15of 15
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 15 messages
  • July 28, 2013 10:51
10K
added
50K
prices
100K
reviews
25
posts
July 28, 2013 10:51

As far as I understand, the Theme field in the Postcards section is intended to include recognizable themes collected by postcard collectors. An important and thriving theme area are the so-called free cards. These are free postcards that are (usually for promotional purposes) given away, distributed, etc.

Ever since 1993, the Association for Documentation Picture Postcards (and since 2003 the Boomerang Fan Club) has published an annual catalog containing all (hopefully all...) freecards that were released in the Netherlands in the year in question (Boomerang Advertising Post, Eten bij, Zondag, Cityboard, Filmmuseum/Eye, etc. etc. are issuers of freecards in the Netherlands). If you just look at the Netherlands, freecards have quickly become an important thematic collecting area within postcards. But it has become an international phenomenon: freecards are also issued in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, UK, USA, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Hungary, etc. etc. etc.

In terms of theme, a freecard is not always a promotional card. Boomerang, for example, one of the most important freecard publishers in the world, issues many freecards every year, only part of which has a promotional purpose. Often half of the cards distributed via a Boomerang rack in a cafe, for example, do not have an advertiser pursuing a promotional goal, but a card that responds to current events. For example, catalog number 1058845 , which commemorates the death of Herman Brood. A free card indeed, but certainly not a promo card.

In the past period I have provided a large number of cards with the Freecards theme, but these changes were invariably rejected by a co-administrator. Given the above explanation, I think a Freecards theme is warranted. What do others think about that?

And perhaps it is an idea to clean up the themes related to promotional cards. I came across the following related issues:

Book: Promotion card

Concert: Promotion card

promo cards

Promotion

Promotion Flevoland

Promotion card

Comic: promotional card

provincial promotion

Promoting Flemish education in Brussels

Sincerely, Eric

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,215 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:05
100
added
250
prices
100
info pages
50K
reviews
2.5K
posts
July 28, 2013 12:05

In my opinion "freecard" is not a theme, unless the image on the card relates to freecards (such as 917891 ). Rather, it is a type card.

Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to make that distinction in the section, so that you cannot, for example, distinguish the greeting cards (Christmas, birthday) from the actual place-related postcards cards and picture postcards with general images.

The theme field is often used improperly to delineate certain collection areas. Those who are going to compile the general theme register must first of all clearly define what the term theme entails.

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 15 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:22
10K
added
50K
prices
100K
reviews
25
posts
July 28, 2013 12:22

I agree with you that the concept of theme should be clearly defined, but perhaps we can do some preliminary work here and start a good discussion about it.

According to Van Dale, a theme is a subject about which one thinks, speaks or writes. So that's not much use to you. When I look at the definition used by the VDP (Association of Documentation for Picture Postcards, where I sit on the board), then everything that is collected, documented and published in the field of postcards is a theme. Perhaps the two most important themes within our association are topography and free cards.

What I think is the proliferation and confusion is not supporting layering within themes: for example cars and then BMW, and then model Z8. New themes are then created for this, resulting in long lists of themes starting with Comics.

As well as not packing roughly equivalent themes together (eg expositions and exhibitions, which I believe have been merged!).

Or not merging identically intended themes: Promotion and Promotion Card.

But I hope everyone agrees that the Freecards theme is a standalone theme!?!

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,215 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:33
100
added
250
prices
100
info pages
50K
reviews
2.5K
posts
July 28, 2013 12:33

An example to clarify my point: the Stamps theme is completely legitimate. It is also used in other sections, and it even exists in the stamp section. But it is a misconception that all stamps should have that theme.

You have to distinguish between the form and function of the item on the one hand and what the item represents on the other.

This also applies to topography and freecards. In the sense you assign to them, they are not themes, but card types.

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 15 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:40
10K
added
50K
prices
100K
reviews
25
posts
July 28, 2013 12:40

I understand what you want to say. If you define as a theme that what can be seen on the card, then Freecard is not a theme, nor is it a promotional card. Within the VDP we also use a different definition of theme, namely a cross-section from, among other things, a collector's point of view.

But if you use the definition of what can be seen on the map, you immediately need an additional field, namely 'kind of postcard'. And one of the types is freecard.

Do I understand you so well?

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,215 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:43
100
added
250
prices
100
info pages
50K
reviews
2.5K
posts
July 28, 2013 12:43

That's what I meant. I called it "type", you say "kind of postcard".

"Kind" is indeed the term that Catawiki uses everywhere.

(By the way, I keep finding postcard a better name than postcard.)

By the way, in the stamp section "theme" usually stands for "motif", which also often makes it more clear what is meant with cards. (Although the terms do not have the same meaning.)

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 15 messages
  • July 28, 2013 12:46
10K
added
50K
prices
100K
reviews
25
posts
July 28, 2013 12:46

We mean the same! That is nice! I am in the process of closing an e-mail to Ted with wishes regarding the collection area Postcards and I hope he can take this with him.

And I totally agree: picture postcard is a better name (the VDP where I it is not for nothing that the board is not called VDA ...), but the postcard is a bit better established in one way or another.

