Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

• How can I find the postcards I am interested in?
• What abbreviations do you use when describing postcards?
• What ratings do you use to grade postcards?
• How can I sell my postcards?
• Which postcard shows do you attend?

Auction Questions

• When do your auctions close?
• How can I bid in your auctions?
• What are your bidding increments?
• How do I make the images bigger on the Auction PDF?

Buy Now Questions

• Can I buy postcards now?
• What methods of payment do you accept?

 

General Questions

How can I find the postcards that I am interested in?

You can use the search box at the top of each page to search both the current auction and our buy now postcard store.

You can also browse by topic using the categories on the right side of each page.

What abbreviations do you use when describing postcards?

P - Pioneer (1893-98)
PMC - Private Mailing Card (1898-1901)
UB - Undivided Back (1901-1907)
DB - Divided Back (1907-1915)
WB - White Border (1916-1930)
L - Linen (1930-1939)
C - Photochrom (1939- )
Cont - New Continentals (Modern)

B&W - Black & White
B&W Photo - Same as Real Photo
cor - Corner
cpr - Copyright
cof - Cancel on Face
cr - Crease
emb - Embossed
flt - Fault
ft - Face Thin
m - Minor
mb - Minimum Bid
sig - Signed
st - Stain
th - Thin
tr - Trimmed
wof - Writing on Face
pwof - Proper Writing on Face

What ratings do you use to grade postcards?

• VF - Very Fine: Near Perfect - not necessarily unused
  
• F - Fine: Shows slight wear
  
• G - Good: Shows some wear with minor defect, not really affecting the general appearance
  
• FR- Fair: Shows wear with defects affecting appearance

How can I sell my postcards?

You can sell your postcards either on consignment, through one of our auctions, or sell them outright and receive immediate payment.

Selling on consignment through the auction:

1. Always contact us or call us at (231) 352-9758 to talk about your consignment before sending postcard consignments through the mail.
2. We try to keep the minimum postcard consignment value to $500.
3. Upon receipt of your cards we will notify you as to which auction they will be sold in.
4. All postcards deemed $15 and above will be individually photographed and expertly described. They will appear in our printed catalog and in the current auction section of this site. Cards less than $15 will be lotted and sold in groups.
5. When the catalog is printed you will be sent an inventory listing of all your postcard lots in the current auction along with a copy of the catalog.
6. Thirty days after the close of the auction you will receive the same inventory sheet with your realized prices and a check, less my 30% commission.

Sell your postcards and receive immediate payment:

1. Always contact us or call us at (231) 352-9758 to talk about your postcards before sending anything through the mail.
2. Upon receipt of your postcards we will make you a cash offer for outright purchase of your vintage postcards.
3. If you accept the offer we will send you an immediate check.
4. If you do not accept the offer, we ask only that you reimburse us for the cost of postage to return your cards.

Which postcard shows do you attend?

• May 10, West Michigan Postcard Club Postcard & Paper Show,
  Grand Rapids, MI
  

• May 16-18, Metropolitan Postcard Bourse,
  The New Yorker Hotel, New York City

Auctions Questions

When do your auctions close?

Cherryland Auctions has an antique postcard auction closing every 6 weeks. The current auction #232 will end on Tuesday, June 3rd at 9:00 PM EST.

How can I bid in your auctions?

Bids can be submitted by using the online form that appears at the bottom of the online auction catalog pages or by using the "Bid Online" tab at the top of this page.

Cherryland Auctions charges No Buyers Premium!

Your bids will always be confirmed by an email from either Ron or Alec Millard. By submitting a bid you agree to the Auction Terms of Sale.

You can also bid by email, telephone (231) 352-9758 or by mail.

What are your bidding increments?

Up to $20.00 - $.50
$20.00 - $40.00 - $1.00
$40.00 - $100.00 - $2.50
$100.00 - $200.00 - $5.00
$200.00 - $400.00 - $10.00
$400.00 - $1,000.00 - $20.00

How do I make the images bigger on the Auction PDF?

This link gives some of the basics of using PDFs.

Buy Now Questions

Can I buy postcards now?

Yes! You don't have to wait for the current auction to close to buy postcards. In our new "Buy Now" section we offer over 1200 postcards available for sale right now. Or try our postcard approvals.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept payments by Paypal/Credit Card using the Shopping Cart. For all other methods please contact us.