13/08/2016
TINTIN
Published by
Moulinsart Sundancer
Ref: 005
When I was much younger, and still at school, one of the things to look forward to during the summer holidays was the children’s morning television programmes, and my favourite was ‘Herge’s Adventures of Tintin’. This animated series came in short little episodes and the frustration of only getting the story in short bite size pieces lead directly to me buying and reading the comic books. As a result, I have been a lifelong fan.
The company ‘Moulinsart’ have been issuing ‘Tintin’ postcards for many years now and as a result there are well over 100 different postcards available, by them.
This one here is a cracking image of Tintin, and his dog Snowy, riding on top of an elephant. Have bought Tintin cards by this company both in Belgium, the home of Tintin, and here in the UK, but I have never seen this particular card on sale (this one here was kindly sent to me by a reader of my PPM article) so I think this one might be a bit harder to track down.
I adore it when people come together and share opinions, great site, keep it up.
SUPERB Post.thanks for share..more delay.
13/08/2016
JOHN LOGIE BAIRD
With a telechrome device, circa 1942
Published by the
SCIENCE MUSEUM, LONDON
© 2007
“After a serious illness in 1922, John Logie Baird (1888 – 1946), the television pioneer, devoted himself to experimentation and developed a crude TV apparatus, able to transmit a picture and receive it over a range of a few feet. The first real demonstration was within two attic rooms in Doho, London, in early 1926, and by 1927 he managed to transmit pictures by telephone line from London to Glasgow. The telechrome device was the world’s first multi-gun colour television tube”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
Today I re-visited the Science Museum in London, a particular favourite of mine as I love the aeroplane/aviation hall. This postcard here was actually bought on my last visit several years ago. It is sadly no longer on sale (copies occasionally appear on eBay priced around £3) but then, like many museums, the Science Museum changes its postcard output with each change of special exhibition.
For someone like me who collects ‘Television’ related postcards what could be better than a postcard depicting the inventor of television himself, John Logie Baird. I have a postcard which depicts a painting of Baird but this card here is the first, and, so far only, card I have which depicts a photograph. It is therefore a favourite of mine (in my television general collection, which contains TV postage stamps, TV licences and licence stamps, magazines, leaflets and other TV related memorabilia I actually have a sheet of paper signed by John Logie Baird).
The descriptive text on the postcard here fails to list all of Baird’s TV achievements and firsts. He was the first person to transmit a colour TV image, the first to transmit a TV image to a screen on an aeroplane and his invention assisted with the final success of Radar, which directly lead to the UK surviving and winning the Battle of Britain during WWII.
12/08/2016
BAMFORTH COMIC POSTCARD
Published by
BAMFORTH & CO., LTD
Ref:
“COMIC” Series No. 1836
A couple of weeks ago I put this postcard as the header on the webpage connected ‘facebook’ page, so, I thought I should probably actually place it on the webpage itself.
This is a classic ‘Taylor’ design and is in the then traditional front format of top placed text within a white boarder with boarder decorations down each side.
This one fits nicely into my television collection because of the comments made. I like the fact that even then the television was referred to as the ‘Telly’.
12/08/2016
FLORIDA MANATEE
Published by
GULFSTREAM CARD Co., Inc
Ref:
SEC48
“Florida’s Manatee’s at play. This endangered species is found in all of Florida, and they do prefer fresh water. These playful mamals [this is actually spelt wrong in the text – spelt with just one ‘M’] were referred to as mermaids by sailors several hundred years ago”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
In 2013 I managed to achieve one of my ‘bucket list’ things and actually got to swim in the wild with manatee’s. Jo and I had booked up a day trip which included a number of excursions, including this wild swim. I was delighted to be the first person on our boat to spot a manatee in the water and had entered the water and was away before the guide finished the sentence “you can get into the water now if you want”. On and off I spent two hours swimming with a number of these, to my mind, glorious animals and enjoyed some time feeding a baby manatee that spent some time under our, by then static boat.
If you ever visit Florida, and have any interest in wildlife, I totally recommend this activity, it is a smashing day out.
12/08/2016
CLEOPATRA
FILM POSTER POSTCARD
Published by
MAYFAIR CARDS
Ref:
FP 869
Magic of the Movies Series
I have previously posted a film poster postcard depicting another poster for this 1963 film. I explained some of the history behind this film on that posting, but, I could not resist posting this smashing painted poster image, one I had not previously seen on postcard. I think this one is a cracker.
