09/09/2016
STAR TREK
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
FIRST EPISODE – 8TH SEPTEMBER 1966
Thursday is a bad day for me, re posting, as I help run a Cub Scout Pack after work, so by the time I have finished and got home and eaten it is quite late. But if I had posted yesterday this is what I would have put on the webpage – so, better a day late than never.
LINCOLN ENTERPRISES
STAR TREK (ORIGINAL SERIES) POSTCARDS
Lincoln Enterprises was a mail-order company which was actually set up by Gene Roddenberry (the creator of Star Trek) and Bjo Trimble. The company sold Star Trek merchandise including scripts, film cells and, as here photographs of the main characters. These are a little bigger than the modern normal postcard size and, despite always being referenced as postcards when they appear for sale, and in catalogues related to Star Trek collectibles, they are actually plain backed. But, regardless of this fact they are highly collectible items and rarely turn up and when they do they sell, as a set of eight cards, for anywhere between £35 - £55, depending on condition.
I have been aware of the existence of these cards for many years but have struggled to obtain a set as they were not available, to my knowledge, in the UK. So, to buy any you need to ship in from America. Last year I saw a set costed at £55 but the seller would not sell to any buyer outside of the US, so I couldn’t get them. Well, last month I was really fortunate to come across a set on eBay which, including the postage and package cost, was priced at just £28. I snapped them up and they arrived earlier this week. So, here they are.
LINCOLN ENTERPRISES
STAR TREK (ORIGINAL SERIES) POSTCARDS
WILLIAM SHATNER as Captain JAMES T. KIRK
07/09/2016
SCIENCE MUSEUM
LONDON
THE “ROCKET” OF MR. STEPHENSON … AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, 1922
Ref: 17255f
“Poster advertising the Museum of Science (now the Science Museum) in South Kensington, London, showing a stylised depiction of Robert Stephenson and his locomotive Rocket. Built by Robert Stephenson & Co. in Newcastle, Rocket won the Rainhill Trials competition of 1829, which aimed to establish which was the most efficient locomotive for railway haulage”
(Text from Reverse side of Postcard)
This nice poster design was bought last month during my most recent visit to the Science Museum. I think this particular postcard is a regular in their postcard selection. It is certainly a good one
ROCKET STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
MAKING THE MODERN WORLD GALLERY
Mark Champkins for SCMG Enterprises
As I had already bought the nice poster design depicted above I thought I should also obtain this nice, matt printed, artwork design which also depicts the famous Locomotive. It is an attractive postcard and the ‘Rocket’ has been caught in all its simple lines and look. The artwork was part of a combined project with the Museum.
‘MAKING THE MODERN WORLD’ Gallery, June 2000
Ref: 325240
“The Science Museum has an unequalled collection of important ‘firsts’ in science and technology. ‘Making the Modern World’ creates a timeline of many of these, leading from the new science of the 18th century to the modern industrial world. In parallel, the gallery features an intriguing display showing everyday technology used through the ages at home, at work and at play”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
This is the main hall of the museum and I can spend hours in here looking at the historic items and the many forms of transport that are on display, some hanging from the roof, and with the small cars even stacked up on the wall (on the left side in the background). This postcard is a nice souvenir of any visit here.
06/09/2016
EURO DISNEY
TOP
DISCOVERYLAND
Barcode Reference Number on reverse side – 0 00108 00116 9
I have previously mentioned my interest in postcards which are from the early days of the Paris Disney theme park when it was still, and initially, called EURO DISNEY. These postcards are not particularly scarce but they are collectible. There is a series of these multi-view postcards with a white boarder and with the Mickey Mouse green and purple ‘Euro Disney’ logo. This card here has images from the area of the theme park called ‘Discoveryland’.
BOTTOM
FANTASYLAND
Barcode Reference Number on reverse side – 0 00108 00109 1
Another postcard from this series, I call it a series but the cards only have different numbers under their barcodes on the reverse side, they seem to have no other reference numbers. On this one the images depict the chipmunk characters that I know as Chip ‘n’ Dale but who are called ‘Tic and (‘et’ in France) Tac’ in France. There is also an image of the Alice in Wonderland Maze which they do not have in Florida (although I believe they have one in the Shanghai Disney Park). When I have visited here this maze has been one of the attractions which I have enjoyed, its simple but has one or two unusual features which make it worth a walk through, especially if you have younger kids.
