24/12/2016
ICELAND
MOPHILA NAPOSTA 85
HAMBURG
11TH TO 15TH September 1985
EXHIBITION POSTCARD
Postcard issued by Iceland’s post office as an exhibition postcard. The postcard image depicts the artwork used on the 9k red Marine Life – Sea Anemone stamp issued that year (1985). An actual copy of the stamp has been attached top left and this has been cancelled with a special hand stamp produced for the Mophila Naposta 85 stamp show, held in Hamburg. A simple but very attractive card used with a nice stamp.
24/12/2016
SUNSHINE CITY
Antiques & Collectibles Show
St Petersburg
January 13th – 15th 2017
Free Advert Postcard
This modern advertising postcard promotes an antiques fair in America to be held in the new year. What I liked about it was the fact that it uses an old postcard image as its main picture. This old postcard image depicts the same location as where the advertised fair is being held, St Petersburg, Florida. A free postcard is always nice, especially when it is a well-produced one.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARDS
Full Details of the event are given here
24/12/2016
Untitled Postcard
(TURKEY)
Published by
LOGOM DESIGNS
Design by
Carrie May (2015)
Ref: PC01
Today’s Christmas offering depicts the traditional Christmas Day dinner meat of choice, although the Turkey looks much happier here and appears to be joining in the celebrations. This was bought in another ‘paperchase’ branch.
Happy Christmas Eve everyone
ENLARGEMENT OF STAMP & SPECIAL HAND- STAMP ON REVERSE SIDE
(This was another postcard I posted in the Stanley Gibbons special ‘Post Box’ – see posting at bottom of this Blog page)
23/12/2016
A MANDARIN DRAKE
19th Century
Watercolour over graphite on paper (15 x 19 cm)
By
EUGENE DELACROIX
Published by
THE COURTAULD GALLERY
(The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London)
Ref: C- 36929X
‘The Courtauld Gallery’, in London, is in ‘The Strand’, at the entrance to Somerset House. If you like art postcards it is worth a look. I bought a handful on my most recent visit to London. This Mandarin duck painting was one that appealed to me.
23/12/2016
UNTITLED POSTCARD
By
UNKNOWN PRINTER / PUBLISHER
HUGGY BEAR
Played by
ANTONIO FARGAS
Autographed by Antonio Fargas on the front
Huggy Bear was of course one of Starsky and Hutch’s informants (although really a friend after a while), in the American Cop series called ‘Starsky & Hutch’, after the names of the two main officers in the series. The original series ran from 1975 to 1979 and as a kid I loved it.
This, is why, when I later had the chance to meet Antonio Fargas at a Memorabilia Fair, I had to obtain his signature. David Soul was also at the event and I obtained his signature too (I will post these, as I obtained two, another time).
23/12/2016
YE OLDE PRIVY
Published by
FIDDLER’S GREEN
(FUN CONSTRUCTION CARDS)
Ref: #92
I recently posted another of these Fiddler’s Green construction cards (see Dec Blog 3) with a promise to hunt down one of the older cards which I informed you had much more interesting reverse sides. So, here you have the ‘Ye Olde Privy’ postcard.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Hopefully you can see what I mean here. Compare this packed out reverse layout to that of the previously posted postcard reverse, which was much more precise and clean. This one here is more ‘cluttered’, filled with small and large images and information. This is why I much prefer these older, original versions. And, who can resist a postcard depicting a toilet.
23/12/2016
CHESSINGTON ZOO, THE MODEL VILLAGE
Printed and Published by
Harvey Barton & Son Ltd., Bristol
Ref: C5701
A nice early modern black and white photographic postcard of the model village at Chessington Zoo. I remember visiting Chessington Zoo as a kid, when it was still a real zoo, before it turned into a theme park with a few animals at the centre. This postcard is mint so I have no exact dating information but I suspect this is early to mid - 1960’s (although there is potential for this to be late 1950’s depending on when the model village was constructed which is something, I have, as yet been unable to ascertain).
