24/07/2016

BOEING B52 BOMBER

Published by

CROSSROADS POSTCARDS

Ref: No. 64

“Boeing B52 Bomber, landing at Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. Back from the Persian Gulf (Winter 1991)”

 

Here you can see an image of a massive American USAF B52 Bomber landing at the RAF Fairford airbase. Fairford is the only airfield that can accommodate these really impressive planes. The image here is taken from the 1991 Gulf War operations.

The bombers were back here for the 2003 Iraq War and with all the anti-war feelings and marches and protests that were going on there was a requirement for police officers to be moved into the area around the perimeter of the airfield at Fairford and deal with any issues that arose.

This is how I found myself at Fairford. Leaving aside any views on the conflict itself, it was impressive seeing these B52 Bombers taking off and landing, and at one point we were allowed onto the base and were resting on the grass edge alongside the runway and had superb close up views of the B52’s coming in and flying out. At the time I was there they were mainly doing propaganda runs, dropping thousands of little ‘dollar note’ sized propaganda leaflets/sheets. I was lucky enough to speak to one of the Americans on the base and he, very kindly, got me one of these propaganda sheets. This has remained in my collection and I depict it below.

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

I have an interest in special handstamps and have had many of my cards used to receive them. In 1999 there was a very nice ‘THE GULF WAR – 17th JANUARY 1999 – WHITEHALL, LONDON SW1’ cancel which depicted a fighter plane, ship and tank. I had it applied to a number of my Gulf War cards, including this one (left hand side). Then in 2001 there was another related handstamp – ‘10TH ANNIVERSARY – END OF THE GULF GROUND WAR, WHITEHALL, LONDON SW1, 28/02/2001’ which depicted a nice campaign shield. Again I had this one applied to this card (right side). These handstamps increase the value of the postcard and add extra interest and, who knows? It may be the only one done like this.

 

PROPAGANDA SHEET

This is the propaganda sheet given to me by an American airman. The item is double sided. These were being dropped by the B52 bombers at the time I was at Fairford

 

 

OTHER SIDE OF PROPAGANDA SHEET

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  • William Allan (Monday, July 25 16 09:37 am BST)

    Can remember a similar situation in 2005 when George Bush flew into Prestwick airport for the G8 conference in Scotland - police were guarding the entire airport perimeter, about 30 metres apart, for
    the whole conference time. Police from as far south as Norfolk I think were drafted in leaving each Scot with a hefty bill for several days disruption.

 

24/07/2016

 

MERRITT ISLAND

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Roseate Spoonbill

Ref: 41. 7

“This bright pink bird with a flat ‘spoonbill’ is one of over 500 species of wildlife easily viewed on the refuge. The MINWR [Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge] is one of 540 refuges in the refuge system”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

 

Merritt Island is where I go to do my main birdwatching when I visit Florida. I have one whole day where we visit here and I go around the island, which is HUGE, and see what birds I can find. I have seen more than 50 species in a single visit here. Unfortunately, because of the months I visit, I have only actually seen one spoonbill here, and that was in flight over the refuge (as I am going much later in the year this year maybe I will have more luck with this species).

When I speak with fellow birdwatchers visiting Florida I always recommend this location as the range of what can be seen is magnificent. I have even seen wild Manatee’s swimming here.

But it is mainly birds I visit here to see, and there is one very special bird which can, pretty much, only be seen here on the Island – see below.

 

MERRITT ISLAND

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Florida Scrub-Jay

Ref: 87. 6

“The Florida Scrub-jay, an endangered species, is commonly seen on the Scrub Ridge Trail at MINWR [Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]”

 

This is a very endangered species and if it was not for the isolation of Merritt Island (which is, as named, an island so is separated from the mainland – you cross a bridge to access it) the bird may even now be extinct. It is a Merritt Island success story. Although it states that the bird is ‘COMMONLY SEEN’ on the Scrub Ridge Trail on my first visit I walked all around this without seeing a single bird. When I got back to the car park another birdwatcher, who was fascinated that a British birdwatcher had travelled all the way there to see this bird, explained that a few had been seen off trail and showed me how to get there. He also gave me some peanuts and said that if I saw the birds I should put the peanuts in my hand and stand very still. After another short walk I did indeed see the birds in a short tree off the path. I did what he said with the peanuts and was, after only a few minutes, totally amazed when a fully wild, and extremely rare, Florida Scrub-Jay landed on my hand and started to eat the peanuts. On that day I saw three of these birds. That was 2012.

