12/06/2017
SEE LONDON BY (UNDERGROUND)
ROUND LONDON SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Published by
LONDON TRANSPORT
Ref: 199 (570/1211RP/5M)
Poster design by Harry Stevens
1970
Another early London Transport poster design from this excellent early modern series. Postcards in this series depict some posters which have not been released by any other postcard company so they can be eagerly sought. This one is a lovely simple design which really catches the eye. Expect to pay at least £3 for a card like this (probably more on eBay).
12/06/2017
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
By
JOE KAY
Published by
ARTS FOR LABOUR
(79 Camden Road, London)
Printed by
Larkfield Printing Co. Ltd, West Yorkshire
This would probably be designated as a political themed postcard. It depicts what was the well-known sign for the ‘JOB CENTRE’ during the 1980’s (and probably before but I did not commence work until late in 1979 and did not use the Job Centre until later in the early 1980’s and I am sure this was the sign being used then). So, this postcard does have some history behind it.
11/06/2017
LANGUAGE OF STAMPS
Published by
EDITION TUSHITA
Ref: B 1461
(Made in Germany)
This is a modern postcard depicting an older postcard release although the idea of stamps being used to impart a secret message and postcards issued to explain their meaning have been around since the early 1900’s. Here the use of two stamps, cleverly using King and Queen stamps, to indicate a male and a female, is an updated version of older ideas as the earlier designs used just a single stamp and its different positions to mean different things. Also, I thought applying the current monarch’s stamp upside down was considered disrespectful but they have done it here (but then this card does have strong German connections so they may not have known this)
11/06/2017
A VIEW FROM SNOWDON LOOKING S.W. (south west)
Published by
J. SALMON LTD
Ref: 12321
People have been climbing, walking and riding the mountain railway up to the top of Mount Snowdon for many years. These same people have been posting postcards from here to prove it with these postcards receiving a ‘SUMMIT OF SNOWDON’ cachet. These cachets have changed over the years and are quite collectible, but not worth a great deal, but remain interesting.
The image here shows dedicated walkers with backpacks, boots and walking sticks and the following the dress code of white shirt and shorts.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
“SUMMIT OF SNOWDON”
CACHET
As you can see from the ‘LLANDUDNO’ wavy line machine cancellation this postcard was posted on the 11th September 1958. The postcard also has a very nice circular ‘SUMMIT OF SNOWDON’ cachet applied in the centre. As stated above, these are very nice and add something to a collection and the more common ones are cheap to pick up being never more than a couple of pounds, at most (although there are one or two lesser used cachets which are worth more, but which also turn up a lot less frequently). This one here is one which was used for some time.
10/06/2017
ADAM WEST ….. RIP
William West Anderson
19th September 1928 – 9th June 2017
Television and film actor who will always be remembered for playing the part of Batman in the iconic 1960’s Television series.
BATMAN & ROBIN
Published by
“EDITIONS CINEMA”
Ref: EC271
This back and white postcard depicts Adam West playing Batman in what I believe is a still from the feature film version released in 1966 and again, like the TV series, simply called ‘Batman’. If I am right Batman and Robin (played by Burt Ward) are shown here on a submarine. The rather ‘campy’ television series was a smash hit and the original programme ran between 1966 and 1968 although I remember rushing home as a kid in the 1970’s to watch it as it was still popular in re-runs, which went on for years. I loved the programme and who from my era can forget the fight scenes with the pop culture additions of large word speech bubbles: WHAM!, POW, POP….etc….classic tv.
10/06/2017
GLENNE HEADLY ….. RIP
Glenne Aimee Headley
13th March 1955 – 8th June 2017
American Actress on film and television who appeared in films like ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, ‘Mr Holland’s Opus’ and ‘Dick Tracy’
DICK TRACY
Published by
CLASSICO SAN FRANCISCO, INC
Ref: 246-020
Classico San Francisco issued a massive 24 postcard set for the feature film ‘Dick Tracy’, with most of the characters from the film making at least one appearance, although the set does concentrate on Warren Beatty who played the main title character and Madonna, who played the character Breathless Mahoney. But, I am pleased to say that the actress Glenne Headly makes three postcard appearances in this set. Headly played the character Tess Trueheart who was the girlfriend of Dick Tracy. This postcard here is probably the best as it depicts the character Tess Trueheart on her own.