23/12/2016
BUTLINS
A TYPICAL BUTLINLAND INFANTS PLAYROOM
Printed and Published by
JOHN HINDE LIMITED
Ref: 3T 2
Butlin’s postcards have a real following with many dedicated collectors out there. I suspect that this has a lot to do with all the people of my age (and slightly older, and younger) who had childhood holidays in the Butlin’s camps. Me and my brother were taken to the Minehead Butlin’s camp for three holidays whilst we were kids, and we loved it. It is my fond memories of these holidays which has led to me building up a small collection (I collect those for all the camps, but it is the Minehead ones I cannot resist). I was too old to have used any of these infant playrooms, but I wanted this postcard for another reason. It was Noddy, on his motorcycle, that caught my eye. His presence means this makes an unusual entry into my Television themed collection.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
The location where the photograph on the front was taken is not recorded but it was posted from Bognor Regis, and there has been a Butlin’s Camp here since 1960, although prior to that Butlin’s had an amusement park on this same plot going back to the 1930’s.
The 5 ½p Machin Queen’s head stamp has been cancelled with a slogan cancellation:
The Samaritans
Distress Despair
Phone Bognor 25555
In confidence
The cancellation is dated 3rd June 1975, so this dates from the era of my Butlin’s holiday, and, as stated above, is cancelled Bognor Regis. I like slogan postmarks and have a small collection of these on postcards.
23/12/2016
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (1) 11.16
SNOWMAN
(2nd Class)
I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the chance to show you these Royal Mail 2016 Christmas stamp cards before Christmas ‘actually’ arrived, but, fortunately they turned up today. These stamp designs are coloured drawings of traditional Christmas items within a cut patterned paper boarder, different for each design. Being able to see the larger postcard images I find that I quite like these, and the choice of special hand stamps used match nicely with the stamps images.
So today, these are my Christmas offering…
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (2) 11.16
SNOWMAN, LARGE
(2nd Class LARGE)
A larger version of the above Snowman stamp design
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (3) 11.16
ROBIN
(1st Class)
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (4) 11.16
ROBIN, LARGE
(1ST Class LARGE)
Again, a larger version of the above stamp design. This one is also my favourite of the set, although the hand stamp here is the only one that does not feature the same item as depicted on the stamp design, but still a nice one though.
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (5) 11.16
CHRISTMAS TREE
(£1.05 Value)
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (6) 11.16
LANTERN
(£1.33 Value)
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (7) 11.16
CHRISTMAS STOCKING
(£1.52 Value)
This is a bonus card design for anyone who collects Teddy Bears
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (8) 11.16
CHRISTMAS PUDDING
(£2.25 Value)
(TOP)
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (9) 11.16
MINIATURE SHEET
The whole miniature sheet is depicted on the postcard but because of the actual size of the sheet this is another occasion where two copies of the card are required to collect the entire sheet itself, across both cards. On this card, you have the left side of the sheet attached.
(BOTTOM)
CHRISTMAS 2016
Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards
PHQ 423 (9) 11.16
MINIATURE SHEET
Here the right side of the miniature stamp sheet has been applied, in a way that allows you to see the image of the same part of the sheet on the cards image. Here two strikes of the special hand stamp were required.
22/12/2016
AQUARUPELLA
Advertising Sales paper bag
There is a certain paper-bag size which stores use to place in the postcards, and similar sized card items, that you buy from them. Some of these paper-bags have subsequently been used as advertising material by the placement of printing on the bags. Although collecting these bags would be a bit extreme there are one or two which have adverts for postcard printing/publishing companies. This is one of these, which I still have the postcards in that I bought at the time. Aquarupella have issued some very nice postcards down through the years and clearly had their name placed on this paper-bag, along with the list of countries where their items are on sale.
