Storing and Organizing Postcards: A Tip Sheet!

So, you’re building up your postcard collection, eh? How many do you have? 50? 100? 1,000?

I’ve experimented with several different ways to store and display my ever-growing stash of awesome postcards. Each way has its’ advantages and disadvantages.

Method One: A ‘Treasure” Box
Advantages: Portable and Accessible. Cost-efficient.
Disadvantages: As your postcard collection grows, you’ll run out of room! Also, not much room for creativity.

I quickly outgrew using my fairy box for storing cards I received. For a 10-dollar box, it was only able to hold about 50-75 average-sized postcards. Now I put it to better use storing my stamps, stickers, and to-send cards. For beginner collectors, this is a nice method though, because investing in a scrapbook that might involve long-term upkeep is committing to something you might not necessarily get in to for long. But if you’re someone who does it for a child (many people I’ve sent cards to do it on behalf of their young children…how cute!), a box may just be the perfect way to go. It’s simple and easily accessible to a child. Plus, it’s ideal for show and tell!

Method Two: A Scrapbook
Advantages: You get to express your creativity. Scrapbooks usually can be adjusted to fit more pages.
Disadvantages: Can get pretty costly and time-consuming.

I tried going this route because my close friend inspired me to. She showed me her first binder full, and wow, was it gorgeous! I quickly realized, however, that I am of a much lazier sort, and I would rather pop the cards in somewhere and be done. So my first binder is all fanci-fied, and the rest are not. So much for continuity.

But if scrapbooking is your forte, you can have a LOT of fun with themed pages based on your card’s location, cut holes so the backs can be read as easily as the fronts, and create a really masterful and elegant way of showing off not one, but two of your favorite hobbies!

Method Three: Photo Albums 
Advantages: You’re able to remove postcards you want to re-read.
Disadvantages:  Photo albums that have the removable plastic covers instead of the pre-cut sections can be hard to find to accommodate oversize cards. Plus, they can get pricey depending on where you find them.

Most albums these days come in the kind that is pre-perforated to fit 5-by-7 photographs and cards. If you know anything about postcard collecting, you know this won’t do at all. I get more odd-shaped, oversize postcards than ever, and I refuse to cut them to fit a standard album. Your best bet is to go hunting for the kind of album that comes 8-1/2 x 11, and consists of thick, pre-glued pages with a plastic, peel-able cover that can be lifted and replaced over and over. These albums usually have plainer covers. While you might think you’d be better off looking for these in hobby stories near the scrapbook supplies, you’re actually wrong. It seems counter-intuitive, but I have had the best luck finding these albums in drug stores like Kinney’s or Rite Aid.

As for organizing postcard, I actually don’t. The one thing about this hobby I don’t like is arranging and re-arranging of cards by date sent/received, country, etc. If I did, I would go bonkers. But feel free to do with your collection as you will. Just remember: the point about this is relaxing and fun, not stress! If organizing isn’t your cup of tea, don’t drink it!