14/05/2016

GALAXY WARRIOR

By

Irvine Peacock

Published by

ATHENA INTERNATIONAL

Ref No: 659639

There can be few British modern postcard collectors who have not heard of the now long gone postcard publisher called ‘Athena’, later ‘Athena International’. They were one of the most popular and biggest publishers of the 1980’s. Their postcards were everywhere but were most preverlant in the brands own range of ATHENA shops which were in every shopping centre and town High Street. They are now all gone and the postcards, and shops, are a thing of the past. It is a shame because they issued postcards in all themes and from designs by a number of artists who did not appear anywhere else. This one here was not untypical of their output.    

14/05/2016

THE NATIONAL GALLERY

‘SELF PORTRAIT IN A STRAW HAT, after 1782’

Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun 1755-1842

Oil on canvas 97.8 x 70.5cm

Bought by the gallery in 1897

I am a regular visitor to the National Gallery as I have an interest and love in art, even if I do not have the great knowledge. I know what I like and although I have more of an interest in the abstract and unusual (or what some call the modern stuff) I can still enjoy a good natural painting. This one here always catches my eye and is one I do like. I have stood infront of this one on many occassions and each time I do I can not help but admire the painting but also to notice that the eyes appear to be at slightly different heights! They are slightly out of linement. I wonder if that was the actual case and she was just honest with her depiction of herself.     

14/05/2016

HARBOUR & GREAT EASTERN HOTEL, HARWICH

Published under the ‘Daiety Series’

This particular copy was posted from Harwich on 29^th January 1913

Harwich is a town in the north of my home county of Essex and is in fact the most northern coastal town in the county of Essex. It is on the coast of the North Sea and is a major port with a history of maritime and military use, it was a naval base back in 1657.

If my information is correct the Great Eastern Hotel opened in 1864, or there-abouts, and was opened in response to the opening of the railway line linking the town with Colchester. The hotel was closed in 1923 by the LNER Railway(which had been only recently formed) as the Great Western Railway had opened a hotel with the same name at the passenger port at Parkeston Quay and this had casued a decline in guests at the original hotel.

The hotel building went on to become the Harwich Town Hall and the structure included the Magistrates Court and continued use for a number of years as such. Eventually after changes in local government the building was sold and was split up into flats and apartments.   

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

The message is interesting when it turns to the issue of potatoes and obtaining them

14/05/2016

QUEEN VICTORIA

POSTAL STATIONERY

HALF PENNY

Issued in 1901 this was in the same design as previous issues but here printed in blue green (previously printed in red brown). This was issued for domestic use within the UK. Although you can not see it here this is the version printed on thick board (so is a type ‘b’ in the Higgins & Gage catalogue)

14/05/2016

JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL MONUMENT

NEW ROSS, Co WEXFORD, IRELAND

Photography by Dagnis Abols

I bought this postcard in New Ross, Ireland on my visit there in March. I had in fact just visited this statue and memorial which was by the river and which seemed oddly out of place although clearly important and well constructed. I bought this postcard because I had just seen this although I do wonder why the photographer decided to only depict a portion of the memorial. I suppose it might be because this way you get a close up view of the John F. Kennedy statue part.

PHOTOGRAPH

Taken in March 2016

My photograph shows you the whole memorial and here you can get a better idea of how the whole thing is represented.

14/05/2016

STAMP & COIN MART

MARK BLOXHAM STAMPS LTD

JUNE 2016 Issue of Stamp & Coin Mart

I have a standing order for the ‘Stamp & Coin Mart’ magazine which I read for any postcard updates but also for information around reent and old stamp issues which I may come across on postcards. The June 2016 issue arrived a couple of days ago and included with it was five free postcards which appear to be a joint issue between the magazine (who have included them in this issue) and the stamp company ‘Mark Bloxham Stamps Ltd’ who specialise in old victorian stamps and mail and high quality British stamp issues. The five postcards depict early Queen Victoria Penny blacks and Two Penny blues and one other.