22/12/2016
DAMNERNSADUAK FLOATING MARKET
RAJBURI, THAILAND
Published by
THAI SILPA
Ref: PC. 464
One of the well-known floating markets located in Thailand, many of which are visited by tourists. This postcard here was posted to France and the stamp has been cancelled with a ‘Bangkok Airport’ circular hand stamp (I wonder if it was posted upon arrival or as the sender left the country?). Unfortunately, I can-not make out the date on the hand stamp so do not know what year this was sent.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I don’t have too many Thailand postcards, especially posted ones so my Thailand stamp collection is quite small. Stamps also help give some dating information. Obviously the date the stamp was issued is a finite backwards date for the posting year. The stamp used here is 1963 definitive 4b (BAHT) black and bistre stamp depicting King Bhumibol. This definitive set was in use until 1972 when a new series was issued but the stamp would have remained usable even after this. I have a feeling this postcard here was posted in the early 1970’s but obviously, I can-not confirm this without further information.
22/12/2016
NEW YORK CITY LOOKING SOUTH BY NIGHT
Published by
‘ALMA’ - ALFRED MAINZER INC (27 – 08 40TH Ave, Long Island City, N. Y. 11101)
Ref: 1560
(Printed in Italy)
A typical New York postcard depicting the skyline at night. My interest in these postcards relates to my television collection as the story of early American television broadcasting history is tied to the Empire State Building, the tallest building depicted in this photograph.
22/12/2016
DOVER CASTLE
Published by
ENGLISH HERITAGE
Ref: 61761 Dover Postcard
Poster styled image which depicts Dover Castle with a flight of four Spitfire fighter planes flying above. I bought this postcard at Dover Castle in the English Heritage gift shop. The shop at Dover Castle is a superb place for postcards as the range was quite large, and I have already posted a few on the webpage. This one is another cracker.
22/12/2016
MERRY CHRISTMAS – FROHE WEIHNACHTEN – JOYEUSES FETES
Set of four free postcards sent out by a Dutch company called BAKKER (Bakker.com), although their items, I believe are sold through the ‘Spalding Garden Company’ who sent these cards to their customers. The four postcards shown here were sent out for Christmas 2015 (sent out at the end of October). Judging from the front text on the four postcards they have been designed to be used in more than one country, a trick that saves printing different country versions. The postcards are not titled or described, and have no reference details on the reverse side (there is just a stamp box, address lines and a centre dividing line). They also came in a strip of four joined together with perforated edges, top and bottom. So there is little to say about them except that there is no better time to depict them here than this week.
22/12/2016
GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
XXXVIII GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
AUSTRIA STAMP ISSUE
MAXI-CARD POSTCARD
30TH JULY 2004
This is an official Austrian postcard issued to coincide with the release of a postage stamp issued to celebrate Arnold Governor, born in Austria, being the Governor of California.
I found this in a ‘sales’ box this year, where everything was a £1. I thought this was an unusual postcard, and one I had been unaware of. I remember the publicity around the release of the stamp, which I thought was an unusual issue. I was though, delighted to find out that a postcard was produced for the stamp to be applied to and cancelled with a related special first day of issue hand stamp. It just goes to show what can be found at a stamp show, where postcard collectors are willing to search for something a bit strange (and in my world, this is a strange card).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here is a list of some of Mr Schwarzenegger’s achievements
22/12/2016
I’M SENDING YOU THIS P.C.
WHY DON’T YOU SEND ONE TO ME?
Published by
BAMFORTH Co. Peekskill, N. Y.
‘WHY NOT WRITE COMICS’
Printed in U.S.A
Ref: No. 13554
I bought this postcard whilst in America and was initially surprised to find that it was a ‘Bamforth Co,’ postcard as this company is a well-known British company. This postcard was also printed in America and appears to have been authorised for use in the USA. But, here you have an image that is, without a doubt, a British police officer (after all, I should know!). My American compatriots did not have quite the same helmet as we here in the UK have worn, and still wear. They had something similar, as can be seen from the below images, but if you look closely these are not the same. Also, it is only the ‘British Bobby’ of literature and comic images that looks this rotund (although twenty-five years ago, I worked with a couple who were not unlike this character here in girth!) I wonder how many Americans buying this postcard in America immediately realised that this is clearly a UK ‘Bobby’? I also liked the irony of an American postcard depicting a UK policeman being bought in America by a serving UK policeman, and brought to the UK for his collection.
