hankyou for taking the time to investigate this website. A number of question spring to peoples minds when they begin to examine this site. The how and why of this site I will leave for you to ponder some of the other questions I will answer.
Everyone has to start somewhere and here is a good place. The site is pretty big put the search engine facility cuts it down to size (). Many of the answers have the 'more info' button after them. Clicking this button when you see it will take you a page which hold more information (I try to make sure this is the trickiest bit of the site.) I am putting over 20 years of specialist collecting knowledge onto this site so expect it to take a bit of time to get to grips with. If you do get lost just remember these are small bits of card given away free between 60-120 years ago and we are unlikely to ever see the like again. They are precious but I try to keep it in some sort of context.
Franklyn Cards is a business which started in 1976, specialising in the selling of quality original cards. Unlike a lot of card sites this is no part -time venture, this is full-time, 365 days a year. I cannot tell you much about anything else but on the subject of cards there is a possibility I could talk the back leg off a donkey.
1995 was the first appearance of the Franklyn Cards website. An early adopter of the technology. Many card dealers have followed that lead but none have posted new content every month for that period.
Stocks of cards are extensive and growing rapidly with access to over 100 million cards there will be one for you.
We are based in the UK with dealer connections in every corner of the globe. We now sell in over 30 countries worldwide with more cards sold abroad than in the domestic UK market.
The website is now the main method of delivery for these cards because of the cost advantage this gives.
Remember if you have anything to say I am only ever an email way: FRANKLYN CARDS
WHAT ARE CIGARETTE CARDS?
They started off as a method of strengthening the flimsy packaging cigarettes came in.
The US never missing an advertising trick began putting adverts on the cards c1870. Although cards reached their peak in the UK.
A succesful method of advertising, pictures began appearing on the front of the card and a good deal of information on the reverse. One was issued per packet of cigarettes, the idea being you collect a set of cards by smoking enough cigarettes.
The heyday of card production was between the First World and Second World War although there were plans to introduce them after World War Two it never quite happened.
The idea was not new, many trade products had been using card series to promote products for quite some time before and after the cigarette card period.
SO WHAT's ON THEM?
Just about everything you can imagine is covered by cards. In 1910 Wills produced a set on Aviation, only a couple of years after heavier than air machines had taken off. Cards have been considered the encyclopedia of the common man during the period of issue.
Any number of cards were produced on the sports theme.
Cards devoted to film stars began as early as 1913.
History is covered both by default and determination. Afterall the cards were issued in huge numbers depicting war heroes of every hue.
And any number of cards devoted to the truly strange
My only advice could be is to just take a few minutes to look at the price guide section and check out some of the subjects covered as described by the titles.
I AM LOOKING FOR 'XYZ' IS IT ON THE SITE AND IF SO WHERE?
There are over 400 pages of content on this site and I mean pages not paragraphs. The best way of getting to specific information is the site search engine.
For general browsing the site map is functional. It lists every page I want you to see.
There are pages which are only available to those of the Franklyn Cards newsletter.
If you cannot find what you are looking for or would like to see on the site drop me a line. Writing pages people want to read are a lot easier than ones nobody wants.FRANKLYN CARDS
The left hand menu bar can be used as a route to a lot of the more commonly accessed stuff on the site and saves quite a bit of clicking. For example all this months new stuff is in the What's New folder which means you do not have to keep going to the front page. Nice as it is, its not that nice.
I'VE SEARCHED YOUR SITE BUT CANNOT FIND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR, HELP.
I never said the site is comprehensive, just better than most. If you've looked and not found the information, most likely it simply is not on the site. That's why there are email buttons everywhere.FRANKLYN CARDS There's another. Click it and tell me what it is you are looking for.
I'VE GOT SOME CARDS HOW MUCH ARE THEY WORTH?
The basic answer is check out the price guide section of the site.
However bear in mind condition is everything. Forget all this nonsense about 'but they are 100 years old' that is not an excuse for cards in poor condition. Also forget some of the images you might have seen on auction sites with claims of the cards being in excellent condition when they have rounded corners and even creases! This is total rubbish.
Cards stuck in albums are generally not as collectable in the UK as cards not stuck down. I don't buy any cards stuck in albums and nor do I sell them. This speaks for itself I believe.
I WISH TO SELL MY CARDS. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS?
I buy cards.
I WISH TO BUY CARDS. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS?
I sell cards you can buy them from me. In fact I sell them to over 30 countries world-wide and there is no country I will not sell too.
For orders over $25 I do not charge postage
I give a money back guarantee on condition
If you know what cards you want go to the form on the site for this purpose.
Check out the close up section of the site where there are many cards illustrated on various themes.
If you are unsure of what you are looking for, take your time to look about the site or check out the price guide section of the site where about 1200 of the most popular sets are listed.
You will have noticed I have not asked for credit card details and the buttons are not marked BUY THIS.
Technology can get you so far but there comes a time when good old fashioned customer service has to begin and I consider the point of purchase is that time.
I NEVER ask for credit card details. Payment details are explained when you have decided you want to buy the cards, know how much they are going to cost and feel comfortable with the transaction. I dislike being herded through some money extraction system everytime I visit a website, so relax and take your time.
ARE THEY GOING TO BE WORTH MORE NEXT YEAR?
Who knows what tomorrow will bring. However I can tell you what the last 20 odd years have brought. Sets worth 50 cents twenty years ago are now worth $170 and that is not uncommon. The price of cards has not gone down in 20 years.
I can tell you that the supply of cards is limited and in the last few years the demand has increased from a very UK male dominated market to a worldwide one. I will leave it to you to work out how that is going to affect price.
Finally. And I only leave it till last because it is the most important thing. Buy the cards because you want them and like them. They are not one of life's essential purchases they are there to make life a little more pleasurable. If you are buying them solely for profit, please don't you are only driving the price up for those that like them.