DICK TRACY
Published by
CLASSICO SAN FRANCISCO, INC
Ref: 246-023
This image depicts both Glenne Headly and Warren Beatty in a scene from the film. This image is actually showing the character of Tess Trueheart as she does on the postcard above although the top card depicts what I think is a publicity pose rather than a film scene per-se.
DICK TRACY
Published by
CLASSICO SAN FRANCISCO, INC
Ref: 246-021
The last of the three postcards mentioned. Here Tess Trueheart and Dick Tracy are shown in a motor vehicle with a third character who was just known as ‘The Kid’ (played by Charlie Korsmo).
When people pass away I will not always be able to depict a postcard that is relevant to their passing but here I was pleased that I remembered these ones. I was fortunate to buy a complete set of the Dick Tracy ‘Classico’ postcards when they first came out, which was the year the film was released - 1990. I suspect anyone wanting to put together a full set now might struggle to find them all.
09/06/2017
DOT TO DOT PUZZLE No. 1
THATCHER THERAPY
Published by
LEED POSTCARDS
Design by
Paul Morton
A well-known and very popular design by this company which was issued during the 1980’s. This is an interesting anti-Thatcher card issued whilst she was Prime Minister. Yesterday another Prime Minister, our second female Prime Minister, took the country to the polls. The result was ‘definitely’, as she has admitted, not what she wanted. She is still in place, just, but her party, the conservatives have a reduced number of seats and no longer have a majority. A lot can happen in 24hrs in politics…. I wonder if any of last night’s results and todays subsequent political shenanigans will appear on postcards?
DOT TO DOT PUZZLE No. 2
WHAT DOES RONNIE REAGAN HAVE BETWEEN HIS EARS?
Published by
LEED POSTCARDS
Design by
Paul Morton
This postcard has nothing to do with the politics of the last 24 hours here in the UK, but this is the second card in a series of ‘Dot to Dot’ issues produced by this company in the 1980’s and it sits nicely with the above Thatcher card (if you check the ‘May 2017 Blog 3’ Tab – click the’ May Blogs 2017’ tab first – then you can see the 4th card in the series which depicts David Cameron). Thatcher and Reagan had quite a political relationship during the 1980’s and both were heavily ridiculed via the medium of postcards during these years. The postcards shown here are typical of the sentiment of this type of postcard release.
07/06/2017
I WON’T VOTE TORY
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
Ref: L362
“Over 125000 badges with the slogan ‘I didn’t vote Tory’ were sold in the first year of the Thatcher government. Don’t let them stay in till 1992!”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
I am going to be very busy tomorrow, work, voting and then an evening with the Essex Police Military History Club, so I am unlikely to be posting any cards on my webpage, but, as it is General Election day I thought tonight I would post some old political themed postcards. For some reason, possibly because they mostly come from the 1980’s and the Margaret Thatcher years as Prime Minister!
This card was issued as an attempt to get people to not back Thatcher.
I DIDN’T VOTE TORY
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
No Reference number shown (unusual for this company)
“Over 125,000 badges with the slogan ‘I didn’t vote Tory’ were sold by the Morning Star in the first year of the Thatcher government.
Thousands of ordinary men and women were disillusioned and misguided enough to vote Tory in 1979. Most now regret it.”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
I believe, in fact I am fairly certain, that this postcard came out before the one illustrated above. The two cards clearly go together, and they also clearly indicate that the issuing company were most decidedly on the side of Labour during the 1980’s when both were issued (although the this one came out in 1979 initially, but was popular from 1980 onwards, I think being re-printed a few times).
I WON’T VOTE TORY
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
Ref: L362
(This is the same reference number as the top card)
“Leeds Postcards first published ‘I didn’t vote Tory’ in the first flush of shock at Mrs Thatcher’s incomprehensible victory in 1979. We moved into full attack in 1987 with ‘I won’t vote Tory’. Here it is again. Stick it up somewhere. Show others what you really think”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
The above text confirms that the ‘I didn’t vote Tory’ postcard did in fact come first, as I suspected, but I admit that I did not know that the second card, ‘I won’t vote Tory’, the original version, did not come out until 1987. This updated version, far less impressive in my opinion, was issued even later, I suspect during the 1990’s. It is interesting how this company maintained their political position.