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • 31 messages
  • March 07, 2014 21:13
1K
added
50
prices
10
info pages
25
posts
March 07, 2014 21:13

To pick up on the theme discussion, I think that Catawiki users and searchers will lose their way if we continue as we are now.

Take a picture postcard freecard or postcard with a palm tree. This can now be placed under trees, but also under something someone has created as trees: palm

Unfortunately, these general and elaborated themes are becoming more and more common and then also in plural and singular

dog

dogs

animals: dog

animals: dogs

a good example is also given above with the promo cards.

I work a lot with databases and know that it is possible to replace apparent duplications in the database with 1 of the alternatives. If we can now record agreements and make the adjustment, it is then important that we all continue to choose the right thing. Is it possible to stop the proliferation now?

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • 31 messages
  • March 07, 2014 21:17
1K
added
50
prices
10
info pages
25
posts
March 07, 2014 21:17

By the way, another question about Catawiki, especially the translations. What about theme translations? If I enter a theme animals: hippos, will it be translated into English in Catawiki UK? (and French and German)? Or do I also need to add the themes in other languages for international sales?

Thanks in advance for thinking along

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,415 messages
  • March 09, 2014 23:53
500
added
500
prices
50
info pages
250
reviews
2.5K
posts
March 09, 2014 23:53
As manager of the Postcards section, I think that all themes should be entered in the plural. After all, a map belongs to a collection / group with the same characteristics (theme) and there are more. I had to think long about the specification themes, but I think it should be, for example, Animals and then separately the animal species. After all, there are people who collect all the animals and there are people who only collect everything from that one animal. The theme field is an open field, because everyone has their own way of classification and because we want to be a user-friendly catalog, that possibility is there. The themes Animals: dog, Animals: dogs, Animal: Dog, Dog and Dogs are actually all meant the same and I think that for the sake of clarity and the above reason, the only correct solution is to connect that map with 2 themes: Animals and Dogs . And when it comes to a specific breed also the specific breed. As an administrator I will try to unify those kinds of themes into some clear themes, but that takes time, so be patient! It has not been discussed with the administrators yet so what i have said before is only my own view on this! Of course I hope the other administrators agree with this too. I have yet to sort out your question about the language issue, but maybe another administrator can help you with that.
Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,433 messages
  • March 10, 2014 11:38
10K
added
10K
prices
25
info pages
500K
reviews
2.5K
posts
March 10, 2014 11:38

By the way, one more question about Catawiki and in particular the translations. What about theme translations? If I enter a theme animals: hippos, will it be translated into English in Catawiki UK? (and French and German)? or do I also have to add the themes in other languages for international sales?

Translations are - unfortunately - not performed automatically, but are an extra action for the administrators. As a result, it occurs in the database that some themes or place names appear several times in the catalog.

As far as I understand, the Theme field in the Postcards section is intended to contain recognizable themes. which are collected by collectors of postcards.

True and we use the plural form here, because a theme is not specifically about 1 thorn, but about several thorns.

In my opinion "freecard" is not a theme, unless the image on the card relates to freecards (such as 917891 ). Rather, it is a type card.

Then there should be an extra field: Card type? What types are there?

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 1,756 messages
  • March 10, 2014 12:06
2.5K
added
5K
prices
10
info pages
25K
reviews
1K
posts
March 10, 2014 12:06

True, and here we use the plural form, because a theme is not specifically about 1 thorn, but several thorns.

Still, but that would be in the very near future can only change in this way, because plural forms of nouns in Dutch are often identical to verbs or an activity in terms of spelling. A theme such as fishing is actually very unclear, is that about the content of an aquarium or about working with fishing rods and landing nets?

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • 34 messages
  • March 10, 2014 12:33
25
posts
March 10, 2014 12:33

Still, but that could change in the very near future, because plural forms of nouns in Dutch are often identical in spelling to verbs or an activity. A theme such as fish is actually very unclear, is that about the content of an aquarium or about working with fishing rods and landing nets?

For this aspect, a tree structure or the introduction of more themes are the solution. Then you automatically get the distinction between "Animals: fishing" and "Sport: fishing", the latter may also be called "Activities: fishing", if it is decided that fishing is not a sport.

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • Catalogue administrator
  • 2,415 messages
  • March 10, 2014 18:54
500
added
500
prices
50
info pages
250
reviews
2.5K
posts
March 10, 2014 18:54
And how do you do when you collect animals? Then you cannot select that or each sub-selection (eg Animals: Fish) must also have the theme Animals.
Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
  • 34 messages
  • March 10, 2014 23:52
25
posts
March 10, 2014 23:52

If the choice falls on the possibility to enter more than 1 theme, then "Animals" and "Fish" are two separate themes that are attached to the item. To see all animals, select only the theme "Animals" and do not choose an additional theme. When entering a new item, when choosing a theme with multiple meanings such as "Fish", a selection list can appear for the correct selection, while with a theme such as "Tigers" the main theme "Animals" is automatically added.

In a tree structure you choose the overarching theme "Animals" and then you see all animal items.

Message has been translated from Dutch
Show original message
15of 15