When I returned in 2015 I again went around the Scrub Ridge Trail. This time I was lucky and saw a Florida Scrub-Jay in a tree some distance away from me. I lifted my binoculars up to my eyes, but it was gone, the tree was empty. Then, suddenly, something big and heavy landed on my hat. I lowered my binoculars and very carefully lifted my hat and brought it down in-front of my face. And there it was, I was face to face with a wild Florida Scrub-Jay. Nothing in my many years of birdwatching comes even close to this experience.

If you are a birdwatcher, or are fascinated by wildlife (there are wild alligators, American Bald Eagles, Pelicans here, and Bobcats, although I have never seen a Bobcat, but one did make some very aggressive noises at me and Jo when we were walking a certain part of the Island – it was hiding in the undergrowth) then I recommend taking a day away from the world of Disney and Harry Potter and driving out to Merritt Island, you will not be disappointed.

 

24/07/2016

 

MICKEY MOUSE AND GOOFY

ON TREASURE ISLAND

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Ref: 0111-0375

“Mickey Mouse and Goofy uncover a buried treasure chest, possibly washed ashore with this old shipwreck on Treasure Island. The Walt Disney World tropical island attraction is home for hundreds of exotic plants and birds and one of the world’s largest walk-through aviaries, Smuggler’s Roost.”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

 

Treasure Island was an actual island which Disney bought in 1965. It opened as ‘Treasure Island’ in April 1974 as a place to see wildlife. The island’s name was later changed to ‘Discovery Island’ (which I have discussed before when I posted an aerial view postcard of the Island). I visited Discovery Island back in 1993 on my very first visit to Disney World and I have very fond memories of it. The island has long since sadly closed and can now not be accessed, although many people travel past it in small boats transporting them from Fort Wilderness to either the Contemporary Hotel or the Magic Kingdom (and back again of course).

This particular postcard shown here is actually very collectible and regularly sells at £5 or more on eBay. I bought my copy at a dealers stand at an American antiques fair/show – it cost me $5 (worth every cent/penny).    

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Nice blue printing throughout

 

 

24/07/2016

    

THE LYNN TAIT GALLERY

Ref: LT.G.72

1990

No 72 The Lynn Tait Gallery

59 High Street, Old Leigh

 

Yesterday was a lovely sunny day so Jo and I decided to take a train to Leigh-on-Sea and then walk back along the seafront from there all the way back into Southend – about 6 miles. Our journey, naturally enough, started with a walk through Old Leigh (with a stop off for some crayfish tails from the seafood stall). We walked past No 59 which is where the Lynn Tait Gallery was based before it moved to a much larger shop space further down the road. I have fond memories of this small establishment and had forgotten about it until I saw this postcard again.

Lynn Tait is a well-known local celebrity, especially to any local postcard collector, as she has produced some of the best modern Southend area view postcards. I have collected these for many years and have met Lynn a few times, both here in the original little shop and in the larger one when that first opened. But, the first time I saw Lynn was when she gave a display and talk on old Southend postcards to a women’s group that my mother was a member of (I sneaked an invite). At the end of the display I had a chat with Lynn. She is now a major contributor to a facebook group based on ‘Old Southend’ which I am also a member of. She posts many of the postcards from her fantastic collection (and I sneak one or two on as well – but am in a much lower league). Lynn can be seen in the picture bottom right with her advertising cycle.