11/08/2016
CAIRO – CHADOUFS
Published by
THE CAIRO POSTCARD TRUST – CAIRO
Ref: Serie 627
Postcard image depicting water gathers at a well. This is an Egyptian postcard from 1916 which was posted to Chelmsford, Essex in the United Kingdom by a soldier serving during World War 1. Although the image is a nice one I openly admit that it was the reverse side which caused me to buy this postcard, i.e. its military connections.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Posted
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
(Written in pencil across the top – then signed by the sender, signed as a ‘squiggle’ under CARD in ‘POST – CARD’ across the top)
The hand written message is dated ‘May 3, 1916’. The FIELD POST OFFICE double ring cancellation is dated 6 MAY 2016, but unfortunately the number at the bottom of this cancellation is unclear due to poor inking. But, despite being unable to make out the cancellation number the card has clearly been sent by a soldier serving in Egypt, or who was in Egypt on rest from somewhere else in the middle east campaign. The card also has a nice purple triangular PASSED BY CENSOR cachet (No 2746). This triangular form of censor cachet was in use in the Middle East between 1915 and 1919 (the same style of triangular censor cachets were used in France from 1915 until sometime in 1916).
11/08/2016
GOOFY and MAX
‘GOOF TROOP’
CEREAL BOX POSTCARD
Goofy’s son Max first appeared in the Disney animated children’s TV series called ‘Goof Troop’, which ran, originally from 1992 to 1993 (a total of 65 episodes). This image here, with Goofy about to be eaten by a large shark is a proper Disney copyrighted picture. The edges of this particular copy have been cut out quite well as this postcard needed to be cut away from its original packaging source. In America it was not unusual (and may even still be the case) for postcard to be printed on the back of cereal boxes, and other boxed consumables, but it was the cereal box ones that people remember (these are not so well known in the UK and I can think of only one occasion when I came across such cards – Tony the Tiger cards on Kellogg’s ‘Frosties’ packaging – but these ones were plain backed when you cut them out).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here you can see the light grey, cheap type of packaging card that this image has been printed on, thus showing the origins of the card. You can even, just, see the slotted line along which the ‘cereal consumer’ had to cut to remove the postcard for use. I like postcards which have an unusual source and this is a good example, but, not the first I have posted (if you check back I posted some Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes examples on a much previous posting).
11/08/2016
MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANY
EXHIBIT IN DISNEYLAND
In Tomorrowland
“The CHEMITRON… in Monsanto Chemical Company’s Hall of Chemistry… symbolizing for visitors the amazing processes of chemistry… that transforms eight basic materials found in nature into thousands of chemicals and plastics”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
According to my excellent book – ‘DISNEY A TO Z’ by Dave Smith – the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry was a display in the Tomorrowland area of the Disneyland park in California. It ran from July 17th, 1955 until September 19th, 1966.
This is a very collectible postcard, but it is one which can be found for a wide range of prices on eBay, so I recommend looking around if you want one of these – at the moment on eBay there are about five copies priced between £3.50 (but the quality is questionable) up to £13.50. I have seen copies priced at $20 in America, down to $5 (again the quality is dependant). I was fortunate and actually obtained my copy at an antiques fair in Florida (yes I know, wrong Disney Park area!) for just $3 (the only one on eBay at that time was the $20 one – so I was delighted).
MONSANTO – WHERE CREATIVE CHEMISTRY WORKS WONDERS FOR YOU
IN DISNEYLAND
In Disneyland
“Millions have visited Monsanto Chemical Companys’ Hall of Chemistry, one of Tomorrowland’s most popular attractions. Inside the fascinating exhibits tell the story of Monsanto – Where Creative Chemistry Works Wonders for You”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
This postcard is a nice companion card to the artwork postcard displayed above. This one shows a photograph of the same room, although the hand on the ceiling is the other way around here. It is not unusual for artwork Disney postcards to be more valuable than photographic ones, and in this situation this is definitely the case as this card here can be found for around the £2 to £5 mark. It was certainly cheaper for me at $2, and from the same source as the above card.
