Considering letterheads are (or were) the most obvious examples of a company's identity, they seem almost neglected today as a collectable. As archivists and those writing corporate histories well know, even major corporations tend not to keep the earliest examples of their own business records. Those that survive are more likely to be found in the files of former employees, or even customers.

For example, a Mr Ainsworth from Earlwood, who decided to keep the parcel voucher from February 1927 when Grace Bros made a delivery to his house. Mr Ainsworth also kept the parcel tag, which includes handwritten directions to the driver – “Block 79, 4th house in sight”.

It's an interesting reminder of how business was done 80 years ago. This could well be one of the few Grace Bros parcel tags in existence yet when it and the voucher ended up in David Gazzard's shop (see right) he gave them a token value of $5 each.

There are collectors who specialise in the commercial ephemera of one company and Grace Bros would be a likely candidate. Myer and David Jones would be other suitable subjects. A collection of printed ephemera from any of these would surely be worth something one day.

There are several known collectors of letterheads, the value of which is determined by the age of the piece, condition, the quality of design and whether it has been printed in colour.

The most expensive one Gazzard sold was a 1905 letterhead from the Sydney Soap and Candle Company showing the gold medals the company had won at the 1880 Melbourne Exhibition – it fetched $30.

It's not just the top of the page that is important, in some cases the information below is also of value, like the series of to-and-fro correspondence between Leo Stark, a US actor then based in Kings Cross, and the newly formed Australian Broadcasting Company Ltd.

The ABC letterhead, dated 1932, is from the Office of the Directors and could have been the first from the corporation to use full-colour printing.

Some of the letters to Stark are personal messages from Stuart F. Doyle, the chairman of directors.

“I have nothing of interest to report,” he writes in one, “except that the Sydney stations can use you a couple of times a week, which would perhaps keep you going for the time being, until such time as something better turns up.” Further letters show that Stark was becoming increasingly unhappy with his treatment and legal action is threatened before Doyle abruptly terminates the correspondence.

This underlying drama makes these official letterheads all the more valuable.

Similarly fascinating is a letter of reference, dated 1948, from the manager of the Glaciarium ice rink in George Street, Railway Square to a Mr T. Richards, a former employee who had been working for the company as a nightwatchman.

He was a “good worker, honest and punctual” and accompanying letters show this is the same Tom Richards who played on the famous 1908 Wallabies team. Other collectors would be more interested in the striking design of the Glaciarium logo, featuring a palette shape and modernist flowing typeface. Some letterhead collectors are primarily interested in the graphic design elements.

Commercial ephemera is still considered a small niche in the market but according to the laws of supply and demand, indications are that it could take off soon. You can still pick up interesting specimens in the $5 to $10 range, with exceptional pieces, especially those from the 19th century, priced from $25 to $30.

This subject rates a chapter in Vivienne O'Neill's excellent book, Yesterday's Paper: Collecting Ephemera in Australia published by Carter's in 2007.

She shows several fine examples of letterheads, business cards and billheads, collected mainly for their design and historical significance.

O'Neill's book shows this largely ignored subject is now being taken seriously and that people can start collecting cheaply.

My collection

David Gazzard, owner of the Nostalgia Factory in the Southern Highlands town of Kangaroo Valley (between Nowra and Moss Vale), has featured previously in this column because of his passion for postcards.

Another of his interests is letterheads and related business ephemera, including examples shown on this page.

Although letterheads were once considered of no particular value, Gazzard is finding more and more people are becoming interested but prices are still reasonable at this stage.

Instinct tells him this may not always be the case.

A former AMP representative, Gazzard first opened his Nostalgia Factory shop in Manly before relocating to Kangaroo Valley. He was one of the first to specialise in selling printed ephemera and now plans to build a special room to house even more of his various collections.

$5

When Grace Bros was known as The Model Store, their parcel vouchers looked like this one from 1927, dated February 18.

$10

This early full-colour letterhead for the Australian Broadcasting Company (now the ABC) is a piece of history. Collectors seek out rarities like this that are in good condition.

$30

Andrews & Sons promoted itself as "the oldest firm of Monumental Masons in NSW". In 1939, it used a letterhead similar to the one it would have used when the business began.