Am very much enjoying your site Mark, keep it up!
06/09/2016
“OSCAR THE PUP” SERIES
Published by
BAMFORTH & CO., LTD, Holmfirth, Yorkshire
Ref: No. G256
“I’VE ALWAYS TO MAKE DO WITH OLD FASHIONED BONES!”
Drawn by one of Bamforth’s in-house artists, Fitzpatrick, the ‘Oscar the Pup’ character appeared on a number of postcards, but for me it is the inclusion of an early television set that made this one a must have for me.
06/09/2016
15 JAHRE UN
15 YEARS UN – SPECIAL FLIGHT
NEW YORK – STUTTGART
This postcard has a very simple front design which includes the United Nations logo, The United Nations Building in New York (on the left) and the outline of an aeroplane between that and the outline of the Stuttgart Television Tower (you can see now why this interested me). The postcard was issued to celebrate the 15th year of the United Nations. The design may be simple but to be fair it was the reverse side which actually lead to me buying this postcard…. See below.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Now you can see why this appealed to me. Here you have stamps, cancellations, cachets and an AIR MAIL label.
This has been posted at the United Nations Building Post Office and the three stamps have been very cleverly used as the two 3c United Nations flag stamps (the two on the far right side) are actually from the very first United Nations stamp issue, from 1951 (SG 4) whilst the single vertical stamp is the 4c U.N. General Assembly Buildings from 1960 (SG 77), so this stamp was the most current one when this card was designed. The three stamps have been cancelled with a UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK emblem slogan straight line cancel. This is dated the 24th October 1960 and is timed at 1pm. As the card was going via air mail a LUFTHANSA PAR AVION (AIR MAIL) label was applied (top left) and then the card was carried on board Lufthansa flight LH 421/060 and received a boxed red flight cachet which has the Lufthansa bird logo at its top (cachet centre right). The card has also received a large specially designed green cachet, which includes the design that appears on the front of this postcard, which reads ’15 YEARS UN – SPECIAL FLIGHT – NEW YORK – STUTTGART – OCT 24 1960’. Upon its arrival in Stuttgart the postcard received an arrival back stamp cancel ‘14a STUTTGART FLUGHAFEN – INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’ circular hand stamp dated 26/10/1960. Underneath the AIR MAIL label there is also a black flight word cachet which gives further details about the flights ‘MIT 421 – BOEING 707 NEW YORK – FRANKFURT (this was obviously the main flight from America to Germany) LH 060 FRANKFURT – STUTTGART’ (this shows that the mail was went from flight MIT 421 into flight LH 060 between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. It is probable, or possible that the same aeroplane made both flights, but this not confirmed. If not, then the mail will have needed to be transferred across aeroplanes).
This is a smashing example of how the world of Postcards, Stamps and Postal History, not to leave out Aerophilately (the collecting and study of mail carried by air), come together in one item. It cost me £2 from the Strand Stamp Centre in London, and was worth every penny.
05/09/2016
GEN. STONEWALL JACKSON
PHOTO FROM LIFE BY MILEY
Published by
GENUINE CURTEICHC-CHICAGO “C.T. AMERICAN ART” POST CARD (REG. U.S. PAT. OFF)
Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson (21st January 1824 – 10th May 1863) was one of the Confederate Army generals during the American Civil War and is one of the best known of their commanders.
He obtained his nickname of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson during the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas) when on the 21st July 1861, as the front lines of the Confederate army began to fall back and fall apart, Jackson’s brigade held fast and provided crucial reinforcements on Henry House Hill. It is said that Brig. Gen. Barnard Elliott Bee, Jnr turned his men and said to them “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians”. This statement subsequently became the focus of some contention as it was stated this may have been said through anger that Jackson did not come immediately to Bee’s relief. Whatever the reason behind him saying it, the truth will never be known because he was killed almost immediately after saying it, this lead to Jackson gaining the name because regardless his unit stopped the Union assault and became the ‘Stonewall Brigade’, and it suffered more casualties that day than any other Confederate brigade.