MONSANTO’S HOME OF THE FUTURE
In Disneyland
“Monsanto’s ‘Home of the Future’… a showcase of future living. Here – in direct contrast with the medieval castle looming in the background – is a fascinating preview of the wonders and conveniences that await you in your home of the future”
(Text from reverse side of the Postcard)
Again my excellent books states that this was a display in Tomorrowland in Disneyland, California. It was open between 12th June 1957 and sometime in December 1967. Apparently it was a four-winged cantilevered house which was built from plastics. It was filled with, what was then, futuristic furniture, appliances and gadgets, including an intercom. Unfortunately, over time the real world caught up with the houses ideas and it was no longer quite so futuristic. This resulted in plans being made to tear down the house in 1967. There is a very amusing fact related to the house and that is that when it came to the day of breakage they had intended to use a wrecking ball. But, when the house was hit by the ball the house had been so well built the wrecking ball just bounced off it! In the end the workers had to take the house apart bit by bit using saw and crowbars. I love this story and, it is apparently true.
A cracking, and unusual postcard and another early ‘Disneyland’ collectible card (this one can bought for anything between £2 and £13 depending on condition – but the £2 card currently on eBay has an £11 postage charge, so not so cheap for us UK residents!)
10/08/2016
SUICIDE SQUAD
I went to see the new ‘Suicide Squad’ film last night, my youngest son Peter treated me to the night out. As previously mentioned I am a fan of comic book adaptations (and collect Superhero related postcards). My review of the film would go something along the lines of, one of the better DC based films, and I did enjoy it, but still not as good as the Marvel films (and not as good as the Batman films, BATMAN BEGINS – THE DARK KNIGHT – THE DARK KNIGHT RISES which I think are the best DC character adaptations). My favourite character in the film was Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie) but some of her comic timing was slightly off, but it was a good try. Is it worth seeing if you like comic book adaptations? Yes? If you don’t? I suspect, maybe not.
JOHN-PAUL BOVE
Comic Book Artist
Seeing the film yesterday reminded me of some images I bought from a stand at the 2015 Autumn/winter Memorabilia show. The pictures were drawn by John-Paul Bove. Three of these in particular depicted characters which appeared in the film.
HARLEY QUINN
THE JOKER
BATMAN
They are not really postcards but printed photographs which the artist sells on his stall. But, I liked the images so much I bought a handful of these, and they are postcard size. I show these three in celebration of the film.
10/08/2016
FOYER DU LEGIONNAIRE
SIDI BEL ABBES
Published by
Edition * La Cigogne* 20, Boulevard Carnot, Alger [Algiers]
Ref: 522
I have struggled to find much about this building but if I am right it was a place where the French Foreign Legion could go to relax and be together off-duty (a type of entertainment centre for the soldiers). But, to be fair this is not confirmed. The postcard only cost me 20p and I bought it hoping that it was related to the French Foreign Legion because I have very little related material. Any help with the history of this building would be appreciated.
09/08/2016
THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES DEFINITIVE STAMPS
LONDON OLYMPICS 2012
ROYAL MAIL
D (PHQ) / STAMP CARDS
5TH January 2012
Is it wrong, or a surprise that I don’t actually know what the Rio Games logo looks like? I don’t think I have actually seen it yet. I was obviously aware of the London 2012 logos for the Olympic Games and the similar Paralympic Games. I knew this logo even before these stamps were released at the start of 2012. These are great cards which are improved when found with the actual depicted stamps applied to the front and cancelled first day of issue with a special hand stamp. Because these stamps were definitive, and not commemorative stamps they were issued in the ‘D’ series of stamp cards and not the PHQ series – thus they have a ‘D’ number.