The five cards are listed as being from a set of fifteen and are numbered from 6 to 10. This clearly means there are five earlier numbered cards and five later numbered which were not included here. I know for a fact that the magazine has not given out an earlier set as I have received or bought this magazine for 10 years. So, where are the others? Are they going to be issued with the next issue or are the cards distributed in different sets of five with this particular issue? Either way I shall now have to look out for them. The five cards I received are a sfollows:

COLLECTIBLE POSTCARD No 6 of 15

Issued by Stamp & Coin Mart magazine

Penny Black & Two Pence Blue

Two very nice stamps cancelled with red Maltese crosses

COLLECTIBLE POSTCARD No 7 of 15

Issued by Stamp & Coin Mart magazine

SG135 the Finest Known

This is a Queen Victoria Ten Shillings

(I have checked my 2006 copy of BRITISH STAMP MARKET VALUES 2006 and this ten year old catalogue values this at £1,300)

COLLECTIBLE POSTCARD No 8 of 15

Issued by Stamp & Coin Mart magazine

Plate 1a the only mint block in private hands

A block of four Penny Blacks

COLLECTIBLE POSTCARD No 9 of 15

Issued by Stamp & Coin Mart magazine

Plate 1b – the joint largest mint block in private hands

A smashing block of 18 Penny Blacks

COLLECTIBLE POSTCARD No 10 of 15

Issued by Stamp & Coin Mart magazine

Lady Louis cover to Malta

This famous cover has six cancelled Two Pence blue stamps

14/05/2016

HM THE QUEEN’S 90^TH BIRTHDAY

ROYAL MAIL

PHQ/STAMP CARDS

(The stamps and stamp sheet were issued on 21^st April 2016)

As always I have my cards used with the stamp on the front (dealers refer to this as being on the face side) cancelled first day of issue – where possible with a different hand stamp for each card (depending on the number of sponsored hand stamps this is not always possible and in these cases one or more hand stamps are repeated)

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (1) 4.16

HM The Queen with her father, c. 1930

1^st Class stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (2) 4.16

HM The Queen attends the State Opening of Parliament, 2012

1^st Class stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (3) 4.16

HM The Queen with Princess Anne and Prince Charles, 1952

1^st Class stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (4) 4.16

HM The Queen visits New Zealand, 1977

£1.52 value stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (5) 4.16

HM The Queen with The Duke of Edinburgh, 1957

£1.52 value stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (6) 4.16

HM The Queen with Nelson Mandela, 1996

£1.52 value stamp

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (7) 4.16

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

1^st Class stamp from stamp sheet

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (8) 4.16

Her Majesty The Queen

1^st Class stamp from stamp sheet

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (9) 4.16

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge

1^st Class stamp from stamp sheet

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (10) 4.16

His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge

1^st Class stamp from stamp sheet

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (11) 4.16

Miniature Sheet

There is just the one PHQ Stamp Card for the miniature sheet and it clearly depicts the whle sheet. Where I have my cards used with the relevant item/stamp on the front (face) this causes an issue when the stamp sheet is bigger, or longer than the card depicting it. With the company I use to provide me with my cards they use the simple process of cutting the sheet in half and using two of the cards with half a sheet on each. This is why I often have two copies of this card in my set, as here. This copy has the left side of the stamp sheet applied.

STAMP CARD PHQ 414 (11) 4.16

Miniature Sheet

This copy has the right side of the sheet applied.

14/05/2016

PACKAGE

This little package arrived today. It contains a selection of mainly Disney related postcards with some Elvis, The Beatles and radio and TV presenters. It is a package from a person who raises money for charity through the sale of postcards. The charity is The Sudan Church Appeal. I often buy from his sales sheet (in fact most times I buy several lots – I always have the Disney ones). The prices are very, very reasonable and the money goes to a good cause – what more could you want.

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14/05/2016

RESISTANCE IS USELESS!

SUBSCRIBE!

SFX MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION ‘FREEPOST’ CARD

This is a large A5 sized (possibly even a tadge bigger) and is printed on quite flimsy card (not much thicker than paper really). But it depicts a Dalek and in my mind there is no better reason to add a card to my collection.