Despite his many successes Jackson was eventually accidentally shot by Confederate pickets when riding back from an area which was forward of the lines at the Battle of Chancellorsville. This was on the 2nd May 1863. The General initially survived the shooting but lost his arm to amputation and subsequently died, of complications from contracting pneumonia, eight days later.
Jackson is considered by many military historians to have been one of the most gifted tactical commanders in US history and he is still studied to this day.
05/09/2016
LANDSCAPE GARDENS: THE GENIUS OF LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN
ROYAL MAIL PHQ STAMP CARDS
Release date – 16th August 2016
This is the latest set of Royal Mail PHQ Stamp cards to be sent to me by my supplier. These depict stately gardens and celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot “Capability” Brown. It is stated that Capability Brown changed the face of 18th Century England through his garden designs and layouts, many of which were for stately homes and remain to this day.
To be honest, although the photographs are great, this was not a set that particularly intrigued me and I was going to dismiss it a bit and move on. But, to my joy there is one stamp/card which, once I realised the locations significance, has become a cracking addition to my television collection - see further down.
LANDSCAPE GARDENS: THE GENIUS OF LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN
BLENHEIM PALACE
2ND class stamp
Ref: PHQ 419 (1) 8. 16
LANDSCAPE GARDENS: THE GENIUS OF LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN
HIGHCLERE CASTLE
1ST class stamp
Ref: PHQ 419 (4) 8. 16
This is the postcard image which really caught my eye, and for anyone who is a fan of the programme that this castle is directly connected too, instantly recognisable. It is of course also knowns as, possibly even better known as ‘Downton Abbey’. As a television collector this single postcard made this set, for me, totally worthwhile (not that I am against the reason for its issue, it’s just that although I like to walk through spectacular gardens I am not a gardener myself, it has never appealed to me as an activity)
04/09/2016
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Feature Film Starring
Michael Rennie – Patricia Neal – Hugh Marlowe
Postcard Published by
PYRAMID
Ref: PC 2056
This classic Science Fiction film was released on the 18th September 1951 having cost a budget of $995,000. It went on to make a box office of $1,850,000. The film was produced by 20th Century Fox and was based on a 1940 novel called ‘Farewell to the Master’ by Harry Bates.
I remember first seeing this black and white film on television when it was shown as part of a classic science fiction season on BBC 2. Like many kids it was the large 8ft tall robot called ‘Gort’ that I liked best about the film at that time. As I got older it was the story of the alien traveller called Klaatu, who had come to Earth to deliver an important message, which I came to admire more.
The film was well received by critics and was widely praised and regarded as one of the best films of 1951.
The film has become an iconic example of early 1950’s science fiction and in 1995 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as ‘culturally, historically or aesthetically significant’.
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Postcard Published by
PYRAMID
Ref: PC 8481
The film poster depicted above is the more iconic, and best known of the poster versions, with the robot Gort carrying the female and the giant hand gripping the planet Earth. This is a quad styled poster and is probably the one people would think of in respect of this film.
The film poster depicted here is more unusual and is one I had not seen before buying this postcard version. This is a lovely piece of artwork with a very realistic representation of the actor Michael Rennie, who plays the humanoid alien visitor Klaatu. But, as with most of the films posters it is again the robot Gort that predominates the design. This is my favourite of the two.
04/09/2016
THE GEANTS D’ARRAS
(The Giants of Arras)
“COLAS, JACQUELINE ET LEUR FILS ANDRE: LES GEANTS D’ARRAS (Pas de Calais)”
Published by
FLOR IMAGE
Ref: 6230-212
Arras is in Northern France and like many towns in this area they have their ‘Giants’. These are giant wicker manikins which are brought out at the end of August during a festival to commemorate the end of the occupation of the Spaniards in 1654. Initially there were two giants, named Colas and Jacqueline and they are based on characters from a humorous song composed in celebration of Arras. They originally appeared as the giants in 1891, although they were known since 1812 when the song was written. The manikins originally were 6.25 metres high and they wear the cloths of 18th and 19th century local peasants. The two manikins were destroyed during World War 1 and then remade after the war. But, they were again destroyed in 1940. In 1981 they were again rebuilt, only they are now 4 metres high. In 1995 they were given a son, Andre-Albert-Francois. When the, now, three manikins are not being used they are on display in the Town Hall in Arras. I visited here in July and saw and photographed these giants – see below.
