg postcard lot - lucky dog.jpg postcard lot - man and woman sketch.jpg postcard lot - thanksgiving greetings.jpg postcard lot - what do you think about it.jpg postcard lot - whats the use.jpg postcard lot - why dont you write.jpg
     
  2. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

  3. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

  4. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

  5. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

    Some of the other items:

    Coshocton County Fair 1909 Pamphlet.jpg paper doll clothing 1.jpg paper doll clothing 2.jpg postcard lot - harold's club reno nevada.jpg postcard lot - trade card advertisement 2.jpg postcard lot - trade card advertisement.jpg postcard lot - trade card advertisement 3.jpg Railroad Photograph - Unknown Location.jpg
     
  6. SBSVC

    SBSVC Well-Known Member

    What a marvelous selection, Joe! Well done!
     
    judy, Joe2007, Houseful and 2 others like this.
  7. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    I am jealous, of course. :(:eek::)
    It looks like quite a few of the ones you are keeping have an interesting story behind the picture. For example, the young ladies of the sailors reception committee, and the next card, 36 or Bust.
    Are those paper doll dresses? If so, it might be worth trying to figure out what paper doll they were made for.
     
    Figtree3, judy, Aquitaine and 4 others like this.
  8. CheersDears

    CheersDears Well-Known Member

    What fun! That looks like a terrific purchase.
     
    judy, Aquitaine, Joe2007 and 2 others like this.
  9. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I wonder how the reception committee for the sailors worked out.
     
    Figtree3, judy, Joe2007 and 2 others like this.
  10. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Thank you for sharing these, Joe. I think you did great for $40. The Halloween ones alone. Really fun to see what you got! :)
     
    judy, Aquitaine, Joe2007 and 3 others like this.
  11. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I found the Leap Year cards the most interesting. I've never heard of any customs associated with it. Looks like the ladies can propose to the gents; not sure if it's all year or Leap Day only. Great selection of ephemeral treasures.
     
  12. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Nice score, Joe!
     
    judy, Aquitaine, Joe2007 and 2 others like this.
  13. wiscbirddog

    wiscbirddog Well-Known Member

    @Bronwen

    Leap Day. According to Irish traditions, women are allowed to propose to their suitors on this day that only comes once every four years.
     
  14. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Oh, those Irish! Darn! Missed it this year. Missed a lot of things this year. :(
     
    judy and wiscbirddog like this.
  15. Van_Poperin

    Van_Poperin Well-Known Member

    The cat! The one that says “WHY DON’T YOU WRITE”! Not only is it proof that cat memes are older than we think, but it mirrors my constant plea to friends (I love writing postcards!) This is a great assortment, thank you so much for sharing!
     
    Figtree3, judy, Aquitaine and 5 others like this.
  16. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    What a great assortment of old and very interesting postcards ... GREAT BUY, WELL DONE !!!! .... Joy. :)
     
    judy, Aquitaine, Joe2007 and 2 others like this.
  17. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Now I've got the Simon & Garfunkel song stuck in my head.
     
    judy, Aquitaine and Van_Poperin like this.
  18. Van_Poperin

    Van_Poperin Well-Known Member

    Lol, great pull (and I haven’t listened to it in ages, either!)
     
    judy likes this.
  19. Vesuvia

    Vesuvia Active Member

    Woooo! I want that Henry toad card! O_O

    :)
     
    judy, Aquitaine and Joe2007 like this.
  20. ZeeFinds

    ZeeFinds Active Member

    I had the same reaction/thought. Cats are awesome!
     
    judy likes this.
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