L.A. Enthusiasts Save Their Post Cards

The Los Angeles metropolitan area must contain one of the world’s great concentrations of post card collectors, if our mail is any guide.

In a recent answer to a post card collector’s inquiry, we asked readers to tell us if there was much post card collecting activity in this area. Indeed, there is!

In fact, we also detect from recent chats with California collectors that old post cards--particularly those produced from just before the turn of the century to about 1920--may currently be one of the hottest collectibles around.

“Southern California is fortunate enough to have many active post card groups, and there is usually a post card show somewhere in the area about once a month,” writes Charlotte T. Tufts of Burbank, a retired librarian.

“It is interesting to note that at a recent exhibit formed by the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City on the life and works of the great philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, many of the important items in the exhibit were post cards picturing the many libraries he caused to be built in this country.”

She notes that the Deltiologists of America (10 Felton Ave., Ridley, Pa. 19078) publishes a quarterly journal and has also started an international society. Also, she notes, among other publications worth inspecting are Postcard Collector, 700 E. State St., Iola, Wis. 54990, a monthly, and Barr’s Post Card News, 70 South 6th St., Lansing, Iowa 52151, a weekly.

Lee Brown, president of the Santa Monica Post Card Club (P.O. Box 92, Sunland, Calif. 91040), says her group--”a congenial group of collectors from all walks of life”--meets the first Thursday of the month in the community room of the Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica. Membership is $6 annually, or $7 per family, and includes the club’s publication, the Clarion.

Some other post card clubs:

--The Orange County Post Card Club meets the second Saturday of the month at Mercury Savings, 7612 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Membership: $5 a year, $8 yearly for a couple. Write Walt Waldau, 10201 Sherrill St., Anaheim, Calif. 92804.

--Angels Flight Post Card Club meets the fourth Monday of the month at California Federal Savings & Loan, 1900 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Membership: $3.50 per year. Contact Helene Boese, 2027 Appleton St., Long Beach, Calif. 90803.

--Torrance-South Bay Post Card Collectors meets the last Sunday of the month at Mercury Savings & Loan, 22939 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. Membership is $5 per year, $6 per couple, which also includes a monthly newsletter. Contact Carolyn Lee, P.O. Box 1403, Lomita, Calif. 90717.

Upcoming post card shows:

--Orange County Post Card Show, March 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Garden Grove Masonic Temple, 11270 Acacia Parkway, Garden Grove.

--San Marino Post Card Fair, March 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Masonic Temple, 3130 Huntington Drive, San Marino.

--Arcadia Postcard & Paper Collectable Show, April 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Arcadia Masonic Temple, 50 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia.

Ronald L. Soble cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to questions of general interest about collectibles. Do not telephone. Write to Your Collectibles, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.