03/09/2016
13TH WORLD JAMBOREE 1971
ASAGIRI HEIGHTS, SHIZUOKA, JAPAN – AUG, 2-10.
Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji-Clear Sky and a Southerly Breeze. By Katsushika Hokusai – famous Japanese Painter (1760 – 1849)
Postcard issued via sponsorship with SEIKO
Scout related postcards and stamps are collected by a dedicated band of collectors and there is even a philatelic club to which many are members. Jamboree’s are major camps where often thousands of scout’s end up camping. They are held throughout the world and on a regular basis. International Jamboree’s are always the subject of postcards and some of these are really attractive. This one here was for the 13th World Jamboree which was held in Japan. This particular postcard has the SEIKO (watch makers) logo on the reverse side and was probably sponsored by them.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This postcard has been used with the Japan 1971 ‘Jamboree’ stamp (SG 1265), which was officially issued to celebrate the 13TH World Jamboree being held in Japan. The stamp has been cancelled with a lovely communications tower special hand stamp (which may be either the first day of issue for the stamp or the first day of the actual Jamboree – or possibly even both). The card has also received three other different cancellations. One of these I think is a cachet applied at the Jamboree (the feint red one bottom right hand side). Most Jamboree’s have a cachet, sometimes more than one, which is applied to mail posted or handed in at the event itself. These cancels and cachets always enhance any postcard they are applied to.
03/09/2016
NASA SPACE SHUTTLE
Published by
PARCO CARD Co, Satellite Beach, Florida
Ref: 52570
“Artist’s concept of Space Shuttle liftoff at KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA. Art work by Rockwell International’s Space Division”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
In 1993 I was fortunate to be in Florida and to witness the launch of a space shuttle, and see it rocketing upwards attached to its lift off rocket. This experience has led me to be not only interested in the Space Shuttle and its story but to also collect any related postcards I come across. This one depicted here is an early artist’s concept picture of what a lift off would look like. It is an impressive picture and one I was kindly sent in a selection of postcards from Australia (not sure how it ended up here unless it was bought by someone on holiday from there).
03/09/2016
HIGH STREET, HADLEIGH
The “IXL” Series
Hadleigh is like a village, and is attached to the west side of Southend-on-Sea, although unlike as shown here on this old postcard Hadleigh is not separated, but is a continuation of the urban sprawl that is the continuation of the building out from Southend along the railway line into London.
In 2004 I was the local beat officer for Hadleigh and as a result I have an interest in the old postcards that depict this area. This image here is on a postcard that was posted in 1904 (it was posted to Croydon and the stamp has been cancelled with a ‘Leigh’ cancellation).
Although hard to see there is a horse drawn carriage (people bus) behind the group of dark skirted women who can be seen standing in the centre of the road. If this carriage had been in the foreground it would have increased the value of this postcard considerably.
Looks like mini skirts were late arriving in Essex!
03/09/2018
CYPRESS GARDENS
THE CYPRESS GARDENS COLLETION
Published by
IMPACT FLORIDA
Ref: #5832 (G-792)
“Lovely Southern Belle Strolling Amongst Paths Greeting Visitors to Beautiful Cypress Gardens”
Copyright 1985 – FLORIDA CYPRESS GARDENS INC
Cypress Gardens was probably Florida’s first tourist theme park as it opened in 1936 (January 2nd). It was a botanical garden which was planted by Dick Pope Snr and his wife Julie. It was a very big attraction but unfortunately I never got to actually visit it before it closed but I do remember seeing adverts for it which nearly always depicted the women dressed, as shown here, in the crinolines which were so reminiscent of the Antebellum South. Thus they were known as the ‘Southern Belles’. These costumed women were introduced into the park in the 1950’s.
After a reduction in tourist visits after the 2001 terrorist attack in New York the park was sold in February 2004 to the ‘Adventure Parks Group’ who renamed it as the ‘Cypress Gardens Adventure Park’. But this was only to last until 2009 when on the 23rd September it was announced that the park was closing immediately as the company were unable to keep it running.