D32 (1) 1.12
OLYMPIC GAMES 1st CLASS STAMP
08/08/2016
Congratulations to Adam Peaty
on winning team GB’s first Gold Medal of the Rio Olympic Games
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
(with a World Record time of 57.13 seconds)
Peaty is the first British man to win an Olympic Swimming Gold Medal since Adrian Moorhouse, who won the same event in Seoul in 1988
POSTCARD
XXIV OLYMPIAD SEOUL 1988
“Britain’s First Gold Medal in the Seoul Olympics won by ADRIAN MOORHOUSE for 100metres Breaststroke”
Published by
PH TOPICS
Ref: No. 35 (SJ Series No. 4)
Artist
Stephen Johnston
08/08/2016
THE ART OF THE BRICK: DC COMICS
EXHIBITION EXCLUSIVE TO POWERHOUSE MUSEUM, SYDNEY
Published by
AVANTCARD AUSTRALIA
Ref: #19465 (released 2015)
“Created by legendary LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya, this contemporary art exhibition is the world’s largest collection of DC comics-inspired LEGO artwork, ever! See over 100 Super Heroes and Super-Villains, exclusive to the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney for a limited time”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
If you check back and take a look at the ‘July Blog 2’ TAB you will find the companion card to this one, which depicts a Lego made ‘Superman’ (Card Ref #19464). This image here clearly depicts Wonder Woman and the two cards sit nicely together (I did not have this ‘Wonder Woman’ card when I posted the Superman one, so it was a nice find when it was contained in a selection of postcards from Australia – so many thanks to William Allan who sent it to me). Superheroes (and villain’s) are a specific collecting theme of mine so I really like these cards.
08/08/2016
LONDON 2012 – OPENING CEREMONY
TOUCHNOTE – courtesy of SAMSUNG
During the 2012 Olympic Games people could send a free postcard image via the Touchnote ‘App’ on their mobile phones or computer. This promotion was sponsored by Samsung. You just needed to pick a photograph of your own and then type in a message and the whole thing was then sent off and was printed at the receiving end and then posted out as a real, and often exclusive, postcard. The postcards were posted out from the island of Guernsey and had a PPI (Postage Paid Indicator) printed on it as postage. The reverse side also has the Olympic Rings logo, which is only available for use by official partners and sponsors (the logo is actually quite rare on 2012 postcards because of the cost of such sponsorship).
Fortunately for me Richard Phillips was aware of the promotion and, rather appropriately considering the reason for the sponsorship, used an image taken at the London opening ceremony. A fascinating card which would be much sought after by any Olympic collector.
08/08/2016
DISNEYLAND
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Ref: 1-331
TOMORROWLAND AUTOPIA
“Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, along with youngsters of all ages, drive real gasoline powered “Mark V” automobiles on Tomorrowland’s popular Super Autopia Freeways”
A nice combination of real photograph with cartoon characters added to make the image more appealing. I was intrigued that the cars are gasoline powered as they have a similar attraction at Walt Disney World in Florida (I have ridden the one in Florida on a few occasions – and although restricted it can still be some fun – there is also one in Disneyland Paris which again, I have been on).
This particular card was bought at an antiques fair in America for $2.
08/08/2016
PETER PAN PLAYGROUND
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
Published by
‘A SAPPHIRE CARD’
Ref: ES2153
This lovely view card depicts a 1970’s photograph of the Peter Pan’s Playground (I have always known it as ‘Peter Pan’s Playground’). This was, and still is an amusement park on the seafront. This is interesting to me as this is how the area looked when I attended as a child, but the only thing still here now is ‘The Crooked House’ (an old favourite of mine) – everything else in this picture has now gone. The lake area on the right has now been filled in and is where a ride now sits. This is a smashing postcard for any collector of old Southend images and will (and does) bring back memories of how ‘Pan’s’ used to be.
08/08/2016
QANTAS AIRWAYS
QANTAS – FLYING THROUGH ITS 50th GOLDEN YEAR
“AVRO 504K, 1921. Pilot and 2 passengers. 65 m.p.h. Intrepid passengers flew in this, Qantas’ first aircraft, on taxi trips and joy-rides.”
This photograph of Qantas’ first plane has been printed on gold shiny card which has been used to celebrate the fact that Qantas was celebrating their 50th anniversary. Although no date is actually printed on this postcard I suspect it may be from either 1997, which was when Qantas Airways celebrated the 50th anniversary of the full Qantas services on the Kangaroo route between Australia and United Kingdom, and the 50th Anniversary of services to Japan, or from the 1970’s (maybe 1970 or 1972) which is the actual 50th anniversary of the start of the companies flying originally as ‘Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. If I had to lay money on it I would say this is from the 1970’s as the card is sized for that era – so that would be my best guess.
07/08/2016
SHANE MELISSE
Comic Artist
WASTE MATES!
