If you browse souvenir shops for postcards you may never send, you might want to consider taking up deltiology (the study and collection of picture postcards) as a hobby.

In 1945, Professor Randall Rhoades of Ashland, Ohio, coined the word which became the accepted description of the pastime, although it did not appear in a dictionary for another 20 years. The word comes from a derivative of the Greek for "writing tablet" and the suffix "-logy," to denote "the science or discipline of" something.

The hobby became popular at the end of the 19th century, when postcards started being mass-produced and internationally distributed. The first postcard was published in 1869, and by 1875, 231.5 million “open letters” had been sent in the member countries of the Universal Postal Union.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, deltiology has become one of the most popular types of collecting. It’s popularity is due in part to mass production, ease of availability, and the of diverse topics (geography, travel, history, art, technology, sports, etc.) portrayed on the cards. Worldwide, deltiology is the third-largest collecting hobby, after stamp collecting and coin/banknote collecting. Postcard clubs may be found in many countries; and these clubs, as well as related organizations, frequently host postcard shows.

The word may not be in widespread use, but the hobby certainly exists.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org