The area ended up being bought by the Merlin Entertainments group in 2010 and they went on to build the Legoland Florida theme park on it (I wonder how many people visiting the very popular ‘Legoland’ realise that it is built on Cypress Gardens?). The Legoland park opened in October 2011. But there is one piece of good news as the botanical garden section has been retained and is preserved within the new park. Cypress Gardens related postcards are quite common as many thousands were posted by original visitors. They are becoming more collectible as old visitors want to remember their visits in the days gone by.
The copy shown here was posted but unfortunately I can-not make out the date on the cancellation, but the stamp that was used is a 1985 issued 14c Sinclair Lewis stamp, so it is reasonable to suggest that this card was posted out somewhere around 1985 or not long after.
03/09/2016
IRELAND
The ‘Daily Pinta’
Published by
REAL IRELAND DESIGN
Ref: SP 524
Now, this is an example of how quickly glancing at postcards on sale can lead to missing out on those little differences which makes postcard collecting interesting (OK, in my opinion).
At first glance these two postcards look the same, and they both have the same reference number. Admittedly the main images are the same, a joke image on the perceived Irish love of the Guinness. But on a closer look at the postcard on the left side and you will be able to see the gold coloured ‘POSTCARD IRELAND’ company logo used by the printing company and here made to resemble a postmark (look at the top left corner). That’s it, a small, possibly irrelevant to some, difference, but a difference non the less. When I visited Ireland in March both of these versions were still on sale.
REVERSE SIDE OF BOTH OF THE ABOVE POSTCARDS
TOP
The top card here is the version with the addition of the gold POSTCARD IRELAND logo on the front. Here you can see that a similar postmark like logo has been added beside the stamp box. This one also has a RECYCLE PAPER logo along the bottom beside the publisher’s details.
BOTTOM
This is the other version, the one without the gold addition. Here there is no addition beside the stamp box top right and the logo along the bottom, beside the publisher’s details, is a circular POSTCARD IRELAND logo which depicts a person taking a photograph on a tripod stand.
Otherwise these two reverse layouts are the same
03/09/2016
DISNEYLAND PARIS
DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS
FAR LEFT:
DISNEYLAND PARIS
Bar-code Ref No: 2-060750-000079
“Mickey et ses amis” (“Mickey and his friends”)
This is your classic Disney theme park ‘Castle’ postcard, with the best known characters out front: Goofy, Mickey, Donald, Minnie and Pluto. I have two copies of this postcard, one mint and one used, the used one was posted in 2003, which helps date this version. On this postcard version the park is titled simply as ‘DISNEYLAND PARIS’.
NEAR LEFT:
DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS
Ref: ME – J543 – 9L
A later postcard issue which again gives you the classic ‘Castle’ with character’s image, this time just the four, Donald, Minnie, Pluto and Mickey (no Goofy this time). This postcard makes a nice companion card with the one beside it as it shows the subtle change in the theme park name to ‘DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS’.
EURO DISNEY
“Le chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant”
(“The Castle of Sleeping Beauty”)
This is the earliest of the three ‘Castle’ postcards posted here as the text on the reverse side says ‘EURO DISNEY’, unfortunately this does not appear on the front, but, it still goes well with the other two (and we are back to our full five characters – Goofy is included again, and still pulling his ears out).
This constant change and updating of an image is not an exclusive feature of this particular Disney Theme park, they change postcard images on all the park cards, but the change of theme park name is unique to the Paris park.
(This particular copy here was posted in 1992).
02/09/2016
“LE HOME” 195, Avenue de Neuilly – Paris-Neuilly
Published by
Ladrey, edit
This is a nice French postcard from the early 1920’s. I bought it from a fascinating old antique shop in Ireland earlier this year, when we visited in March. I liked it for two reasons, firstly the image was appealing, simple, but nice. I liked the two young women who seem to be depicted playing some sort of badminton game (but no net). I know collectors who seek out unusual sports related images and this one might just fit in. Unfortunately, I have been unable to obtain any other details about “LE HOME”, although I have seen at least one other postcard with the same details along the bottom, so this is not a one off. There is a postcard with exactly the same image, as my one here, currently on sale on the Delcampe sales/auction site – it is priced at 25euros (my one here was £1 – I prefer my price).