Shane Melisse was an artist I met at the Memorabilia Show I last attended at the NEC Birmingham (2015). He had this plain backed postcard sized card for sale and I like collecting these and getting them signed by the artist whilst I am there. I noticed that Shane also had this same image on a smaller sized sticker for just 50p. So, I bought the sticker and had it applied to the reverse side of this card (see below)
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
(Plain Backed)
So here you can see the sticker applied to the card top left. Shane Melisse then kindly signed the card and drew a little face and wrote ‘CHEER’S MATE’ across the bottom. I think he was pleased that I had combined the card and sticker, and that I was clearly a collector, and that is why I think I got the extra face cartoon. What I ended up with here is a cracking little unique souvenir of my visit.
I’M BRINGING YOU DOWN
Artwork by
Shane Melisse
Another plain backed postcard sized artwork card issued by the comic artist Shane Melisse. There was no sticker depicting this illustration but the card fitted nicely with the other one, shown above, which I had also bought. Shane also very kindly signed the reverse side of this card for me (see below)
07/08/2016
AL SCARFACE CAPONE’S ARMOURED KILLER CAR
THE KURSAAL
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
Photo by
Edw. A. Doo Ltd., 45 & 47, Alexandra St, Southend-on-Sea
This is a great locally produced, Southend-on-Sea postcard. Until I saw this image I was unaware that Al Capone’s car had visited the Kursaal here in my home town. With a little bit of research, I have found that the car came over in 1933 and there is actually a piece of Pathe Newsreel showing the car being driven in Southend (check it out on the internet). Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion in 1932 so this visit of his car came about the following year. The car had been specially built for Capone and was bullet proof. Despite my research I have not found the exact reason for the cars visit but I expect it was for some sort of financial gain. For any local historian this is the type of postcard which is packed with interest, unfortunately though, it is not a cheap on at around £20 - £25.
SILVIA “SILLY” BALLAYDINI
Artist
Silvia Ballaydini was another artist that I met at the NEC Birmingham ‘Memorabilia Show’. She is an illustrator with a nice approach to her drawings. This plain backed, postcard sized, card depicts a witch motif which appealed to me (I am not sure but this might have been the only card on her stand).
Again I requested the card be signed and Silvia has kindly signed the card bottom right side, and dated it 2015. If you ever visit the ‘Memorabilia Show’ do pay a visit to the artist’s area, and see what cards you can find.
07/08/2016
ROBOT CHICKEN STAR WARS
Free Advertising Postcard
“STAR WARS. ROBOT CHICKEN. TOGETHER AT LAST! Witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational half-hour special, as the nerds behind this stop-motion trainwreck on ADULT SWIM thoroughly violate the Star Wars universe! Wow. If someone wasn’t fired for this, it’s a freaking miracle”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
This postcard was released to promote the release of ‘Robot Chicken – Star Wars’ on DVD. If you have never seen ‘Robot Chicken’ then it is best described as a stop-motion puppet show which is funny, and, often a little rude.
07/08/2016
NEVER EVER AFTER
Designs by
Chris Baldie
This is another NEC Birmingham ‘Memorabilia Show’ find (2015). This company produces a lovely range of cards which depict a character, or characters from a film, Television series or literature related theme, and takes a quote from them and combines these to make simple, but highly attractive cards.
I only bought four of the designs, but each of these fits nicely into a favourite theme of mine.
JIM HENSON
“MY HOPE IS TO LEAVE THE WORLD A LITTLE BETTER FOR HAVING BEEN THERE”
Design by
Chris Baldie
Card signed by
Chris Baldie
On the front – Bottom front left corner
TERRY PRATCHETT
“IN ANCIENT TIMES CATS WERE WORSHIPPED AS GODS; THEY HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THIS”
Design by
Chris Baldie
I am a huge Terry Pratchett fan and have read all of his ‘Discworld’ books and I was saddened by his death in March 2015. This design here is a nice remembrance of him.
I actually had the pleasure of meeting the man himself many years ago when a local Chelmsford theatre group put on a play of his book ‘Interesting Times’. My wife Jo knew someone in the theatre group so obtained tickets. Terry himself attended and enjoyed himself and myself, and some others, had their programme’s signed by Terry, my one is still in my collection.