La Banque du TimbreParis

Legal

Terms of Service

The terms that apply when you browse the archive or place an order for a collectible card.

Last updated: 18 September 2026

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

1. About these terms

These terms govern use of the La Banque du Timbre website and purchases made through it. By placing an order, you confirm that you are legally able to enter a contract and that the information you provide is accurate.

The seller is La Banque du Timbre SAS, 5 rue de Provence, 75009 Paris, France. Nothing here limits rights that consumer law makes mandatory.

2. Catalog descriptions

Vintage cards are individual, previously owned objects. Age, printing variation, postmarks, writing, fading, edge wear and other signs of history may be present. Photographs and written condition notes form part of each description.

Dates, attributions, rarity and market comparisons are based on the sources identified in the listing. Estimates are not guarantees of investment value, authenticity by a grading authority or future resale price.

3. Orders and availability

Submitting checkout sends an offer to purchase. A contract is formed only when we confirm acceptance and availability. We may decline an order if an item is unavailable, information is incomplete, pricing is clearly erroneous or fraud is reasonably suspected.

Because most cards are unique, stock is normally limited to one. Placing an item in a cart does not reserve it. If simultaneous orders occur, the earliest accepted order takes priority.

4. Prices, currencies and payment

Base prices are set in euros. Checkout may display EUR, USD, GBP or PLN using a current reference exchange rate. The selected currency, rate and final amount are fixed when an order is submitted and shown on its receipt.

Payment instructions are sent after review. Bank charges, local import taxes and currency-conversion charges imposed by a bank or authority are the customer’s responsibility unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

5. Delivery and risk

Estimated delivery windows are not guarantees. We package paper collectibles using appropriate protective materials and provide tracking where the selected service includes it.

Risk passes as required by applicable consumer law. Customers must provide a complete address and promptly report transit damage, loss or a materially incorrect item with photographs where reasonably possible.

6. Intellectual property and use

The site design, editorial descriptions and original photography may not be republished, scraped or commercially reused without permission. Rights in historical images may belong to their respective owners or be subject to the source licence stated on a listing.

You may use the site for personal browsing and legitimate purchasing. Automated extraction, interference, impersonation, unlawful activity and attempts to bypass access controls are prohibited.

7. Liability and disputes

We remain responsible where liability cannot legally be excluded, including fraud and injury caused by negligence. Otherwise, liability is limited to reasonably foreseeable loss directly connected with the order.

Please contact us first at info@banquetimbre.com so concerns can be resolved. These terms are governed by French law, without limiting mandatory consumer protections or a consumer’s right to bring proceedings in a competent court available under applicable law.

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.