Shop / Music / Enrico Caruso – portrait postcard, circa 1910
Enrico Caruso – portrait postcard, circa 1910
1905–1915
Condition
Not specified
Original
Yes
Type
celebrity / music postcard
Publisher
Not specified
€8.00
Estimated retail price based on comparable market listings. It is not a formal appraisal.
About this card
A postcard portrait of the Italian opera tenor Enrico Caruso, produced around 1910 when he was at the height of his international fame. The photographer is unrecorded; the card comes from a private postcard collection.
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.
