A Lesson Learned

A few years ago I placed a frame of Black Americana postcards in the Minnesota State Fair; Sixteen well-chosen postcards to be displayed and judged at the Fair. It took me a year and half to fine the right postcards. In my heart, I was going to be rewarded with at least a 2^nd place ribbon for my hard work as a post carder. Well the big day came and I ran to the State Fair to see the ribbon I won for my postcards. I found the frame on display and nothing. There wasn't a ribbon to be found in the display case. WHAT! Are you kidding me? This is one of the best frames here this year. I demanded an answer to the question, “Why didn’t I get a ribbon for my frame of postcards?” I wrote emails…I made phone calls…but nobody answered me. My mind was on fire. They didn’t give me a ribbon because the postcards are of black people…the have there nerve. It took me a few days to calm down. When the Fair was over I went to pick up my frames and the man returning the frames said, “What, you didn’t get a ribbon on this wonderful frame of postcards?”, which reignited the fire in my head. I took my frames home and hung the frame to remember my hard work that was ignored.

Since then I have really studied postcards. I’ve read books and articles and talk with my friend Jerry who is the postcard master in the St. Paul area. I’ve learned about the texture of a card and what it’s called. I know about the printing companies and the designer that have created those postcards.

So last month I took the frame of Black Americana postcards off the wall to study them. I pulled the cards out one by one and studied each card; the printing company name and texture of the postcard. About ten minutes later I simply couldn’t look in the mirror. I was so embarrassed and upset with myself. Those judges knew what they were doing. It had nothing to do with the race of the people on the postcards or the race of the man that place the postcards it to the contest. It was all about the postcards.

I had mixed linen postcards with smooth, white board postcards. When I looked at what I had done…I had four different types’ postcards in the frame. For two years I blamed the judges for their actions; when I was the one totally at fault. A little education goes along way.

 Linen Postcards from Genuine Curteich-Chicago (Top Front, Button Back)

 Linen Postcards from Ashville Postcard Company (Top Front, Button Back)

  This white boarder postcard is from Phostint Company...produced in the 1920's (Top Front, Button Back)

  This postcards is from C.T. American Art...it's recreation of 1911 postcard from I.F. Company (Top Front, Button Back)

Now I know a white bordered postcard from a linen postcard. I know a Curt Teich vs a recreated postcard from C.T. American. Now don’t think for a moment that I’m expert yet, in many cases I’m just above a beginner. Collecting postcards is one thing, being a real post carder is another thing.

Happy post carding, no matter what type of postcards you collect. 

The Thrill is Gone!

I must stay I had to step away from post carding for a few months. Between my personal life and people playing games in the postcard trading world it got to be a little too much. This hobby can become few stressful and if stress is part of it then you need to back away because it's no longer fun.

We as post carders tend to turn this trading into a business in a great since. Wheeling and dealing for postcards...as if they were stocks. Here is the problem we're not making a dime on it. Even in so cases we're losing money with those losers that don't complete their trades/swaps. You spend $2.00 (the card and the postage overseas) and get nothing back. $2.00 or .75 cents, it's not cool being scammed on a post card trade; and if you do a multiple postcard trade… well…$$$. THIS HOBBY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE STRESSFUL!!! There I got that out of my system.

So when it gets to be too much; stop for a while and let your poscard pals know that postcard burn out has set in. Shut down you Face Book postcard album down and go for a walk. This hobby which is so much fun should be just that...FUN! Trading should not be a downer...but something that brings a smile to your face when you open your mailbox.

Happy postcard trading!