It is actually a postcard designed to be submitted to initiate a subscription for the science fiction magazine called simply ‘SFX’. I actually received this card in a charity bundle I bought and I was delighted to get it because I had not seen it. This may be because the card is placed only in magazines sold at the shops (like W.H. Smith, etc.) and not in those which are actually sent out to people who have already subscribed (after all what would be the point) – and I do already subscribe to SFX and have done for many years. It is in-fact, in my opinion admittedly, the best magazine for information on upcoming (and old) science fiction and fantasy TV programmes and films, which are an interest of mine. But this card fits into my collection more because I am a fanatical Dr Who collector.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

(much reduced)

Note that this is a ‘FREEPOST’ card which means no stamp needed to be applied to send it to the address. The company pay the postage.  

14/05/2016

SHARE OUR VISION

TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE ZERO DEATHS FROM BREAST CANCER BY 2030

NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

AUSTRALIAN POSTCARD

This is a smashing card with a very clever concept. The letter ‘O’ of the word VISION in the main top title is formed by the circle of the pink ribbon. This pink ribbon is an actual ribbon, with a real safety pin, which can be removed and worn on clothing.

My mother passed away in her 50’s from cancer and I am happy to support any organization which works to try and reduce the number of those who are killed each year by the big ‘C’.  

“Wearing this pink ribbon helps to spread awareness that with more funds, breast cancer should be defeated”  

ADAPTATION FILM APLPHABET

(Card Ref: AtoZ Book)

A

B – BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

C – CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

D – THE DAY OF THE JACKAL

E - ENGLISH PATIENT (The)

F – THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN

G – GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

H

I

J – JUNGLE BOOK

K – K PAX

L – LITTLE BONES (?)

M – MALTESE FALCON

N – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

O – OLIVER

P – PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Q – QUANTUM OF SOLACE

R – REMAINS OF THE DAY

S – SHINNING (The)

T – TRUE GRIT

U

V

W

X – X-MEN

Y

Z – ZODIAC

COMEDY FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZComedy)

A - ANCHORMAN

B – BEST IN SHOW

C – CARRY ON DOCTOR

D – DOCTOR STRANGELOVE

E - ELF

F

G – GHOSTBUSTERS (?)

H – HAPPY GILMORE (?)

I

J – THE JERK (?)

K

L – LIFE OF BRIAN (MONTY PYTHON)

M – MEET THE PARENTS

N

O

P – PINK PANTHER

Q – QUICK CHANGE

R - ROXANNE

S

T – THIS IS SPINAL TAP

U – UNCLE BUCK

V

W

X

Y – YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Z - ZOOLANDER

SUPERHERO FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZSuperheroes)

A – AMAZING SPIDERMAN

B - BATMAN

C – CAPTAIN AMERICA

D - DAREDEVIL

E - ELEKTRA

F – FANTASTIC FOUR

G – GREEN LANTERN

H - HELLBOY

I – IRON MAN

J – JONAH HEX (possibly)

K – KICK ASS

L – LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

M – THE METEOR MAN

N – NICK FURY (this was a hard one – played by the Hoff in a film)

O

P – PUNISHER (The)

Q - QUICKSILVER

R - ROBOCOP

S - SUPERMAN

T – TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLE

U - UNBREAKABLE

V - VENOM

W - WATCHMEN

X – X-MEN

Y

Z

SCI-FI FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: AtoZ SciFi)

A - ABYSS

B – BLADE RUNNER

C – CUBE (possibly)

D - DUNE

E – EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (The, Star Wars No 2)

F – FLY (The)

G - GODZILLA

H – HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

I – I ROBOT

J – JUDGE DREDD

K – KING KONG

L – THE LAST STARFIGHTER

M - MOON

N

O

P – PLANET OF THE APES

Q

R – RUNNING MAN (The)

S

T - TRON

U – UNIVERSAL SOLDIER

V – V (the television series – so not sure what this is doing here unless it was made into a film at some point)

W – WAR OF THE WORLDS

X – X-MEN

Y

Z - ZARDOZ

HORROR FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: AtoZ Horror)

A – AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

B – BAD TASTE

C - CHUCKY

D – DRILLER KILLER

E – EVIL DEAD

F – THE FOGJEEPERS CREEPERS (?)