HOW DARE YOU ASSUME I’M IN THE LABOUR PARTY!!
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
Ref: L308
No1. HOW DARE YOU ASSUME
‘INSTANT RESPONSE UNIT’
Artwork by
PAT DURDEY
At first glance this one does appear to be a non-Labour supporting deign, which was unusual for this company (It is also the reason why I have included it here as I was aware that the above cards are very one sided on the political party side). The text does appear to say that the person saying this is not a Labour supporter. It is not as blunt as the above three cards, which is interesting, but unless I am missing some twist here this does seem to be the only Leeds Postcards issue from their output which was not immediately anti-Tory party.
TORIES
COULDN’T
GIVE A
XXXX FOR
WORKERS’
RIGHTS
‘DON’T GIVE AN X FOR THE TORIES’
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
Ref: L638
Photograph/Design
By
John Harris
“In December 1991 John Major scuppered the social charter of the European Maastricht Treaty. Preferring a ‘Europe of shopkeepers’ to a Europe of worker’s rights, the Tories have used the mask of ‘national sovereignty’ to create cheap labour for trans-national investors… and to shore up a fractured Tory Party before the election: Profits and election victory before people”
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
OK, this is more normal for the company, back to battering the Tories. By now John Major was in charge and although he received a lot less postcard abuse than Margaret Thatcher he still got some knocks and Leeds Postcards were there to give them.
The design was clearly based on the beer advert around at the time which some of you may remember.
06/06/2017
AILLEUNO
I bought this postcard for a few pence from a dealer’s cheap box because I just could not believe something so simple could have been published. I also admit that even now I do not know for certain what this relates to, although possibly it has something to do with advertising a shop or some other establishment or event. The simplicity of the front of this card is only surpassed by that of the reverse side.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
CARTES POSTALES
“Ouvert du Mondai au Same di de 19ha 19h ACHAT. VENTE”
I believe this roughly translates as:
‘Open from Monday to Saturday [19hrs ?] PURCHASE. SALE’
This is possibly the most simplistic reverse side postcard design and text layout that I have ever come across. I suspect this is deliberate, or more truthfully, I really hope this was deliberate because otherwise the person responsible has really made this look like they could not be asked! But, if done deliberately then it might just be very clever – it has certainly caused it to end up in my collection and to being shown here…. !!
06/06/2017
PETER SALLIS …..RIP
1st February 1921 – 2nd June 2017
Actor best known for his television work, probably as the character Clegg in the long running television series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. Also known as the voice of Wallace in the award winning animated ‘Wallace and Gromit’ films.
POSTCARD
‘GREETINGS FROM CLEGG’
Last of the Summer Wine
Printed by
VICTORIA PRESS, HOLMFIRTH
‘Clegg – by Jeanette I. Leadbeater’
Peter Sallis played the character ‘Norman “Cleggy” Clegg’ in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ from its start in 1973 through to the programmes final episode in 2010 in which he spoke the final words. Holmfirth was the location where the series was mainly filmed and is known as being the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ Country. As a result, of filming here, you have always been able to obtain interesting locally produced postcards in Holmfirth itself, which relate to the programme and its characters, and this example here is a locally printed design. It is one in a series of character cards all drawn in black and white by Jeanette Leadbeater. These cards have always been popular and if you collect television themed postcards you probably have at least one of these in your collection.
The red 1st class Machin head stamp has been cancelled with a special ‘HOLMFIRTH – HUDDERSFIELD – LAND OF THE SUMMER WINE’ special hand stamp dated 1st May 1989. This hand stamp was in use for some years and can be found on all sorts of related postcards and envelopes. Here it is perfectly used on the front of this postcard depicting ‘Clegg’.
05/06/2017
KARNAK
COLONNADE
Published by
C A & Co
Ref: Aegypten II, No. 5.
This lovely painting of the columns at the Karnak Temple complex in Egypt was posted from Austria in 1906. Karnak is an amazing place and I had the pleasure of visiting here nine years ago, before much of the troubles that have since plagued the country. It is an astonishing place and one I would love to return to one day but in the meantime, I shall continue to seek out interesting images, photographic or artistic, like this one, which depict aspects of the temple.
