Vintage Postcard Giveaway at Birdhouse Books (ends Tues. 6/10)

I love, love, love vintage postcards!   I have a small collection of vintage dachshund postcards, and also a few postcards from favorite family vacation destinations from my childhood.

Vintage postcards are fun to collect, to frame, to save in a decorative box, or to give for a unique, thoughtful gift (framed or tucked into a special greeting card).

This love of vintage postcards led me to open a postcard department in my store, Birdhouse Books.  I have cards featuring dogs, cats, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, and lots of Roadside Americana (motels, restaurants, stores, amusement parks).   The postcard above features a swimming pool at the Carriage House Resort motel in Deerfield Beach, Florida.   This looks exactly like motels I remember staying at during my childhood!

I'm hosting a vintage postcard giveaway on my blog.   It's easy to enter with the Rafflecopter form below.  The contest will end on Tuesday, June 10, at 11:59 PM.  On Wednesday, June 11 I will use Rafflecopter to randomly draw a winner.   The winner will receive a vintage postcard valued under $10 from my shop.  (Winner selects their favorite postcard in this range.)   You'll see all the great cards in this price range here:  vintage postcards at Birdhouse Books.    



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Item of the Day: Dune Rides at Glen Haven C2798 Michigan RPPC

I love Real Photo Postcards.  These are postcards that are made, as the name indicates, from a photograph.  They have a glossy finish, like a picture.   This RPPC is from Glen Haven, Michigan -- a beautiful beach / shore scene.  It is titled:  Dune Rides at Glen Haven C2798.   The card is printed by EKC, which dates it as 1939 to 1950.   I think it's an especially nice card, and it would look great framed!   You'll find it here:  RPPC from Glen Haven, Michigan

An Unusual Vintage Motel Postcard - the Monarch Motel in St. Charles, Missouri

This card is too unusual not to share!  It's from the Monarch Motel in St. Charles, Missouri.  What makes it unusual?  Check out the sign?  It says ZEPHYR MOTEL with a small little Monarch Motel sign underneath.  I think there is a story there!  Maybe the motel was called the Zephyr Motel before, and the new owners added their own name.  What do you think?  It makes this card really neat and unique!  It's at Birdhouse Books here:  Monarch Motel Postcard at Birdhouse Books

Dog-Gone Cute: Tips for Listing Vintage Dog Ephemera

One of my favorite collecting - and selling - areas is vintage ephemera. I particularly love vintage dog ephemera.

I collect vintage Dachshund ephemera (especially Valentines and Christmas cards) but that is another blog entry - or perhaps a whole separate blog!

I love the cute, often whimsical vintage dog illustrations, of course. But it is also fun to peek into another time and see people with their pets.

My axiom as an eBay seller has always been: if it has a dog, mention the dog. Prominently. In the title and in the description.

I also recommend being as specific as possible -- not just Cute Dog Card, but Cute Poodle Card, or better yet, Cute BLACK STANDARD POODLE Card.

Although I started on line selling vintage children's books (and that will always be my first love), over time I've also come to really enjoy vintage ephemera. I have a big box of it here waiting to be listed (perhaps 400 - 500 pieces). It's a little like a treasure hunt; you never know what goodies you will find!

I certainly hope there are more vintage dogs waiting for me in my ephemera box.

A few of the dog postcards, Valentines and greeting cards I have listed online:

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books_dog-cocker-beagle-poodle-puppy-puppies-dogs-card-valentine-postcard_W0QQfcdZ2QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ3QQfromZR10QQfsnZBirdhouseQ20BooksQQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQsaselZ81052548QQsatitleZQ28dogQ2ccockerQ2cbeagleQ2cpoodleQ2cpuppyQ2cpuppiesQ2cdogsQ29Q20Q28cardQ2cvalentineQ2aQ2cpostcardQ29QQsbrsrtZdQQsofpZ0