(And, as an afterthought – me and Jo survived the walk and enjoyed our day)

 

 

24/07/2016

 

LUNDY ISLAND

PUFFINS

Published by

J. ARTHUR DIXON

Ref: W.L. 1175

“These quaint seabirds, sometimes known locally as Sea Parrots, are here seen on Lundy in the Bristol Channel. The rocky island off the North Devon coast is one of their favourite haunts”

 

Items of mail, postcards and letters, posted on Lundy Island require payment of a carriage charge for the cost of transporting the item from the island to the mainland, where it is placed into the Royal Mail system. This carriage charge payment is shown by use of a local Cinderella stamp(s). The values are shown in the islands currency of ‘Puffins’. The Cinderella stamp applied to the front of this postcard is a 1 Puffin stamp. The Lundy Cinderella stamp(s) need to be applied to the front of the postcard (and to the reverse side of envelopes) as Post Office regulations do not allow them to be placed on the address side of mail. Posted items are not scarce as many visitors send them out, but this one here is a nice little one as it depicts puffins and one of these appears on the cinderella stamp.   

The items posted also the full Royal Mail postage to be paid, and this stamp(s) are then placed in the normal spot on the address side (see below).

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

As can be seen here this is a genuine usage and not philatelic and, as with all items posted here the Royal Mail stamp has been cancelled with a BIDEFORD, DEVON cancel, in this case a machine wavy line cancellation. This postcard was posted in June 1960.

There is a massive Lundy Island collectors circle and related postal material is very much collected (I have three albums of posted material myself, including many postcards, Cinderella stamps, markings and cachets).

 

23/07/2016

TITANIC

“Dollars et monnaie americaine et anglaise”

“Dollars and currency American and English”

Published by

TAURUS INTERNATIONAL

 

This is a smashing postcard which was an exhibition special which shows actual coins and notes which were recovered from the Titanic crash site and which toured as part of the ‘Titanic Ventures/Sygma’ exhibition. These exhibition special postcards can be hard to find and are highly collectible.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

This particular postcard is one of 100 numbered postcards which have been signed by Commander A.T. Lightoller R.N. who was/is the grandson of Commander C.H Lightoller, Second Officer and survivor of RMS Titanic.

C.H. Lightoller was in fact the most senior member of the Titanic crew to survive the sinking of this famous ocean liner. The signatures of family relations of those who survived, and who are well known to Titanic historians and collectors, are very much collected by, what is a fanatical, circle of collectors (I know, as where Titanic postcards are concerned, I am amongst them). I have quite an extensive collection of signed Titanic postcards.

 

 

23/07/2016

 

WYATT EARP

1848 – 1929

Published by

KUSTOM QUALITY

In their:

OLD WEST COLLECTORS SERIES

Ref: 45a

“Lawman, gunfighter, gambler, Earp was a law officer of Wichita and Dodge City. In Tombstone, Wyatt, his brother, and Doc Holliday met the Clantons and the McLaurys in the famous OK Corral showdown. Insert: A replica of the Buntline Special given to Wyatt as a gift. Small photo is a supposed unpublished photo of Earp. (Photo credit: C. Chafin)”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

 

Another postcard from this excellent series (I have previously posted a Custer and a Geronimo card). As previously mentioned, I obtained these from one of my trips to Florida.

One of the things I like about these cards is that I really need to do little or no research as they have excellent mini biographies on the back, and, to be honest, even here in the UK we know about these people and their stories. The Gunfight at the OK Corral is extremely well known (after all we have seen Wyatt Earp played by various actors in films – Kurt Russell in ‘Tombstone’ (1993), Kevin Costner in ‘Wyatt Earp’ (1994) and of course Burt Lancaster in the topically titled ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957))

If you are interested in the story behind the gunflight at the O.K.Corral then I can highly recommend a book titled ‘THE LAST GUNFIGHT’ by Jeff Guinn, which I really enjoyed and found to be fascinating read.