PHOTOGRAPHS
As you can see here the early American ‘Cops’ did have a type of helmet, but it is not the same as the thing that I have worn for the past 29 years (and I still have, and wear, my original helmet as issued when I became a PC, it must almost class as an antique by now!). The helmet depicted on the above postcard has all the hallmarks and traditional shape of a UK Police helmet.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here you can see all the references indicating American printing and distribution
22/12/2016
A HUNGRY ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA
Published by
MFG. BY TICHNOR BROS. INC (160 NO. WASH. ST.. BOSTON. MASS)
“TICHNOR QUALITY VIEWS”
(Made only by ‘Tichnor Brothers’)
Ref: 172 (65140)
I have seen wild alligators in Florida, several of them, including quite a large one on this year’s holiday. Alligators are all over Florida and you can arrange trips to see them in the natural habitat or, like me, you can visit Merritt Island, a large natural wildlife reserve and find them for yourself (this is where I saw a ‘really’ big one). Because they are so common they have been associated with Florida since the inception of postcards and therefore they appear on a ‘large’ number of them. This is quite a well-known design and was a popular local postcard. I bought my copy from an antiques fair, this year.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Posted from LAKEWORTH, FLORIDA receiving a wavy line slogan cancellation dated 27th February 1939
22/12/2016
PENGUIN PYRAMID
“HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Published by
The art group
Ref: X31676
(Sold in branches of ‘paperchase’)
Who could possibly resist a pyramid of ‘fluffy’ penguins? This is todays ‘Christmas’ offering and it is a comical, and delightful one (I bought this a couple of weekends ago in London – check out your local ‘paperchase’ store and see if they have this).
21/12/2016
FELDPOST
(‘FIELDPOST’)
PANZER FIELDPOST CARD
Doch froh ist unser Sinn, ja unser Sinn, es braust unser Panzer wie Sturmwind dahin
(But our sense, yes our sense is happy, our tanks such as Stormwind are there then))
This is a World War II German army ‘Fieldpost’ postcard, designed to be used by a soldier as a free form of correspondence from the front line and rest areas. I have previously depicted World War I German and French ‘Fieldpost’ cards, but this is the first WWII one I have depicted. They were cheaply produced in reasonable numbers and are plain on the reverse side. There is an area top left for the sender to fill in their details, thus supplying the details as to why they were allowed, to access, this free postal system.
The address goes in the normal far right section whilst the message would be written, mostly in pencil I find, on the reverse side. Bottom left is a small propaganda image, here a panzer tank and the panzer logo. Down the centre line is propaganda text (see above).
This copy here has been written on but has no postal marks so may have been completed but the writer failed to get the opportunity to post it. This brings up all sorts of possibilities, but without some ‘extreme - investigation’ (and someone to translate the sender’s details) it may be some time before I could find out more. In the meantime, it is a nice WWII item.
21/12/2016
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
By
UNKNOWN PUBLISHER / PRINTER
Postcards were of course not invented as a collectible for the likes of me and others. They were designed to be a cheaper form of postal correspondence. They have of course been used to send messages back and forth between people ever since, and, up until the much more widespread use of mobile phones and social media. So, we sometimes forget that very simple post cards were produced for the mundane, but essential transfer of information. This postcard here is a good example of a very simple, cheap, postcard designed for people to allow relatives and friends to be advised of a change of address. These are not considered as collectible, and are ignored by many collectors, but for me they are ‘Real’ postcards.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
You cannot get more simple than this
21/12/2016
MERRY CHRISTMAS 25 DEC
“PHEW! SO, THIS IS DELTIOLOGY”
“Greetings and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year”
Published by
I ANDREW (CARDS)
A Christmas postcard sent out by Ian Andrew who was a card dealer. This smashing image has Father Christmas carrying a huge sack of postcards up to a door. His very exhausted ‘Rudolf’ can be seen behind him.
