Selling old baseball postcards can be a fun and interesting way to make some extra cash if you have a collection you’re looking to sell. Old baseball cards from the early 1900s up until the 1970s can be quite valuable depending on the players, teams, and condition of the postcards. If you have postcards showing Hall of Fame players, rare teams, or are in mint condition, they could fetch quite a high price from baseball collectors.
Some tips for selling your old baseball postcards include doing research to properly value what you have. Look up recently sold listings on eBay to get a sense of popular players and teams that seem to attract higher prices. Also check price guide books and websites that provide valuations for mint, very good, good, and poorer condition postcards to best assess the grade of your cards. Taking clear, well-lit photos of the front and back of each postcard will allow potential buyers to properly inspect them from afar if selling online.
When describing postcards for sale, be sure to mention all key details like the player or team shown, publisher or manufacturer, any identifying numbers on the front or back, and of course the overall condition with an emphasis on centering, corners, edges, and any creases, stains or other flaws. Honestly grading the condition is important to attract reliable buyers. You can potentially get higher prices by having postcards professionally graded and encapsulated by a third party service, though this comes with additional costs.
There are a few main options for selling your old baseball postcards. Online marketplaces like eBay are very popular with both collectors and sellers as they offer a large potential buyer base. There are listing fees and eBay/PayPal transaction costs to consider. Consignment with a sports memorabilia or card shop can allow them to showcase and better market your items, though you’ll typically get a lower percentage of the final sale price than selling directly. Collector conventions and card shows that baseball enthusiasts attend can also be a good environment for face-to-face sales.
Whether selling online or in-person, shipping postcards safely and securely is important. It’s best to use rigid card savers or toploaders inside a mailing envelope with plenty of padding to avoid damage in transit. Insuring shipments over a certain value is also wise. Allow buyers to inspect postcards in-hand before completing sales to avoid disputes. Accepting payment via PayPal Goods & Services gives both parties protection against issues. Consider offering combined postage discounts for buyers of multiple cards from your collection too.
The timing of sales can impact prices as well. Major League Baseball’s postseason in the fall and around the holidays tend to be busy periods for the hobby when more collectors are active. But posting cards for sale year-round gives them ongoing exposure. Prices for popular vintage players also tend to rise as new generations of fans get into collecting. So an old Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth or Ted Williams postcard could realize an even higher value if sold years down the line when today’s kids grow into adults with nostalgia and disposable income for their favorite sports.
Taking the time to carefully research values, photograph, describe and market your old baseball postcards for sale both online and potentially at shows can be a rewarding process. With rare enough pieces in great condition, you may be surprised at the prices dedicated collectors are willing to pay for a glimpse back in time to the early decades of America’s pastime frozen forever on small paper squares. Just be sure to follow best practices for safe shipping, honest grading, appropriate timelines and payment protection to attract reliable buyers and make the most of any baseball postcard collection sitting idle in your attic, closet or storage unit.