 

23/07/2016

 

PRIDE OF NORTHAMPTON

Summer 2010

Published by

DELICARDS

No. 38 Rrrubik

Artist: Nathan Smith

Located in Abington Park

 

For quite a few years now there have been these multiple painted statue promotions done all over the world. I am aware of a Bear one in Berlin, the Gromit one in Bristol which was titled ‘Gromit Unleashed’. This was followed by a Shaun the sheep one which was held in both Bristol and London (I saw some of the Shaun ones in London). There are also numerous painted cows as well. There are postcards for the Gromit and Shaun statues, and I have one for the Berlin bears so when I saw this Lion one I had to have it. I think these large painted statue projects would be an un usual theme to collect (and it appears I have been collecting them without really knowing!)  

 

 

23/07/2016

 

ROGER RABBIT AND BENNY THE CAR

Published by

ATHENA INTERNATIONAL

Ref: 334291

 

At one time Athena International were one of the UK’s biggest postcard publishers and even now their postcards turn up regularly on dealers stalls and in older modern collections. Although there are a few collectors who actually collect Athena cards as a publisher, more often it is separate cards on certain themes published by ‘Athena’ which are picked up by thematic collectors. This one here would grace any Disney collection and it is a cracker. It is also from a much loved film, and one which was contained a ground breaking mix of live action and animation.

This is also an interesting individual postcard because, not long after its release, there was information circulated within the postcard collecting world that a large quantity of the remaining copies of this card were sent out to an American seller/contact, and as such copies in the UK would become a little more ‘scarce’. So, there is a chance that copies might be easier to find in America, but there are still copies to be found here in the UK as I bought mine in a UK shop at the time. It is still a £2 - £3 card though, and worth every penny (on eBay you may even end up having to pay more – as it happens I am not sure I have actually seen a copy of this one on the auction site – I checked today and there is not one there at this time).   

 

 

23/07/206

PINK FLOYD

(7TH JuLY 2016)

ROYAL MAIL STAMP ISSUE

PHQ/STAMP CARD SET

 

Today the latest set of PHQ Stamp Cards arrived this morning. They celebrate the music of the band called ‘Pink Floyd’. The single stamps depict album covers for the bands records whilst a miniature stamp sheet depicts photographs taken at their concerts.

 

THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

PHQ 417 (1) 7.16

This cover actually depicted the band members – a situation that would not last

 

ATOM HEART MOTHER

PHQ 417 (2) 7.16

The simple image of a cow, and we have the situation where no title is printed on the cover, and for that matter no group or band name either (another thing the album covers went on to become famous for)

 

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

PHQ 417 (3) 7.16

Perhaps their most famous album

 

WISH YOU WERE HERE

PHQ 417 (4) 7.16

Another unusual image used as an album cover

 

ANIMALS

PHQ 417 (5) 7.16

I am not a massive Pink Floyd fan, but, this album is one I do like and is by far my favourite of the bands output. The story of the large floating pig balloon is now famous (look it up its very amusing).

 

THE ENDLESS RIVER

PHQ 417 (6) 7.16

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (7) 7.16

UFO Club, 1966

 

This is the first stamp from the miniature stamp sheet that was issued at the same time as the above stamp set.

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (8) 7.16

The Dark Side of the Moon Tour, 1973

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (9) 7.16

The Wall Tour, 1981

 

I did wonder why ‘The Wall’ album, possibly their most well-known album outside of their fan circle, was not included in the individual stamp set (but then it is quite a dull cover). This stamp does go some way to recovering the loss of the album cover as here on the stage you get see an image from the film version (which starred Bob Geldof and which had images designed and drawn by Gerald Scarfe)

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (10) 7.16

The Division Bell Tour, 1994

 

I know about this one because the concert was filmed and I recently got to watch it on TV

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (11) 7.16

The Miniature Sheet

 

Here we are, back at the situation where the whole stamp sheet is longer than the postcard depicting it (the last one for the ‘Post Office Rifles’ WW1 sheet was smaller and fitted on the single card – see previous PHQ posting). So, again two of the postcards are required.

Here you have the left side of the sheet mounted on the front of the card.