The speech bubble makes use of the word ‘DELTIOLOGY’. This is a word that was invented to cover the interest, study and collecting of postcards. It was a word that came from America and which was mostly used there. Although it is used here on a UK postcard the word never really gained much popularity in Great Britain and Europe. In the UK, we tended to stick to the more-simple, and obviously descriptive ‘Postcard Collector’ as our title. But, this word, Deltiology, does exist and is often referenced as the technical description of someone like myself (even though I don't like the word), so if you see it mentioned on any American postcard or in any literature you now know what it means (even my ‘spell-check’ accepts it, but then it is the American version).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here you can see the Christmas Greetings text, printed in red. Ian Andrew has also signed this copy which adds a little more to its collectability, and makes it a little more unusual (I have an unsigned one in my collection somewhere as well).
It is interesting to note that although this postcard is a publicity Christmas card from Ian’s original company, Ian went on to be the founder of the company ‘Packs & Cards’, who supply my Royal Mail PHQ Stamp Cards, and who sent me the bar of chocolate recently as an Xmas gift (see posting at the bottom of ‘Dec Blog 3’ page for image).
20/12/2016
WONDERGROUND GALLERY
WALT DISNEY WORLD
FLORIDA
Original Artwork of
“MARCH OF MISCHIEF”
By Artist
Sydney Hanson
I have mentioned before that ‘Robin Hood’ is my favourite Disney animated film. It is perhaps an unusual choice but I saw it at the cinema and loved it as a child.
I first saw this Wonderground postcard on eBay, and as usual it was ‘really’ expensive, so, I really hoped I would be able to obtain a copy whilst visiting the Theme Parks and the main Wonderground Gallery shop. Unfortunately, I failed to find it in any of these locations. Fortunately, as previously mentioned, I found some Wonderground postcards in the Disney outlet store outside of the Disney world. I was delighted that this was one of those available here. So, I did get a copy and at less than half of the normal price these cost. Bargain.
20/12/2016
THE CHIEF
Published by
L. H. LARSEN, KANAB, UTAH
Ref: No. 34 Copyright 1938
(Also has the reference Number 32637)
“Taken from an original oil painting by the noted cowboy artist and poet, L. H. “Dude” Larsen”
This is a postcard I bought in America last month, during my holiday in Florida. It was one of the postcards bought at a large outdoors antiques market/fair. I like history and especially history related to a country I am staying in. Therefore, this image appealed to me, and it only cost me $1.
20/12/2016
A LITTLE HELLO FROM ME
PINK FLAMINGO
Published by
‘paperchase’
Ref: FSC C014059
A very simple, but very attractive postcard bought recently in a branch of ‘paperchase’ in London. I have always liked postcards depicting birds, photographic or artistic, and this one appealed to me.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I have mentioned before my liking for postcards where something interesting, or attractive has been done with, or printed on the reverse side. On this postcard, they have placed a little pink copy of the Flamingo that appears on the main card design. The use of any colour on the reverse side of a postcard lifts it up from the norm in my opinion.
20/12/2016
CHRISTMAS
FRANCE 1998
Published by
CREATION – FIRST DAY COVER – MARQUE DEPOSEE – PARIS
Carte Philatelique
Modele Deposse – Exclusivite E.P.P.
Tonight’s Christmas postcard is from France and has a rectangular Father Christmas on ski’s image printed on a silk rectangular which has then been attached to the front of this postcard. Underneath this image three Christmas 1998 French Christmas postage stamps have been applied. These each depict a comical looking snow-boarding Father Christmas. They are three stamps from a five-stamp set, although the other two stamps depict a decorated house. The three stamps applied here have the same value but have different coloured backgrounds. So, from left to right you have a violet background (SG 3541), a yellow background (SG 3543) and a green background (SG 3545). The stamps have been cancelled with two first day of issue hand stamps.
