GREENFIELD — The only postcard collectors’ show in western Massachusetts is being held Saturday at the First Congregational Church at 43 Silver St., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
About nine dealers will bring their collections to buy and sell, said show organizer J.R. Greene. Prices range from 25 cents a piece for relatively commonplace cards, to a few dollars for the rarer and more collectible cards. Admission is $4, to benefit the church.
Greene will also be doing free appraisals of collections.
The collectors’ market mostly revolves around postcards from the first few decades of the 20th century, Greene said. At that time, postcards were an accessible and inexpensive way to communicate, and even small towns like Leyden and Heath would have had their own cards.
“So it’s a very universal hobby, unlike coins or stamps,” Greene said.
People who collect postcards tend to collect around a theme, Greene said — either a town or region, or a “topical” theme like Christmas, or dogs and cats. Cards of the North Quabbin and the Berkshires tend to be highly sought after, Greene said. Less coveted are “woodsey-pondsey” cards of nonspecific nature scenes, or generic “topicals” like Christmas cards with poinsettias.
“If you’re not that fussy about what you want to collect … you can often find stuff at a very reasonable price,” Greene said.
A fussy collector will typically focus on an area with personal significance, so the most valuable cards tend to be ones with good downtown scenes, Greene said. Greene’s collection is based on his hometown of Athol and its surrounding area.
“I like to say that picture postcards are the best reflectors of what early 20th century America looked like,” Greene said.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261 ex 261.