 

PINK FLOYD LIVE

PHQ 417 (11) 7.16

The Miniature Sheet

 

Second card with the two stamps from the right side of the sheet

 

22/07/2016

LA GUERRE DANS LE NORD

“THE WAR IN THE NORTH”

TOMBES D’ALLEMANDS DANS UN JARDIN

“GRAVES OF GERMANS IN A GARDEN”

 

French produced postcard displaying graves located in a garden. This World War 1 postcard has two numbers on the front. There is a ‘24’ located in front of the line of descriptive text located on the right side along the bottom. But, in the bottom left corner is the number ‘549’. The ‘24’ I think is a relevant number and relates to this individual image. This is a brown toned image, quite common for this period, and is one which denotes, in this 100th anniversary year, that both sides suffered loss in the conflict.

 

LA GRANDE GUERRE EN CHAMPAGNE – ARGONNE, MEUSE

“THE GREAT WAR IN CHAMPAGNE-ARGONNE – MEUSE”

(B)RAUX-SAINTE – COHIERE (MARNE)

Le Cimetiere militaire – The Soldier cemetery

 

This postcard, also French, shows a cemetery from the First World War with a number of marked French soldier graves. Look at the contrast between the markings around these graves compared with the German ones on the postcard depicted above. This should come as no surprise as here the soldiers have been buried on their home ground.

Both of these postcards show images which highlight the loss of all those armies involved in the conflict.

 

22/07/2016

 

COAST MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2016 Edition

 

This magazine, available now (I got mine from my local branch of WH Smith), comes with four free postcards. These come in a sheet which is inside an outer plastic see-through bag, which also includes the magazine itself. These are a nice little freebie, although not free if you don’t normally get the magazine of course which is £4.20, but if you like campervans, or beach huts or any of the coast based images used here then the cards are probably worth the expense. I certainly liked them. Interestingly the cards are not actually perforated along the attached edges. These cards would need to actually be cut apart along the dotted lines. Personally I will keep mine in the complete sheet as it looks attractive in that format.

 

THE FRONT OF THE MAGAZINE

 

 

THE FOUR FREE POSTCARDS

At the back of the sealed magazine package

 

 

20/07/2016

CHANTONS SOUS LA PLUIE

“SINGING IN THE RAIN”

Published by

EDITIONS F. NUGERON

Ref: E 37

 

Singing in the Rain is of course the now famous Gene Kelly musical comedy feature film from 1952. Although now a favourite I was surprised to read that it was only a modest hit when first released.

The posters for this film have appeared on a number of postcards but I like this one because it is French (no surprise really as the postcard publisher is a well-known French one). One thing that did surprise me is why the actor Donald O’Connor has been removed from the image. The general design usually includes him on the other side of Gene Kelly from Debbie Reynolds. Why has he been removed?

The images below show other versions of posters which include the grouping and where he is still included, including a French one! (taken from the internet – these are not postcards images from my collection – they are shown here to indicate that it is normal for Donald O’Connor to be included)  

 

IMAGE OF FILM POSTER

TAKEN FROM INTERNET

(Not Postcard image)

FRENCH POSTER

 

IMAGE OF FILM POSTER

TAKEN FROM INTERNET

(Not Postcard image)

 

IMAGE OF FILM POSTER

TAKEN FROM INTERNET

(Not Postcard image)

19/07/2016

SOUTHEND AIRPORT

Unknown Publisher / Printer

Ref: PLC8360

Copy Posted 4th April 1969

 

TOP LEFT – Viscount 812 OF Channel Airways

TOP RIGHT – General View (some clever people amongst you might recognize this image as I have previously posted it as a single postcard image – it actually shows buses and coaches outside what was the main entrance)

BOTTOM LEFT – The Apron

BOTTOM RIGHT – Carvair of British United Airways (when they filmed the James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’ at Southend Airport they included one of these upon which was being loaded Auric Goldfinger’s gold coloured Rolls Royce car – a nice film connection there)

This postcard was sent out from Southend in 1969, all the way to Lancashire, and has now returned to take its place in my local card collection.

