La Banque du TimbreParis

Legal

Privacy Policy

How we handle personal information with restraint, transparency and appropriate safeguards.

Last updated: 18 September 2026

Operator: La Banque du Timbre SAS, 5 rue de Provence, 75009 Paris, France.

1. Scope and controller

This policy explains how La Banque du Timbre SAS handles personal information when you browse the catalog, save preferences, contact us or place an order. The data controller is La Banque du Timbre SAS, 5 rue de Provence, 75009 Paris, France; privacy enquiries may be sent to info@banquetimbre.com.

We act as the controller for information used to operate the store. Service providers processing data on our instructions may act as processors and must protect it under written terms.

2. Information we collect

Order information can include your name, email, phone number, company, billing or delivery address, order notes, selected products, delivery method, currency and transaction status. We do not collect card details because online card payment is not currently offered.

Technical information may include device and browser data, approximate location derived from an IP address, referral pages, consent choices and security logs. Analytics information is collected only after optional consent.

3. Why we use information

We use information to provide the catalog, maintain carts and wishlists, answer enquiries, validate availability, prepare and deliver orders, prevent misuse, keep accounting records and meet legal obligations.

Our legal bases may include performance of a contract, steps requested before a contract, compliance with law, legitimate interests in operating and securing the store, and consent where required. You can withdraw consent at any time without affecting earlier processing.

4. Sharing and international transfers

Information is shared only where needed with hosting, database, email, delivery, professional-adviser and public-authority recipients. We do not sell personal information.

Where information leaves the European Economic Area, we use an approved legal safeguard, such as an adequacy decision or standard contractual clauses, and assess supplementary safeguards where appropriate.

5. Retention and security

Order and accounting records are retained for the period required by tax, commercial and consumer-protection law. Enquiries are kept only as long as reasonably necessary, while consent records may be retained to demonstrate compliance.

We use access controls, encryption in transit, restricted administrative access, backups and monitoring. No system can guarantee absolute security, but suspected incidents are assessed and reported where law requires.

6. Your rights

Depending on your location, you may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability or objection, and may complain to a supervisory authority. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

You may also withdraw optional cookie consent. Some information cannot be deleted immediately where retention is required for orders, tax, fraud prevention or legal claims.

7. Children and changes

The store is not directed to children and we do not knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child supplied personal information, contact us so it can be reviewed.

We may update this policy when services or legal requirements change. The date above identifies the current version, and material changes will be highlighted where appropriate.

Questions about this policy can be sent to info@banquetimbre.com, or raised through the details on our About page.

Questions & answers

Frequently asked questions

Collecting paper history rewards careful looking. Here is how we document cards, research approximate values, protect originals and distinguish verified facts from informed estimates.

What kind of cards do you sell?

La Banque du Timbre brings together vintage postcards, advertising trade cards, real-photo cards and printed ephemera from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Each listing identifies the subject, period, place, maker or publisher whenever that information can be verified, while uncertain details remain clearly marked rather than filled with assumptions.

Are the cards original or reproductions?

Every product page states whether the documented object is an original period card or a reproduction. We compare dates, printing methods, publisher information, postmarks and archive records; when the available evidence cannot settle a detail, the listing says “Not specified” or “Unknown” instead of presenting a guess as fact.

How are the prices determined?

Prices are careful market estimates based on recent auction results, specialist dealers and listings for closely comparable cards. Subject, publisher, age, printing technique, postal use and known provenance all influence the estimate. Because condition cannot always be established from an archive scan, prices should be read as transparent retail guides rather than formal appraisals.

How do you verify your cards?

Each card is checked against a public archive record or another documented source. We retain the original record link, image licence and attribution, then separately research market comparables. The source and market-reference information on the product page lets you retrace that work and distinguish historical documentation from our current price estimate.

How is the condition of a card described?

Condition notes are included only when the source provides enough evidence. Typical signs of age can include corner wear, writing, postal marks, fading or surface marks, but a scan does not always reveal every physical detail. We therefore avoid invented grades and use “Not specified” whenever condition has not been confirmed directly.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Cards can be shipped internationally in rigid, protective packaging designed to reduce bending, moisture and surface contact. Available services, delivery estimates and final shipping costs are shown during checkout and may vary according to destination, tracking and the value of the order.

Can I return a card?

If an item arrives damaged or materially differs from its description, contact us within 14 days of delivery with photographs of the card and its packaging. We will review the case and arrange an appropriate return and refund. The card should be returned in the protective materials in which it arrived.

Can I use the card images?

Image rights vary from card to card. Many catalog images are public domain, CC0 or available under a Creative Commons licence, but the physical card and its digital scan may have different rights histories. Check the exact licence and required attribution under “Source & image credit” before downloading, publishing or adapting an image.

Are these prices formal appraisals?

No. The displayed amount is an informed retail estimate for a comparable example, researched on the date shown on the product page. It is not a certificate of value, insurance valuation or guarantee of a future resale price. A specialist should inspect exceptional, signed or unusually rare objects in person.

How should vintage cards be stored?

Keep cards in acid-free, archival-quality sleeves, away from direct sunlight, humidity and rapid temperature changes. Avoid adhesives, pressure-sensitive tape and PVC pockets. For long-term storage, place sleeved cards upright in an archival box or flat in a conservation-grade portfolio without crowding them.

Do you buy or research private collections?

We are interested in well-documented collections, especially groups with publisher information, postal history or clear provenance. A useful first message includes photographs of the fronts and backs, approximate quantity, known history and your location. An initial review is not a valuation or an offer to purchase.