05/06/2017
MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK AND MICHAEL JACKSON
Unknown Printer and Publisher
1988 Copyright Date
This unusual postcard has a perforated edge along the top and down the left-hand side so it appears to be, in my mind, a magazine freebie, and one which was attached to what I suspect was a block of four postcards. The source is not known to me except that this copy from my collection was posted from Norway in 1990. When I saw this on a dealer’s stand (where it was in a 20p box) at the recent Woking postcard fair, I realised that although it is a cheaply made postcard it was also a very unusual ‘Disney’ related issue. I also knew that if I did not pick it up there and then then it was highly unlikely I would see another copy.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Posted from Norway in 1990
This is another of the record breaking number of postcards sent to Craig Shergold who was a young boy who wanted to be in the guinness book o records and succeeded by receiving postcards from all across the world after his wish became public knowledge.
04/06/2017
“HAS ANYBODY SEEN THE PARLIAMENTARY ROAD TO SOCIALISM?”
‘POST POLITICAL CARDS No 4
By
RAY LOWRY
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
Ref: L075
RED & PINK
One of the joys of collecting the LEEDS POSTCARDS issues is finding the different coloured versions of the same design. For future collector’s this will be even more difficult as the also mostly have the same reference number as well. Depicted here are three copies of the card reference number L075 and as can be seen, certainly with the first two designs, that different colours have been used. For collectors of modern political themed postcards LEEDS POSTCARDS have consistently been one of the UK’s best publishers (in my opinion ‘THE’ best). The older cards are now appearing in dealer’s stock and on eBay and are now reaching some interesting prices, the really earlier ones sometimes making £5+ on eBay, so I think they are again becoming popular, perhaps not as much as they were at their height in the mid to late 1980’s, but still out there.
04/06/2017
ISLE OF MAN
NATIONAL POSTCARD WEEK
1ST – 8TH MAY 1988
Published by
MANNIN COLLECTIONS LTD
MANNIN POSTCARD No. PROMO. I/1988
LIMITED EDITION 1000
Ref: J/V 839CX
“Mannin have a range of over 100 Isle of Man black & white, and colour, limited edition postcards available”.
(Part of the text block from reverse side of postcard)
This is a nice advertising postcard which depicts six of the many postcards published by this Isle of Man based company. This is also topical as the company have issued a range of TT Races themed postcards, some of which are depicted on this promotional postcard, and the TT Races are currently going on having started on the 27th May and which are running through to the 9th June. This is why I have posted this postcard on the webpage today.
04/06/2017
AAAH!
FLORIDA
“RELAXING IN FLORIDA”
Published by
LAWSON MARDON POST CARD
Distributed by
SCENIC CARD & NOVELTY, ORLANDO
Ref: LMPC/3083SC
Some of you will have realised that not a lot has been placed on the webpage this weekend so far. This is because on Friday evening we had to rush my Mother-in-Law into hospital and as a result we have been back and forth between the home and hospital since. But, this morning we have picked her back up and she is home. We are now in the garden relaxing on the garden chairs and I almost resemble Mickey as he appears here. It has been a long weekend but hopefully things will return to at least a little bit of normality.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This particular copy was posted from Orlando in 1994 (this was a year after my very first Florida trip) and a 40c William T. Piper, Aviation Pioneer, U.S. Airmail stamp (SG A2576) which was issued in 1991. This was the required rate for postcards sent to the UK and as a result many of the Orlando postcards sent in the years after 1991 have this stamp applied and it is one of the most common stamps found on this type of postcard from this period.
04/06/2017
PICCADILLY CIRCUS
Published by
MAYFAIR CARDS OF LONDON
In their:
‘BEST OF BRITISH SERIES’
Ref: 828
“On a summer Sunday, Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus were closed for a celebration and demonstration of London’s historic bus collection. Only on very few occasions can this iconic location be seen without normal traffic”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
Yes, today is a summery Sunday, but there is no celebrating to be had in London today after last night’s further terrorist attack in the city. But, in celebration of the spirit of London, and the people of Great Britain I post here what is probably the most iconic symbol of our capital city – The Red London Bus.
