Denny Edinger, Bluffton postal employee, brought in a crowd to the Maple Crest "Men-N-Friends" group as he presented his antique post card collection on May 25.

Edinger and his wife, Jane (resident services coordinator at Maple Crest), who have always enjoyed antiquing at flea markets, found themselves drawn to colorful, quaint post cards, particularly holiday cards.

When they discovered that each card could be purchased for $1 or $2, their collecting days began. Since then, the Edingers have collected post cards dating back to 1905, and have hunted for unique ways to display them, including creating paperweights out of them, and framing individual cards for sale in an effort to share this distinct art form with others.

During the program, Edinger explained that post cards are classified into seven eras, beginning in 1893. The Edingers' personal collection starts in the third era (1901-1907) when post cards still had an undivided back were first called "post cards."

During the fourth era, post cards received the divided back, and many can be traced to a specific artist. For example, Schmucker post cards, of the John Winch company, are among the most collectible and valuable cards.

Edinger's favorite "Schmucher-Winch" card is his own 1914 Christmas post card of a little girl puckering up to kiss Santa Claus.

Edinger's post cards sparked animated conversation during the gathering, and many Maple Crest men and their guests pulled out post cards they had brought along to "show off."

Among the treasures were Sally Reeder's 1909 post card photo of her Father at age three, and Bob Hilty's 1881 post card addressed to his great, great grandfather, Peter Hilty, and sent from Kansas to Bluffton.