My second reason for buying this particular postcard is mentioned below…
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
As you can see here the reverse side of this postcard is very simple in its format but it was the stamp that caught my eye, and was my second reason for buying this card. The stamp is not rare or even unusual, it was just that I did not have a copy of one on postcard. It is the 60c ‘Sower’ from 1920 (SG 385) which here paid the postage rate for this postcard to travel from France to Ireland (it is addressed to Dublin, which is in the same region of Ireland as where I bought it so many years later). The stamp has been cancelled by a roller machine cancellation for Neuilly.
02/09/2016
YOUR FAVORITE
MGM CARTOON STARS
Tom & Jerry
Ref: No. 20
Printed by
DEXTER PRESS (Dexter Press Ref: 69643)
This is a smashing postcard published in America, and it depicts the quite famous cartoon characters Tom (the cat) and Jerry (the mouse). The characters were created in 1940 and this postcard is from the 1940’s era. For television collectors like me this is a really nice find. Copies do appear on eBay on occasion and can be reasonably priced (there are two on at the moment priced at £8.82 and £11.24, both are from America and the prices are from dollar exchange rate). This was the second best find of mine on a visit to an American antiques fair and it cost me just $3 (my best find was a Disney postcard which I will post in the future).
02/09/2016
JEAN FONDA
(JANE FONDA)
Published by
E.D.U.G.
D’apres photo SAM LEVIN
Ref: 461
An early French published postcard depicting the American actress Jane Fonda, although she is incorrectly referred to as ‘JEAN FONDA’ on the reverse side of this postcard, in the printed title. This is a lovely photograph, printed on a deckle edged card (removed by the scanner here) which was very typical of the style for postcards from the early 1960’s in Europe. Postcards of American, and some British, actors were very popular in Europe during the 1960’s and this is a nice example.
01/09/2016
GIANT CARNIVOROUS DINOSAUR TYRANNOSAURUS
Tyrannosaurus Rex
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
NEW YORK, U.S.A.
“This was the largest flesh-eating reptile that ever lived. He walked about on long hind legs armed with formidable talons, with which, aided by the powerful neck and dagger like teeth, he could tear other dinosaurs to pieces. Montana. Found by Barnum Brown. Mounted by Charles Lang. Hall of Cretaceous Reptiles”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
My interest in wildlife also includes the creatures of the world that have long been extinct, including the dinosaurs. I think the Tyrannosaurus Rex is now no longer the largest flesh eating reptile that ever lived as I believe the Spinosaurus is now the largest (new dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures are being discovered all the time and through these discoveries the information in earlier books and on postcards like these becomes out of date).
This particular postcard is a bit tatty around the edges with a couple of small sellotape(sticky tape) marks and a couple of small tears and creases, but then, it only cost me 50 cents (at an antiques fair in America). But also, I did not buy this postcard just for the front image.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This postcard was posted from Pittsburgh on the 26th October 1954 and the stamp (a 1938 issued 2cent ‘John Adams’ Presidential Issue) has been cancelled with a Pittsburgh machine boxed slogan cancel; GIVE-ENOUGH THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY CHEST. But it is the addition of the applied perforated (along two edges) brown coloured religious Cinderella label that intrigued me (left side). These are not uncommon and over the years many thousands have been applied to mail, especially around Christmas time (a popular time for charity seals and religious poster stamps to be applied to mail). Although of little real value these labels do, in my opinion, add extra interest to any postcards use (this one was posted to Florida – which is where I bought it around 60 years later).
01/09/2016
WALT DISNEY WORLD
THE MICKEY MOUSE REVUE
“A colorful forest of singing flowers joins Alice in Wonderland … part of the talented cast of 85 famous Walt Disney characters “come to life” to perform old favorites during the Mickey Mouse revue”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
This was an Audio-Animatronic musical attraction in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World, Florida. It opened on 1st October 1971, and ran until the 14th September 1980 when it was removed. The Revue featured a wide range of Disney characters performing some of the then most well-known Disney songs, with the orchestra being led by Mickey Mouse (a scene which can also be found on a postcard – see below). The attraction, when it was closed down, ended up being transferred to Tokyo Disneyland, where it opened on 15th April 1983.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This particular postcard was posted using a 1975 9cent Capitol Dome stamp which was cancelled, sideways going down, for some reason, with an Orlando wavy line machine cancellation. Although the year part of the cancel can-not be made out the senders kindly dated their message so we know this was sent out in June 1976. The text and logos on this copy have been printed in brown. It does have a reference number but these were recorded within the stamp box so here the stamp covers this.
