PORTLAND, Maine — Before texts, emails, and social media, people shared their lives through postcards: small, handwritten notes paired with photographs from nearly every corner of the world.

That’s the spirit behind this year’s Portland Postcard Show, where tables are stacked with thousands of pieces of paper history and the stories that come with them. The event draws longtime collectors, first-time buyers, and even travelers from out of state.

Mike Blood, an eBay seller that goes by The Postcard Dude , has spent years surrounded by postcards. He calls himself more of a dealer than a collector but said that doesn’t make him any less passionate about the pieces he handles.

“A new box of cards that I know is decent, a cup of coffee on a Sunday, and some music,” Blood said. “Not really

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