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

Although only slightly inked the stamp (Anniversaries 5d picturing a ‘page from the Daily Mail, and Vickers FB-27 Vimy Aircraft’ – SG791 – First Non-Stop Atlantic flight - Alcock and Brown) has been cancelled with a special slogan cancel which depict the pier at Southend.

I also like the message:

 

“Arrived here 12-15 – Safely, every thing alright, trains rather late”.

 

 It would appear the trains in and out of Southend have always had one or two issues (I had one train cancelled last week and another arrive 20mins late…history does repeat itself it seems!)

 

19/07/2016

 

MAMETZ – SOMME

Ref: Nr 206

 

German WW1 postcard depicting destroyed structures, probably building, maybe personal houses.

 

The 38th (Welsh) Division were given the objective of taking Mametz Wood during the first Battle of the Somme. Between the 7th and 12th July 1916 the Welsh division attacked the woods, which were defended by the Germans with strong fortifications and machine gun. The first wave of Welsh was supposed to take the wood in just hours on the 7th July, but, they suffered heavy casualties from the shelling, machine gun fire and fire from the aforementioned fortifications. On the 7th they lost 400 soldiers before even entering the woods. The 17th Division attacked again over the 8th July but proceeded no further.

Sir Douglas Haig attended the HQ and was unhappy (quite mad, in-fact, apparently) and he relieved Major General Ivor Philips, officer commanding the Welsh Division, of his command.

Major General Herbert Watts took over command and planned an attack for the 9th July, but due to planning and organizing of the attack formations this was delayed until the 10th. This attack was much larger in scale and operational order was quite blunt, saying that the aim of the attack on the wood was with the aim of “CAPTURING THE WHOLE OF IT”.  

On the 10th July heavy casualties were again taken in the frontal attack, but this time they reached the edges of the wood and took part in bayonet fighting before being able to enter the wood properly. But, the Germans did not retreat easily and fought for every inch of ground as the Welsh progressed through the wood.  The 14th (SWANSEA) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment went into the attack on the 10th July with 676 men. They lost almost 400 men before they were relieved.

By the 12th July the woods were taken, practically cleared of Germans, but in the process the Welsh Division lost 4,000 men killed or wounded.  

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

Posted by a German soldier of the 29th Infantry Division (see the details in the bottom of the double ring date cancel top right) on or around the 13th January 1917, this postcard was clearly from an earlier period of the war. The Fieldpost cancel, already mentioned, appears top right but, this card also has a nice large rectangular military cachet for the ‘1 BATTERIE – Batt. Nr. 55’ which may be being used here as a censored confirmation mark.

 

ENLARGEMENT OF RECTANGULAR CACHET

 

PHOTOGRAPH

Taken on 2nd July 2016

This is a view looking down into the edge of Mametz Wood today. This is a popular military tourist site and as you can see here people visit and comb the fields for shell fragments and shrapnel. There is a Welsh Dragon Memorial here but I will mention this more when I post a postcard depicting this in the future.   

 

19/07/2016

 

THE SEVEN SISTER’S, SEAFORD

The majestic white cliffs of the Sussex coast as seen from Seaford Head”

Published by

J. ARTHUR DIXON

Ref: Sussex 459

 

Although the postcard is a nice landscape scene of the white cliffs of Sussex you will probably not be surprised to hear that it is the addition of the 4d ‘BLACK HEADED GULL’ stamp that makes this card a little more collectible, especially when it has been cancelled first day of issue – 8th August 1966.