G

H - HELLRAISER

I – INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS

J – JEEPERS CREEPERS

K

L - LEPRECHAUN

M - MISERY

N – NIGHTMARE ON ELM SREET

O – OMEN (The)

P - POLTERGEIST

Q

R – REANIMATOR (I think)

S – SCANNERS

T – TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

U

V

W – THE WICKER MAN

X

Y

Z – ZOMBIELAND (I think)

WAR FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZWar)

A – APOCALYPSE NOW

B – BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI

C - CASABLANCA

D - DOWNFALL

E – ESCAPE TO VICTORY

F – FULL METAL JACKET

G – GREAT ESCAPE (The)

H – HEROES OF TELEMARK (The)

I – INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

J

K – KELLY’S HEROES

L – LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

M

N

O – OPERATION PETTICOAT

P - PLATOON

Q

R

S – SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

T – THIN RED LINE

U – U-571

V - VALKYRIE

W – WHERE EAGLES DARE

X

Y - yanks

Z - ZULU

1950’s FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZ50s)

A – ATTACK OF THE 50FT WOMAN

B – BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI

C – CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

D – THE DAMBUSTERS

E

F – THE FORBIDDEN PLANET

G – GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

H – HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

I – ICE COLD IN ALEX

J – JAILHOUSE ROCK

K – THE KING AND I

L – THE LADYKILLERS

M – MR HULOT’S HOLIDAY

N – NORTH BY NORTHWEST

O - OKLAHOMA

P – PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE

Q

R – REAR WINDOW (possibly)

S - THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

T – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

U

V – VERTIGO (I think)

W – THE WILD ONE

X

Y

Z

1970’s FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZ70s)

A – APOCALYPSE NOW

B – BLACKULA

C – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

D – DELIVERANCE

E – ENTER THE DRAGON

F – FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

G – GET CARTER

H

I

J - JAWS

K – KRAMER VS KRAMER

L – LOGANS RUN

M – MAD MAX

N

O – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

P

Q - QUADROPHENIA

R - ROCKY

S - SHAFT

T – TAXI DRIVER

U – UP IN SMOKE

V

W - WESTWORLD

X

Y - YANKS

Z - ZULU

1980’s FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: AtoZ80s)

A - AIRPLANE

B

C – COMING TO AMERICA

D – DIRTY DANCING

E - ET

F – FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR

G - GHOSTBUSTERS

H – HONNY I SHRUNK THE KIDS

I – INDIANA JONES – RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

J – JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH

K – KARATE KID

L - LABYRINTH

M

N – NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

O – OCTOPUSSY

P – THE PRINCESS BRIDE

Q – Q THE WINGED SERPENT

R - RAMBO

S – SHORT CIRCUIT

T – TEEN WOLF

U – THE UNTOUCHABLES

V

W – WEIRD SCIENCE

X

Y

Z – ZELIG

1990’s FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: AtoZ 90s)

A – AUSTIN POWERS

B – THE BODYGAURD

C – COOL RUNNINGS

D – DUMB AND DUMBER

E – EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

F – FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

G - GHOST

H – HOME ALONE

I – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

J - JUNIOR

K

L – LOOK WHO’S TALKING

M – MEN IN BLACK

N – THE NUTTY PROFESSOR

O - OUTBREAK

P – PULP FICTION

Q – QUIZ SHOW

R - ROCKETEER

S - SPEED

T - TRAINSPOTTING

U – THE USUAL SUSPECTS

V – VERY BAD THINGS

W – WAYNES WORLD

X – X-FILES: THE MOVIE

Y – YOU’VE GOT MAIL

Z – THE MASK OF ZORRO

2000’s FILM ALPHABET

(Card Ref: ATOZ00s)

A - AMALIE

B – BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

C – CHARLIE AND CHOCOLATE FACTORY

D – THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (?)

E – ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

F – FLAGS OF IWO JIMA

G – GANGS OF NEW YORK

H – HARRY POTTER (anyone of them really)

I – THE ILLUSIONIST

J - JUNO

K – KILL BILL

L – LORD OF THE RINGS

M – MEET THE PARENTS

N

O

P

Q – THE QUEEN

R – ROAD TO PERDITION

S – SHAUN OF THE DEAD

T

U - UNBREAKABLE

V – V FOR VENDETTA

W – THE WRESTLER

X – X-MEN

Y

Z - ZOOLANDER

10/05/2016

FIRST APPEARANCE OF LIFE FORMS

BOOMERANG RACK CARD

(One of the designs available from the racks in educational establishments, but mainly schools as they were designed with teenagers in mind)

“The creatures we know today evolved from earlier species. Crustaceans were among the first and appeared nearly 650 millions years before humans”

(Text from reverse side – with spelling error ‘millions’)

I love that these school Boomerang cards were often educational but had a catchy, colourful image on the front to make the children take them from the rack. – I think this one is smashing and dates from the late 1990’s.

10/05/2016

ALEXANDRA PALACE CONSERVATORY

Secretary & Manager : Edwin Goodslip

Published by

P.J.R Muswell Hill

This Particular Postcard was Posted on 8^th October 1908

I am fascinated by all Alexandra Palace postcards and when I saw this superb image I knew it was of interest because I also have an interest in zoo’s. The first thing I saw was the ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION – ADMISSION ONE PENNY sign which hangs above an entrance. But looking through a magnifying glass at the small kiosk which is right down under the ONE PENNY of the sign I could see someone inside it. But it is the small sign immediately above their head which I loved, it reads “PAY HERE FOR THE MONKEY HOUSE”. This is a lovely card with some lovely dressed people strategically placed (and I wonder if the man in the uniform is the named manager – Edwin Goodslip!) and it just reeks of nostalgia. I paid £12 for this one which is probably in the top end price range, but I had to have it.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Has a nice WELLS, S.O circular cancel

10/05/2016

DISNEYLAND, ANAHEIM

THE MAGIC KINGDOM

FRONTIERLAND

Card Ref: 1-300

BURNING SETTLER’S CABIN

“A grim reminder of a hostile Indian raiding party is the burning settler’s cabin on Tom Sawyer’s Island in Frontierland. The lonely pioneer can be seen in front of the cabin, victim of an Indian arrow”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

There is a similar ‘Burning Settler’s Cabin’ on the Tom Sawyer’s Island located in Walt Disney World in Florida, which I have seen. I have been visiting the Florida park since 1993 but I do not remember ever seeing a dead settler outside the cabin. To be honest it was the dead settler that caught my eye on this particular postcard and because it seemed so un-Disney like I had to have it.

I would love to hear from anyone who can tell me if the settler is still outside this cabin in Anaheim – please do let me know if you have any information or recently saw him.   

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

10/05/2016

ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK

STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL

“The work of the astronomical clock in the cathedral of Strasbourg, constructed by the strasbourgian Schwilgue from 1838 – 1842 has been placed in the famous old case built in the XVI the century. Before this case stands a celestial globe. Behind in in the center of the case basement is the perpetual calendar, to the left the ecclesiastical comput and to right, the solar and lunar equations (System Copernicus). A figure of Christ, standing in the upper compartment, blesses eatch of the twelwe apostels who pass before him, as soon as the clock strikes twelwe (midday). During the same time the cock perched on the top of the weight-case, flaps its wings and crows thrice.”

(Descriptive Text from reverse side of top postcard – with all spelling errors included: apostels - twelwe)

Here you have two novelty postcards which have been constructed from two pieces of card, one with the front image and one with the reverse side printing. In-between them is a circular piece of card which sticks out from each side. A split pin holds the circular card to the top card and allows this circular card to rotate. There are two holes, windows if you like, cut into the image photograph (on both cards) and as you turn the circular piece of card different images appear in the two windows. Various saint (or apostles) appear in the top window along with an image of Christ. In the bottom window/hole there appear a number of chariots, a couple pulled by birds (one by swans I believe) and one by deer.

These two fit firmly into my novelty collection and nice examples of these window postcards (sometimes called ‘Moving Wheel’ postcards and if the colours meld and swirl they can be Kaleidoscope cards).

TOP POSTCARD

Published by

Edition LAMIL 5, RUE DE LA Liberation STARSBOURG)

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

BOTTOM POSTCARD

Published by

IRIS

Editions “La Cigogne” – Exclusivite HACHETTE

Agence de Strasbourg – Rue Forlen – 67400 Geispolsheim

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD