Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.
The essentials
- Postcard collecting is fully supported: a dedicated category for antique postcards, semi-modern and modern ones, and for phonecards.
- To organise your postcards, you cross-reference place, theme, publisher and period: each card can be found through any of them.
- Front and back photos, stamp, postmark and text on the back are part of the entry.
Postcard collection: what to keep track of
A postcard collection soon runs to thousands of items spread across albums, shoeboxes or binders. The collector knows that two cards of the same street are not worth the same: the publisher, the liveliness of the scene, the type of printing, the condition and the back change everything. A good inventory must therefore keep these details, without forcing you to describe every common card.
For each card, the essentials come down to a few fields: period, publisher or printer, theme, country or region, type (black and white, sepia, colour, photo postcard), series and number. Also note whether the card has travelled: stamped or not, postmarked or not, written on the back or blank. For interesting cards, specify in the description the exact municipality, the caption and what makes the view special.
What a postcard or phonecard entry contains
| Field | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Period | Sort antique, semi-modern and modern cards. |
| Publisher or printer, series and number | Identify the card and complete a series. |
| Theme | Find all the cards on a subject: trades, transport, festivals, illustrators… |
| Country or region, place | Geographical classification, the most common among postcard collectors. |
| Type: black and white, sepia, colour, photo postcard, phonecard | Distinguish processes; the photo postcard is often sought after. |
| Stamped or postmarked, written on the back | Know whether the card has travelled; the stamp and postmark may also interest a philatelist. |
| Print run (phonecards) | Spot small print runs, often the most sought after. |
| Front and back photos, condition, valuations | Show the image, the back and the real condition; track the value. |
Sub-categories separate antique postcards (before 1920), semi-modern, modern and phonecards.
Postcard collecting: organising your cards without describing everything
The right method is the same as in philately: an inventory by album and by lot for the whole, a detailed entry for the cards that deserve it. Photograph each album page for the lots. Keep an individual entry for rare views, photo postcards, sought-after illustrators and series you are completing. With a search by place, theme or publisher, you can see at once what you own and what is missing, before going to a fair or show.
For phonecards, the logic is similar: note the series, the print run and the condition (mint or used), and photograph both sides.
Value and insurance
Like stamps, postcards are often left out of the home insurance policy because they fit in a cupboard. After water damage or a theft, you will need to prove what the albums contained: photos of the pages, a list of the main pieces, invoices and dated valuations. Update this list after every major purchase.
Succession and inheritance
Inherited postcard albums are often sold off in bulk because no one knows what they contain. An inventory that flags the important pieces, says where the albums are and which dealer or postcard club to approach makes all the difference. Also note your wishes: keep the cards of the family village, sell the rest. Our estate inventory template can serve as a starting point.
Photos from your phone and sharing
Photograph each important card front and back, flat and without flash. To offer a selection to a dealer or another collector, share it through a password-protected, time-limited link. If you also collect stamps, see managing your stamp collection; to compare with a spreadsheet, see Excel spreadsheet or collection software.
With Collectalia
Collectalia has a dedicated category for postcards and phonecards: one entry per card or lot with period, publisher or printer, theme, country or region, type, stamped or postmarked, written on the back, series and number, print run for phonecards, and front and back photos taken from your phone by scanning a QR code. Location by album, import of your existing Excel file with automatic column recognition, advanced search and saved searches, PDF reports and Succession module. Free trial, free read-only access for the family.
Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.