CLOSE UP OF SPECIAL HAND STAMP
Taken from the reverse side of this postcard, where often you will find a clear strike of the hand stamp applied to the front of the postcards issued in this format.
19/12/2016
STANLEY GIBBONS
CHRITMAS POST BOX
The Stanley Gibbons shop in The Strand, London has had a special Post Box placed inside their world - famous shop for a special Christmas offer. People attending the shop can post an envelope or postcard in this post box to have it cancelled with a special hand stamp. People can bring their own items for posting or they can use free exclusive postcards which Stanley Gibbons have had printed and which are on a stand next to the post box. Just over a week ago, I attended and posted some items to myself.
ONE OF THE TWO FREE POSTACARDS AVAILABLE
The image on the front depicts an old hand painted envelope which has an image of a Robin on it. This version has a red background.
SECOND OF THE TWO FREE POSTCARDS AVAILABLE
This has the same robin painted envelope as appears on the above postcard only this time it has a wooden fence background design.
The reverse side of both postcards are the same and have a nice feint faded image of a Victorian 'Penny Black' stamp which can still just be seen on this scan on the far left side.
PHOTOGRAPH
Here is a photograph of the post box and the stand with the postcards
PHOTOGRAPH
Close up of the postcards and the leaflets
LEAFLET
There was a leaflet which explains the offer from Stanley Gibbons, basically that you can post any item in the post box for free, although you would need to place a postage stamp to cover the postage.
POSTED POSTCARDS
REVERSE SIDES
And, here are my two posted postcards received during the following week. Unfortunately, for some reason, they were not postmarked with the Stanley Gibbons hand stamp that was promoted on the leaflet above. My cards have a Mount Pleasant ‘Christmas Greetings’ special hand stamp. I don’t know why this was the case, but I have still ended up with two very nice philatelic postcards.
I did not see anyone else post any items whilst I was there, and it was early on a Saturday as well!
19/12/2016
LAND’S END
YOUR CACHET COLLECTORS CARD
Published by
COLLECTOR’S POST ROOM, LAND’S END
There has been at least one cachet available at Land’s End since 1901. The design has changed down through the years, and as you get into modern years there were sometimes more than one, or the same one used in different colours.
This postcard was designed as a souvenir postcard for the collection of the cachets that were available at that time. Four different red cachets have been applied to the front of this, slightly larger than normal postcard.
In my 2011 edition of the Stanley Gibbons ‘Collect British Postmarks’ (The Handbook to British Postmarks and their Values) there is a chapter on Tourist Cachets. Here it states that this type of red cachet application has been use since 1994, but, since then there has been a proliferation of different versions used. It is therefore difficult, without exact details, to know when this postcard had its cachets applied, but, I believe it was post 2000, I am going with around 2004 (there was a circular ‘Land’s End Post Room circular bird cachet first used in this year – but it was not the first, so I could be wrong).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
What might have helped to date this postcard would have been a date stamp. The sender of this postcard got so excited about their cachet collecting that they forgot to place an actual postage stamp on the card. As a result though, it does have a rather neat 40p TO PAY red boxed instruction mark (they are called an instruction mark because they instruct, or tell, the postman what is required – in this case the collection of 40p).
19/12/2016
BELGIUM POSTAL STATIONERY CARD
13F Value Pre-Printed Avocet postage stamp
Used
19th December 1987
CHRISTMAS
I originally bought this card for my bird collection as the pre-printed stamp depicts the lovely avocet birds. These nest in my home area at the start of each year and there is an organised ‘Avocet Watch’ where people volunteer their own time to keep an eye on the nests to prevent eggs being stolen. This is after an incident about seven years ago, when several their eggs were taken. This is a shame as they are delightful birds who have a glorious black and white plumage. This is also why they were probably chosen as the bird to appear on the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) official logo.
But, the card appears here today as my Christmas offering as the special hand stamp depicts the manger scene, and celebrates Christmas Day and the nativity. There is also the nice coincidence that the hand stamp is dated 19th December 1987 – twenty-nine years ago, to the day.
Print 