| Collecting postcards is a great hobby for people in | | | | and very easy to find, you'll find it won't be long |
| all ages. It's cheap, popular and gives a lot of fun. | | | | before you have an splendid collection. |
| It can be helpful if you want to learn foreign | | | | Step 3: |
| languages and find pen pals from all over the | | | | Get serious about postcard collecting and join a |
| world. Today is very easy to find pictures of | | | | collector's club or visit your local antique stores |
| distant places on the Internet, but receiving a real | | | | and browse online auctions for those unique ones. |
| postcard from these locations is much more | | | | There are also some interesting websites for |
| interesting. A picture from the Internet exists only | | | | postcard collectors with tips, auctions and forums. |
| on your hard drive and a real postcard is | | | | Step 4: |
| something you can touch, somebody has written | | | | If you want postcards from distant countries try |
| on it, there are stamps and postal signs. And for | | | | to find people who live there. The best way is to |
| me it makes this hobby so interesting. | | | | find pen pals from those countries using |
| Now how to start collecting postcards? As I said | | | | international social portals or even some dating |
| it is a very popular hobby, some say it's the third | | | | sites. |
| largest collectible hobby in the world. Do you know | | | | Step 5: |
| why? Postcards are cheap, cover thousands of | | | | Take care of your collection: store your postcards |
| subjects and they are almost everywhere. | | | | in acid-free, archival-quality sleeves made of |
| Step 1: | | | | polyethylene or Mylar. You can buy such things on |
| Decide what kind of postcard you want in your | | | | internet auctions or in antique shops. Avoid PVC |
| collection. It could be landscapes, animals, trains, | | | | and cheap plastic sleeves, which can leave |
| lighthouses or almost anything else. Maybe places | | | | scratches or stick to your postcards. Never store |
| you've been on vacations? Or postcards with | | | | them loose in an ordinary plastic box. |
| foreign postmarks? Some collectors like only | | | | As you can see it is not so hard to start |
| vintage and unique postcards. | | | | gathering your postcard collection. This hobby |
| Step 2: | | | | (also known as deltiology) is easy, inexpensive and |
| Choose a theme and let your friends and family | | | | suitable for both young and older people. |
| know about it. Because postcards are inexpensive | | | | |