BOB TOAL: How and when did you get involved in postcard collecting? 

DAN FRIEDMAN: I became a postcard collector shortly after my retirement from a lifetime career in Education. While vacationing in Maine, I purchased a 12 inch long box of postcards that had been mailed with interesting US stamps to look for additions to my stamp collection. After a few months puzzling over the images, I began to develop an appreciation of the picture side of postcards.

BOB: When and why did you begin to collect Pioneer cards? Did you read Jefferson Burdick’s book “Pioneer Postcards” and did it influence you? 

DAN: My interest in Pioneers was directly stimulated by reading Burdick’s book. My frustration increased with each reading of the book until I realized that while he had an incredible collection, his knowledge as a researcher was sharply limited and he essentially used free association and the seat of his pants to convey his understanding of these cards.

BOB: When did you begin doing shows as a postcard dealer?

DAN: Circa 1990

BOB: Who in the early days of collecting postcards did you interact with and who may have influenced you in your collecting evolution?

DAN: Initially I acquired a broad general collection and simply sold for a small profit on each sale. I became a dealer to be able to look for Pioneers in other dealers stock. My early days were influenced by Bruce Nelson who ran a fascinating column interpreting selected Pioneers from his fine collection. I looked for dealers with Pioneers to sell and only found Jose Rodriquez with a deep stock. I also bought a deep stock from Dr. Moulton as he was liquidating his huge stock. Most dealers had very limited material and little knowledge. Over time, I started buying Pioneers from auctions and I took several tips to Europe expressly to buy. With the advent of the web, I searched the offerings of e-Bay and bought hundreds of cards.

BOB: What are the rarest cards in your collection? 

DAN: Probably 95% of my Pioneers were sold at auction. The rarest cards owned were several Lipman’s and other gems from the forerunners of the Pre Postal Card Period (my term).

BOB: How did you acquire the rare cards that you’ve handled or have owned– at auction? By private treaty with collectors?  Or, from dealers? Over the internet? 

DAN: I bought widely using all sorts of venues and techniques.

BOB: Do you have any unusual stories over your years of collecting cards? 

DAN: Having been a dealer for many years, I had numerous unusual experiences but will only relate one amusing tale. I was in Amsterdam, Holland, shopping for postcards in a small bookshop and encountered some boxes with Pioneers and rare cards. Each card was priced with a number followed by a DASH. When I took a batch to pay, the cranky store owner added approximately one dollar to the price of each card. When I questioned him about the discrepancy, he said that there was a 99 cents marking BEHIND THE DASH. I asked him to show it to me and rather than show it to me, said “Take it or leave it.” I was bewildered and angry. I put all the cards back in one of the boxes in a specific location and after a few days, sent a native Dutch speaker into the store. He located the cards and paid the true asking price. I got my cards.

BOB: What is unique or different about collecting Pioneer Postcards? 

DAN: Many of these cards have some interesting history about them.

BOB: At your peak of collecting or dealing, how many shows did you attend? Do you currently or did you attend shows outside the country. 

DAN: Since all of my collecting and dealer activity as Classic Postcards was during my retirement years, there were a few years when I spent as many as twenty hours a week in postcard activities.

BOB: Do you collect anything other than postcards? 

DAN: Nothing as avidly as postcards.

BOB: At the end of the day – why do you collect postcards and go to postcard shows? 

DAN: I was motivated by their historic significance. Being curious is part of my personality.

BOB:  Anything you would like to add regarding postcard collecting and Pioneers in specific? 

DAN: I always enjoyed the people part of collecting and met some wonderful collectors and dealers over the years.

BOB: How may other pioneer postcard collectors are still out there?

DAN: I do not know.

BOB: Where did you get the source material/information for your Pioneer Book volumes? 

DAN: My books are the result of extensive research. I included numerous notes for future researchers.

BOB: How long did they take you to do them? 

DAN: My first spiral bound book took about one year. My next bound book required about ten years as it was heavily documented and researched.  My last book, Early American Postcards, 1868-1901 consumed thirteen years.

BOB: Are the books still for sale and how can someone order one (or more). 

DAN: The last book is available from the author.

BOB: Have you written other books on other topics? 

DAN: I have written many books as part of my professional career and recently my autobiography for members of my family.

BOB: Keep up the good work Dan!