A common question asked by new collectors of postcards is why a price for one postcard is so much higher than another even when they both display a similar view. The answer quite often relates to the manufacturing process and the more expensive card will usually be a "real photograph", a term commonly abbreviated by collectors and dealers to "RP". So why do real photograph postcards command higher prices compared to other printing processes?

In simplistic terms there were two main types of postcard printed in the golden era of postcard production in the early part of the 20th Century. These were the "printed cards" and "photographic cards". Printed cards were mass produced, often on a very large scale, using traditional print presses using engraved plates.

Printed cards primarily used one of two main printing techniques. The Intalgio method was initially used for postcards but was quickly superceded by the lithograph printing process being quicker, easier and more economic.

It is worth noting that The Rotary Photo Company used a rotary press process to produce postcards which saw the introduction of mass produced photographic cards in the UK but these are not generally regarded as "RP" postcards by collectors today.

Real Photographic postcards were actual photographs taken with a camera and produced from negatives directly onto photographic postcard sized paper. The pictures were usually taken by photographers who then retailed the postcards in limited numbers. It is this limited availability that gives the "RP" postcard its better value. These type of postcards usually feature topographical views such as a village or town street, a church, railway station or other notable building. Early commercial marketing techniques also meant photographs of storekeepers proudly posed outside their premises were a commonly produced subject.

In Edwardian times camera equipment was very expensive and not widely owned so families would often visit a local photographer to have their photos taken. Family pictures were often produced as postcards and sent to family and friends. Family portrait RP postcards are usually categorized as social history and, because of the personal nature of the subject matter, rarely command a high value. However, before dismissing social history RP postcards, it is worth checking these photos for the use of interesting props. For instance, if the subject was a young girl holding a doll or a teddy then the value will increase - sometimes dramatically. The onset of World War One saw a massive rise in this type of family postcard, as soldiers would have their photo taken in uniform to send home to their wives and children or girlfriends.

The term "real photo postcard" is still in common use among collectors and dealers now and has resisted being abbreviated to something like "photocards". The word ‘real’ was originally intended to promote the fact that the postcard started out as an actual photographic negative that had not been manufactured by a printing machine process to become a mass produced postcard. Effectively the term was used to label a postcard as the "real thing" and not a reproduction, a claim that modern brands will spend millions advertising today.

RP postcards are now a superb source of historical images for collectors, publishers, researchers and even interior designers. As copyright Law usually allows the owner of an original RP postcard to copy the image if it was published more than seventy years ago, many modern books and prints hanging on walls owe their existence to the pioneering photographers that travelled the country during the early 20th Century producing real photographic postcards.

The advent of online auctions like eBay has greatly helped many collectors find and purchase more postcards although many traditional fairs dealers may understandably complain. Collectors often focus on a particular County, town or village which means online auction keyword search methods are ideally suited to the hobby. Mastering the advanced search techniques at sites like eBay can be a huge timesaver for collectors. For instance this search at eBay returns only real photo postcards from London. The search checks the postcard categories worldwide, including eBay store sellers, for either "RP" or "Photo" along with "London" and displays the postcards found in "ending soonest" order.

While eBay offers the largest selection of postcards it is also worth mentioning eBid.net, another auction site which can sometimes produce valuable finds for postcard collectors. The other bonus for collectors about eBid is there's less competition among bidders which could lead to some lucky buys.

If you would like to comment on this article, request an advanced eBay search to be constructed for you or tell us about your collecting passion, then feel free to post in our forums.

For more information about postcard auctions visit Postcard auctions at Auction Buzz or RP Postcards at Seek You Out.