September is Save Your Photos Month, but photos and movies aren’t the only important pieces of your legacy collection worth preserving – memorabilia can provide a glimpse into past lives that enhances your family stories.
While helping my mom clean out her spare room, I happened upon a wooden box that had belonged to her mother. It was full of souvenirs from Alaska, Canada, Minnesota, and even France – all places she had lived throughout her lifetime. This is when I discovered that my grandmother – both my grandmothers as a matter of fact – were deltiologists. Never heard of the term? Neither had I until that moment. Deltiology is the art of collecting and studying postcards and it’s still a very popular hobby – right behind coin and stamp collecting.
Did you know:
- The first souvenir postcards were sold at the Chicago World Fair in 1893.
- The oldest and most valuable postcard – according to Guinness World Records – was sent by Theodore Hook to himself in 1840 and was bought at the London Stamp Exchange auction in 2002 for $45,370.60.
- World Postcard Day is October 1st. The theme for 2024 is The Timeless Magic of Post.
- Vintage postcards should be stored in archival quality boxes in a space that maintains a temperature of 66-68°F (18-2O°C), and approximately 40-50% relative humidity.
- The best way to showcase your postcard collection is to display high-quality copies. Scan your originals and then either print them out for display, create a virtual gallery for viewing on your computer, send them to friends or family, or upload them to your digital frame.
Equally important as the images on the front of postcards were the messages written on the back. It’s amazing how so few words can give you so much insight into what was happening in people’s lives at that moment.
For more information about preserving your legacy collection including photos, movies, and memorabilia or Save Your Photos Month events, please contact us at info@goldstarphotosolutions.com or call us at 530-264-5995.