03/06/2017
THE LYNN TAIT GALLERY
Ref: LT.G.72
No 72 The Lynn Tait Gallery
59 High Street, Old Leigh
RIP
I have posted this postcard before but I do so again here in remembrance of Lynn, pictured here with her advertising publicity cycle. Lynn Tait sadly passed away on Thursday (01/06/2017). Lynn was fascinated by the local history of her ‘Leigh-on-Sea’ and the larger area of Southend-on-Sea and built up a considerable collection of old postcards depicting these areas. Lynn also produced her own modern postcards of the area and no local event through the 1990’s went on without Lynn issuing postcards related to it, the Southend Air Show, The Pier Fire, The Pier being rammed by a boat, the Queen’s visit, the building of The Royals shopping centre, the opening of the new ‘Never-Never Land’ (since closed down) and much, much, more. No local collector of modern postcards in the Southend area is without Lynn’s postcards in their collection, and this includes me.
Lynn will be sadly missed and I have lost a contact through who I learnt a lot about the local area and the older postcards published which depict it. Lynn’s knowledge was extensive and her collection likewise and Lynn was happy to pass on this knowledge, which she did so in abundance through a local history facebook page, which I am still a member of. To show how fondly Lynn was thought off I just have to tell you that 769 people showed their sadness at her passing through this very ‘facebook’ page.
01/06/2017
LIBERTY IN LATIN AMERICA
By
Julia Firth
Published by
LEEDS POSTCARDS
I read in the newspaper today that Manuel Antonio Noriega died on the 29th May. He was the military dictator who was removed from power by the invasion of Panama in 1989. I do not consider him worthy of my normal styled postings for those recently deceased. But this postcard is ironically siutable for posting here as it shows America in a less than idealistic way in its approach to Latin America, and, they were originally, via the CIA, backers of Noriega as he assisted with the transport of weapons to the U.S backed counterinsurgency forces in South America. But, he was also a cocaine trafficker. In 1988 Noriega was indicted by the U.S on drug trafficking charges. He was eventually captured in the aforementioned US Invasion. Held as a priosner of war he was eventually sentanced in 1992 to 40 years in prison. His US sentance came to an end in 2007 but he was held pending extradition to France on murder and money laundering offences. He was sent ot France in 2010 and sentanced to seven years. He was discharged in 2011 and returned to Panama where he remained until his recent death, which followed two months after a brian surgery operation.
31/05/2017
JAPANESE POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARD
Special Cancellation – C. MONTEVERDI
This is a different hand stamp to the one I previously posted. This one depicts Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (15/5/1567 [baptised] – 29/11/1643) who was an Italian composer, singer and Catholic priest. He was apparently a crucial transitional figure between the Renaissance period and the Baroque period of musical history.
31/05/2017
FARBENPHOTOGRAPHIE AUS DEN VOGESEN
KIRCHE UFFHOLZ
FARBENPHOTOGRAPHISCHE AUFNAHME VON HANS HILDENBRAND
VERLAG: FARBENPHOTOGRAPHISCHE GESELLSCHAFT M. B. H. STUTTGART
Ref: 3660 SERIE 116
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
This translates as:
COLORPHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE VOSGES
CHURCH UFFHOLZ
COLORPHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING OF HANS HILDENBRAND
PUBLISHING: COLORSPHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY M. B. H. STUTTGART
Ref: 3660 series 116
Uffholz, or more properly ‘Uffholtz’ is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in ‘Grand Est’ in North-Eastern France. The card is titled as KIRCHE UFFHOLZ, which means the Church in Uffholz (Uffholtz). If I am correct, this is the ‘Saint Erasmus Church’ and as can be seen in the World War I period photographic postcard image the church was damaged by shelling during the conflict. It must also have been taken by the German army as the soldiers that can be seen studying a document (possibly a map?) whilst standing in the road are ‘definitely’ German. There is of course also the fact that this is a German produced card, possibly printed for the soldiers in this area to send home to family and friends. This one is unused.