 

4d BLACK HEADED GULL stamp ‘BRITISH BIRDS’ set 1966

SG 696

19/07/2016

 

THE GLORY OF A LION IS HIS MANE

“THE MANE IS NOT MERELY A GLORIOUS ORNAMENT BUT A REAL PROTECTION TO A LION”

Published by:

Boots The Chemists “Patriotic” Series

A TRIBUTE TO OUR COLONIES – by William Armitage

 

Superb WW1 patriotic postcard featuring the British Lion but, rather cleverly, incorporating into the lion’s mane the colonies who supplied soldiers to fight in the First World War:

CANADA

AUSTRALIA

INDIA

NEW ZEALAND

AFRICAN COLONIES

 

I have always loved this postcard and have had it in my collection for over 35years now

 

 

19/07/2016

 

THE PIER, SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

Published by

U. B. Co Ltd

 

The sea shells which circle the painting of the Pier entrance are embossed (i.e. pushed up in relief so you can feel them raised from the design). This card is very similar in design to a Lobster card and a shrimp/prawn card that I posted back in February (check Feb Blog 2 page). Tis copy here was posted from Southend on 5th September 1905. Although it is an art card it still fits nicely into my local collection.     

 

18/07/2016

 

THIEPVAL

THE MONUMENT

Published by

R. Grossel, libraire, a Albert

 

Cachet:

‘SOUVENIR de THIEPVAL’

 

After attending the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme event at the Thiepval Monument on the 1st July this year I just had to buy this postcard when I came across it on eBay.

Although the image is superb, and really captures the monument well, it was the unusual purple cachet applied top right which really caught my eye. Cachets have always been popular, and are still applied at some sights along the front line of WW1 and WW2, but this was the first time I had seen this one, and I do not think that any cachet is now available at the site so it has historic interest as well.

Logic says that the cachet was only available to be applied on items actually bought at the monument’s shop. I have previously said that I have an interest in cachets and marks applied to postcards, and mail.

I think the cachet might actually be worth more than the postcard itself.

 

 

 

THIEPVAL – MONUMENT

Pour commemorer les Morts de la Grande Guerre (1914 – 1918)

Published by

R. Grossel, libraire, a Albert

 

THE ULSTER TOWER

 

Cachet:

‘SOUVENIR de THIEPVAL’

 

Although this structure is not listed on this postcard as being the Ulster Tower this is what it is called. It is very close to the Thiepval Monument, and in fact the monument can be seen from the Tower, although the Tower pre-dates the Thiepval Monument by seven years (building of the Thiepval monument commenced in 1928, but was not finished until 1932).

It is Northern Ireland’s national war memorial and was one of the first to be built on the Western front. It commemorates the 36th (Ulster) Division, and all those from Ulster who served in the First World War. The memorial was opened on 19th November 1921. It is based, very closely, on the ‘Helen’s Tower’ which stands in the grounds of the Clandeboye Estate, near Bangor, County Down which was the estate where many of the Ulster Division trained before leaving for England and then on to France in 1916.  

Having bought the Thiepval Monument postcard with the cachet I also had to have this one (the eBay auctions finished on the same day, although the auction for this one ended several hours later). Although personally I wanted the Thiepval Monument one more I actually had to pay more for this one here. I suspect this was because of its strong Irish connection.     

 

18/07/2016

SOUTHEND – ON – SEA

Published by

D. CONSTANCE LIMITED (SUSSEX)

Ref: K 1071

The Pier (The longest in the world) – The Pier Train

 

I love my lap-top, and I hate my lap-top. Yesterday the thing refused to work properly an as a result I could not post anything (and I have no idea how it works – apparently it’s not ‘by magic’, so I needed my son to look at it…..Hopefully it is now working – if you are reading this then it is!)

 

As frequently mentioned, Southend is where I live, and have done for most of my life. Therefore, I collect all postcards that depict aspects of it (I have posted quite a few since I started back in January).

This one is a modern design, although still old in years, and packed with history regardless.

Here you have the Bowling Pavilion, which was at the land end of the Pier, and which burnt down in 1995. You can also see the Golden Hind ship (bottom left corner, left side photo) which was dismantled (2013 I think) and now replaced with a covered amusement arcade area.

The green pier trains ran for many years and I have already posted a card showing one of these trains (the image is very similar to this one here). These eventually were stopped to later be replaced with red trains, and now blue ones.

