Postcards by Eugen Felle
Do you want to sell postcards by Eugen Felle?
Get an unbiased valuation of your collectibles and sell them at the best price. Stade Auktionen will guide you to the auction professionally and respectfully.
Postcards by Eugen Felle – Master of panoramic postcards
Eugen Felle was born on September 4, 1869 in Isny im Allgäu. His father was a butcher and grape farmer, so Eugen Felle’s professional career may have been predetermined. After finishing elementary school, he first attended the Oberrealschule (upper secondary school) in Ravensburg, but Felle did not want to become a butcher or innkeeper; instead, he pursued art throughout his life. Eugen Felle is said to have created more than 14,000 different postcards over the course of his life.
The beginnings of an artist
Around 1883, 13-year-old Eugen Felle accepted an apprenticeship as a sculptor a few kilometers from his hometown. He seemed to have been skilled and talented, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich took notice of the young man. Four years after he began his apprenticeship in Gebrazhofen – today a district of the town of Leutkirch in the Allgäu – Felle enrolled at the academy as one of the youngest students.
In a community with international students and the cultural diversity that a big city like Munich offered, encouraged and supported by well-known professors, Felle probably developed a particularly strong motivation to create something extraordinary. After completing his studies, Felle returned to his small hometown in the Allgäu. Felle was obviously aware of how his artistic talent and excellent training could be used to produce postcards.
The creation of postcards
Around 1910, Felle employed up to six illustrators in his own studio at peak times in order to cope with the endless inflow of orders. Felle created his drawings and artwork himself with great care on location and was therefore often on the road as a traveling artist.
In addition to his drawing work, he also used photography to create templates for his postcards. For simpler orders, he used cameras and created picture templates that were later colored by his employees. To make this process more efficient, he set up his own darkroom and learned the basics of photographic technology.
Panoramic postcards
Eugen Felle specialized in creating detailed panoramic postcards, which were often designed from a bird’s eye view. These postcards offered not only geographical accuracy, but also artistic interpretations of landscapes and cities. For tourists and locals in particular, they were a popular reminder of their homeland or places they had visited. Felle’s works were not only recognized in Germany, but also internationally and were exported to various countries.
His success was based on an original combination of the traditional art of drawing and modern printing techniques. Chromolithography in particular played a central role in his work. This process made it possible to print colored images by using several stones, each for one color. Felle used this technique to produce his unique, detailed postcards.
With his combination of artistic talent, technical knowledge and entrepreneurial flair, Eugen Felle created an impressive body of work. His panoramic postcards are still treasured collector’s items and are evidence of his extraordinary talent.
Factors determining the value of a postcard by Eugen Felle
Eugen Felle gestaltete topografische Ansichtskarten von kleinen Gemeinden, aber auch von größeren Städten an. Die Auflagezahlen standen im Verhältnis zur Größe des Ortes. So sind Karten kleinerer Ortschaften seltener und in der Regel entsprechend teurer.
Origin
Felle’s postcards were printed in Isny, Kempten, Munich and Dresden. The postcards were distributed by various publishers or retail outlets that had commissioned the postcards.
Age
About 1895 to 1925
Condition
Frequently traded postcards should only be purchased in perfect condition. In the case of postcards showing small towns and villages, quality restrictions can be accepted.
Rarity
The artist’s postcards are not always rare, but in addition to local collectors there are also many general collectors. This means that some postcards are difficult to find.
Characteristics
In addition to postcards in the standard format, Felle also produced panoramic folding postcards, foldable postcard letters and similar products in different formats.
Images
How to sell your postcards with Stade Auktionen
Contact us
Contact us by phone, e-mail or via the contact form for personal consultation.
Let us take care of your request
Whether you wish to entrust us with an extensive legacy, your entire collection or parts of it – we will appraise everything with utmost respect.
Your treasures in the best hands
We will make sure that your treasures get into the right hands as quickly as possible.
Our satisfied customers
Our network of partners and collectors from all over the world
Frequently asked questions
Find out everything you need to know about selling your postcards.
The value of old postcards can only be accurately determined by an in-depth valuation by our experts. It depends on various aspects, including age, origin, rarity, condition and the artist’s fame. Postcards that originate from historically significant personalities are particularly highly valued.
You are welcome to send us scans of your postcards for an initial assessment. Please note, however, that this alone is not sufficient for a final purchase decision. In order to offer you a precise purchase price, we need to carry out a personal appraisal of your collection. We avoid quoting lump sums without prior inspection, as we do not consider this to be serious. However, you are welcome to let us know your price expectations.
Your postcards should be older than 1945. Whether the postcards are written on or were sent by post is generally irrelevant. It is much more important that the postcards are in a collectible condition. We do not buy badly damaged postcards.
You are very welcome to visit us in our store in Grenzach-Wyhlen, where we can offer you personal advice and examine your collections.
If you are unable to visit us personally, please send us your postcards by post. Please send them by insured parcel post and enclose a cover letter with your asking price, address and telephone number.
Stade Auktionen GmbH & Co. KG
Markgrafenstr. 5
D-79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen
We can also collect legacies or extensive collections from your home.
The following conditions apply for consignments:
- The consignor may only consign postcards, stamps and other documents over which he has sole control.
- Consignments can be made at any time and will be included in the next auction.
- The starting prices are generally determined by the auction house. They are based on the current market situation.
- The auctioneer is entitled to accept underbids up to a maximum of 20% of the starting price.
- If the consignor withdraws the goods for reasons for which the consignor is responsible, an expense allowance of EUR 100 per hour shall be payable for the inspection and valuation of the items to be auctioned, but at least EUR 100 per order.
- The sales commission for the auctioneer is 22% of the hammer price. If the hammer price is up to 500 euros, the sales commission is 30% and the insurance costs are 1% of the hammer price. The statutory value added tax is levied on this. Postage costs for any returns shall be borne by the consignor. We charge a fee of 2.50 euros per lot for processing large lots and 1 euro for individual postcards.
- The auctioneer cannot accept any liability for auctioned goods. He therefore takes out special auction insurance for the account of the customer, which insures the auctioned goods against all risks within the scope of this contract. The sum insured is 1% of the hammer price.
- If the consignor withdraws the goods for reasons for which he is responsible after the auctioneer has already advertised the goods in the catalog or on the Internet, the goods shall be deemed prepared for the auction and the auctioneer shall settle the order with a further expense allowance. This includes the lost commission of 20% of the starting price of the lot. In addition, the processing fee of EUR 25 per lot, up to a maximum of EUR 300, must be reimbursed. Fees for inspections that are necessary, at the auctioneer’s discretion, will be invoiced separately after consultation.
- Billing takes place 6-8 weeks after the auction.
- Advances are possible for good consignments.
- The place of jurisdiction for all parties involved is Lörrach.
Please understand that we cannot accept consignments of less than 100 postcards.
When selling an inherited collection of postcards, it is important to preserve their condition in order to achieve high sales proceeds.
Make sure that the postcards remain in their original condition:
- Avoid creases, scribbles and changes to faded writing.
- Do not remove any stamps, as this can reduce the value of the postcard.
- To protect against moisture and dust, the postcards should be cleaned with a dry brush and stored in protective sleeves.
Such measures help to maximize the value and attractiveness of the collection for other collectors.
Sell your postcards with Stade Auktionen
Do you want to sell a collection but don’t know how much your postcards are worth or how to sell them? Send us a message and we will take care of your request as soon as possible.