Collect by County is not an auction (where basically you get what you bid on if you pay a higher price than anyone else is willing to offer). We offer our collectibles grouped into County Lots at a set price. We have tried to find that "sweet spot" in pricing, low enough that buyers get their money's worth, but not so low that dealers can buy and resell at great profit. Note that the price includes the cost of shipping the order to you anywhere in the U.S.

There are approximately 3100 counties in the United States. We can't post Lots from all 3100 counties at once, but we strive to add material as fast as time allows. Also, there are many counties that are sparsely settled and have little in the way of scenic attractions or historic events, so we may not have enough materials to post a Lot for those counties. If you don't find what you are looking for, please let us know what States you are interested in.

Postcard collecting, or deltiology, is also a popular collecting topic with its own jargon. Postcards came into popularity about 1900, and the period 1900-20 is known as the Postcard Era.   Manufacturing methods changed over time, from printed hand-colored cards, to cards printed on linen paper, and later the shiny cards, which are known as "chromes."  In general the earlier cards are worth more, but the subject of the view, the quality of reproduction and the condition of the card are also important factors.  

Postmark collecting has become a sophisticated hobby, with a number of different collecting societies and a large library of reference work.  Richard W. Helbock published a series of dates-only books by region, and most states have a publication(s) with more detailed information.  Mr. Helbock also published perhaps the best guide to understanding the various types of postmarks in his Postmarks on Postcards.

Certain types of postmarks have a strong following, such as flag cancels or if the county or name of the postmaster is included in the postmark.  Personally, we like the old 4-bars best, but add a number in the bars and it becomes a Doane cancel, sought by so many they have their own collecting society.

Collecting everything you can about an area provides you with an array of information and an appreciation of how the world we live in today developed to become that way.  The more you know about a place, the more interesting it becomes.

Collectors of old paper would like everything to be perfect, no nicks, tears or blemishes, no rubber-band marks or coffee cup stains.  There are such items out there, but many items can be expected to show their age from being handled. Mostly we have to accept what we can find and treasure such items despite any defects. In Collecting Places we have noted any serious flaws (sometimes just by noting it is "poor").

We offer material geographically, but many people collect by topic -- Steamboats or Motels or Famous Homes, or even truly obscure material like "Cows standing in water."  There is such material in Collecting Places.

To make the listings more concise, certain abbreviations have been used.  If you don’t understand a description, please contact us!

B: Postal Branch

c.: Circa (approximate date)

cds: Circular Date Stamp - the postmark

csc Cover-sized card

FD: First day of post office, or of the stamp

Flag: Flag Cancel

LD: Last day of post office

PC: Postcard

PM: Postmaster

RB: Rural branch post office

Rec.: Receiving postal marking

Reg.: Registered

Sta. or S: Postal Station