 

 

18/07/2016

 

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2016

CANDIDATES

Published by

LANTERN PRESS

(ORIGINAL POSTER)

Ref: Image #74506

 

This is a very topical postcard, and one which in future years will have an historic political importance and interest. Could this card depict the very first female to become President of the USA?

At this point we now know that only Clinton and Trump are in the running. I shall watch with interest to see who eventually wins.

This postcard was, clearly, a recent find and was bought on eBay.

 

ENVELOPE

The sender of the above postcard (details top left) used a nice selection of stamps on the envelope used to post out the card. I have mentioned before this little bonus when buying over the internet. Quite a few postcard collectors also have an interest in stamps and postal history as postcards are wrapped up in this world. I particularly liked the ‘Poppy’ stamp.

 

16/07/2016

STAMP & COIN MART Magazine

August 2016 Issue

 

I have previously posted five postcards which came free with the June issue of ‘Stamp & Coin Mart’ and which depicted various stamps, quite expensive and very collectible stamps. Those five cards were numbered 6 to 10 of 15. At the time I wondered where the first five, and where the last five cards, were.

That question has now been partially answered as cards numbered 11 to 15 have now been issued with the current August 2016 issue of ‘Stamp & Coin mart’ magazine.

As with the previous issue the cards are a joint venture between the magazine and ‘Mark Bloxham Stamp Ltd’, a company that specializes in high end stamp items, like these displayed here.

 

COLLECTABLE POSTCARD 11 of 15

RE-JOINED BLOCK OF 28 BLACKS

This is an amazing (and I expect very, very expensive) item where someone has managed to put together a block of 28 Penny Black stamps, all of which have been cancelled with red maltese cross hand stamps.

 

 

 

COLLECTABLE POSTCARD 12 of 15

THE ORIGINAL SHEET OF TEWNTY RAINBOWS THAT WAS USED TO PICK THE COLOUR OF THE 1841 PENNY RED

 

For anyone with early stamp knowledge this is a unique and historic philatelic item. Here are a number of different test printings of the stamp using different inks and papers to test the best option for the printing of the one penny red Queen Victoria stamp.  

 

COLLECTABLE POSTCARD 13 of 15

ESSAY FOR POSTAGE STAMP, BY JAMES CHALMERS, 1839

 

A number of different designs, both very complicated and quite simple, were submitted as possible designs for the first ever postage stamp. As we now know the Penny Black was the winning design. This one depicted here is a simpler essay but would be an incredible item for any postal history collector (and I dread to think what the cost of this would be).

 

COLLECTABLE POSTCARD 14 of 15

RE-JOINED BLOCK OF EIGHTEEN EX “DUBLIN FIND”

 

The ‘Dublin Find’ was a collection of various stamps and postal stationery from the 1840’s which were found in at the Dublin post office in 1899 (some were also found in Edinburgh, and possibly London as well). The very sneaky leading officials of the Post Office decided to try to obtain as much money as possible for these items. To do this they decided to sell them on the philatelic market (stamps were very much a collectable item even back then, possibly more so as fewer items were available or had been released by 1899). But, instead of being honest about the find(s) and admitting who was selling the material, they actually got some of their own Post Office employees to sell the stamps at auction under their own names…..sneaky or what! This is one of those items. The story behind the item, I think, makes this postcard even more interesting.

 

COLLECTABLE POSTCARD 15 of 15

£1 DEEP GREEN CORNER MARGINAL

 

Known as the ‘Sea Horse’s’ these classic designs were first issued in 1913 and were issued in values of 2s6d (2 shillings and six pence - brown), 5s (5 shillings – red), 10s (10 shillings – blue) and of course the £1 green, as depicted here. My 2014 Stanley Gibbons Collect British Stamps catalogue values a basic £1 green at £3000, but a mint corner stamp would be worth more (and I am assuming that the DEEP GREEN is a shade variety which potentially has even more value).

 

This just leaves me with the task of finding cards numbered 1 to 5. Hopefully they are available from somewhere – maybe I need to look at the stand for Mark Bloxham at the next STAMPEX show.

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