WALT DISNEY WORLD
THE MICKEY MOUSE REVUE
Ref: 79914-C
“Appearing on stage ‘in person,’ Mickey Mouse tunes up with some of the spectacular cast of 85 famous Walt Disney characters that sing and perform during the Mickey Mouse Revue”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
This is the postcard I mentioned above, featuring Mickey Mouse and his orchestra. The Revue is fondly remembered by older visitors to Walt Disney World (it had gone by my first visit in 1993) and as a result these postcards which depict scenes from it are quite collectible. On eBay I have seen this postcard priced around £5, but I was lucky and obtained my copy from an antique fair in Florida where it only cost me $1 (a bargain). The printing on the reverse side of this postcard is in blue.
If you visit Walt Disney World today and are curious where this Revue was originally located then it was where the 4D show ‘Mickey’s PhilarMagic’ is now found, although the theatre has been changed and adapted for this show (which opened in 2003 after a soft opening in September of that year – PhilarMagic is a favourite of our family)
31/08/2016
SCIENCE MUSEUM
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
“Adapted from a plate from the book ‘A Popular Handbook and Atlas of Astronomy’, by Sir William Peck, F.R.A.S. (1862 – 1925)”
Image Number 10548499
Ref No: 396363
Medium sized, round shaped novelty postcard which depicts the stars of the Northern Hemisphere. This is one of the postcards I bought on my most recent visit to the Science Museum earlier this month.
SCIENCE MUSEUM
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
“Adapted from a plate from the book ‘A Popular Handbook and Atlas of Astronomy’, by Sir William Peck, F.R.A.S. (1862 – 1925)”
Image Number 10548500
Ref No: 396370
The companion postcard to the one depicted above, and in the same format. This one seems to have a lot less going on than the Northern Hemisphere appears to have but the two postcards go together really nicely (and this was bought at the same time – when I attended these were against the back wall of the museum’s shop, high up and just to the left of the centre)
CINEMALIA
Des Enfants
Mercredi 22 mars
5eme Festival International du film
Beauvais – Cinemalia 95
Another poster design for another Film Festival – 1995
Sponsored by McDonalds
GENE WILDER ….. RIP
Jerome Silberman
11th June 1933 – 29th August 2016
American stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter, film director and author. Well known for the comic films ‘Blazing Saddles’ (1974), ‘The Producers’ (1968), ‘Young Frankenstein’ (1974), ‘Silver Streak’ (1976), ‘Stir Crazy’ (1980) and lastly, my favourite ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil’ (1989).
30/08/2016
CLINT EASTWOOD
Co Star of CBS Programme “Rawhide”
Published by
Universum-Film A.G. Berlin-Templehof
Licence for U.K. & Colonies, D. Constance Ltd., London
Ref: WP Nr. 106
Clint Eastwood is now of course extremely well known as a film actor but he started out on television in the western series ‘Rawhide’ playing the character Rowdy Yates. The series started in January 1959 and ran until January 1966.
As a collector of television related postcards it is images of Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates that I am looking out for. This one is a nice one, a bit damaged around the edges, but still an early postcard which is contemporary to the series.
30/08/2016
PACIFIC AVENUE, SANTA CRUZ. CALIF – 47
“Pacific Avenue, the principal business Street of Santa Cruz, California”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
Distributed by
F. R. FULMER, SNATA CRUZ
Printed by
E. C. KROPP Co. Milwaukee, Wis.- (ECY)
Ref: 7909
A brightly coloured street image in the traditional American postcard printing style of the 1950’s (this particular copy was posted in 1955). I like these hand coloured negative prints as the nearest thing we had here in the UK was the John Hinde colour enhanced local view postcards, but these American ones are far more extreme.