46 individually catalogued paper objects
Card Horizon

Journal / Volume one

Stories from paper

Practical collecting guides and close readings of the visual culture carried by small paper objects.

04

Collecting · 17 August 2026 · 9 min read

Condition Without Myth

A transparent vocabulary for foxing, silvering, corner wear and other signs of a paper object’s life.

Read story →

Questions

Before you
collect

How the archive catalogues, grades, packs and sends paper objects — and what we will never claim about them.

Condition guideShippingAsk the archive
What kind of objects does Card Horizon sell?+

Vintage and antique paper ephemera: postcards, real photo cards, railway and hotel cards, ocean liner and travel cards, advertising cards, botanical plates, illustrated art cards, small lots and sets. Every object is catalogued individually with year range, place, category and condition.

How is condition described?+

Each object carries a condition grade written from direct inspection of the item in hand: corners, surface, creasing, postmarks and writing. Read the full grading scale on the condition guide before ordering — vintage paper is expected to show age.

Are the catalogue images the actual object?+

The current catalogue uses reference imagery while the archive is being photographed. Owner-made scans of each individual object replace these images before any item is fulfilled, and we confirm the exact object with you by email before dispatch.

How does ordering work?+

Add objects to your bag and submit an availability enquiry at checkout. Nothing is charged online. We reply with confirmation, final pricing, shipping cost and payment instructions for the objects that are still available.

Which currencies can I see prices in?+

Euro is the reference currency of the archive. At checkout you can switch the display to US dollars, pounds sterling or Polish złoty using indicative rates — the euro figure remains the binding one.

How are paper objects packed and shipped?+

Objects travel in archival sleeves between rigid boards inside a board-backed envelope or small box. Shipping is arranged per order from Europe; cost and carrier are confirmed in the reply to your enquiry, with tracking on request.

Can I return an object?+

Yes. If an object arrives damaged or does not match the condition described, contact us within 14 days of delivery and we will arrange a return and refund. Full details are in the refund policy.

Do you reserve or hold objects?+

Single objects can be held briefly while an enquiry is being settled. Because almost everything in the archive exists in one copy only, holds are short and confirmed in writing.

Do you make claims about rarity or provenance?+

Only what can be supported. Where a publisher, series or date is printed on the object we record it; where it is not, the field stays open rather than being invented. Market references are used as research, never as proof of provenance.

What data does the site store about me?+

Your bag, saved objects, currency choice and order enquiries are kept in your own browser, not on a server. Cookies are limited to what keeps the site working — see the cookie and privacy policies.