31/05/2017
THE PARADE, TAUNTON
Circa 1905
Published by
HARVEY BARTON of BRISTOL
In Association with Blackmores of West Somerset
Ref: 16A
‘TURN OF THE CENTURY SERIES’ by
George Hooker
“Trams and motor cars were an everyday part of the scene in the Country town by the early 1900’s. The short tram route was not success and was closed by the 1920’s”
(Text on reverse side of Postcard)
This is one in a series showing paintings of different locations, but it is the only one I have. I shall have to look out for the others.
31/05/2017
OCTOPUS ON DRUMS
Published by
J. ARTHUR DIXON LTD
(A DIXON PRODUCTION)
Ref: L6/PCD 21524
“The big band sound, as Oswald the Octopus beats out the rhythm for ‘The Beautiful Briney Sea” – From the Walt Disney full-colour production, ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’”
(Text from reverse side of Postcard)
When it comes to Walt Disney related postcards I do like the ones which are for the more unusual film releases. This image here is from the underwater animated section of the film ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’, released in 1971. I saw this as a child at the cinema and I really enjoyed it but I will admit that it does not quite hold up so well now when I watch it as an adult. Despite this I still have very fond memories of this film and when I come across the rare postcard that depicts a scene from this film I will always pick it up.
30/05/2017
THETFORD
STATUE OF CAPTAIN MAINWARING
Published by
CHARLES STENNER CARDS
DAD'S ARMY
My copy of this postcard was posted in October 2014. The statue itself was erected in June 2010 and was sculpted by Sean Hedges-Quinn and is designed so that there is an area beside the statue where people can sit and have their photograph taken. The statue was put up in Thetford because much of the exterior scenes for the programme were filmed here. This is clearly a local postcard which would be hard to source unless you found one, like me, on a dealer’s stand. This is a cracking Dad’s Army related postcard and considering how popular the series has been there are not that many postcards available.
30/05/2017
SHALLOW HAL
Film advert postcard
Published by
BOOMERANG FREECARDS AMSTERDAM
Ref: P07-02
‘VANAF 28 MAART IN DE BIOSCOOP’
This postcard fits into my novelty collection as the main area of the card, which appears kind of black here, is actually ‘shiny silver coated’, and it therefore acts as a mirror. You can actually see your face in it – although clearly not here!! It looks more impressive in reality than it does here, having been scanned.
29/05/2017
HERFST TRAM
By
Hermanus Berserik
1989
Published by
ART UNLIMITED, AMSTERDAM
Ref: A 3716
Clearly, from the range of postcards I have posted on the webpage it is obvious I am interested in postcards that depict forms of transport. I like those that are photographic but if I am honest I much prefer postcards which depict paintings and illustrations of forms of transports. I also know that trains and aeroplanes are the most popular transport themes but I like trams and cars. This tram painting I think is a cracker.
29/05/2017
ST MARY MAGDALENE
Painting by ‘Ribera’
Postcard Published by
‘Museo del Prado, Madrid’
Ref: 286
(SPANISH MAXI-CARD)
The painting depicted on this postcard is on display in a museum in Madrid. Someone has very cleverly taken the 1954 issued ‘Death Tercentenary of Ribera’ Spanish stamp (SG 1192) and applied it to the front and had this cancelled with a Madrid cancellation. This is not a first day of issue use as it is dated 1956 but the location is still relevant. This is an appropriate stamp to use as the stamp uses part of the paintings image, the face of Mary Magdalene. The combination of the stamp and postcard makes this a nice collectible, and one for both stamp and postcard collectors.
29/05/2017
TINGHA AND TUCKER
With JEAN MORTON
ATV Official Post Card
Tingha and Tucker were koala bears who appeared on the ATV children’s television programme of the same name which was hosted by Jean Morton, who can be seen on this postcard promotional image. The show was aired between 1962 and 1970 and was made up of short weekday shows and a Sunday special, which was called ‘The Tree House Family’.
The koalas were originally stuffed toys but later puppets were used to give more movement and character to the koalas. The show was extremely popular and even produced a club called ‘The Tingha and Tucker Club’ which at one point had 750,000 members. The club eventually had to close down, this was because it could not handle the quantity of mail that was received and needed to be sent out.
Apparently after the show was cancelled in 1970 the puppets were put into storage and they were then stolen from here shortly after. It seems the puppets have never been recovered. I wonder where they are now?
The front of this postcard has been signed by Jean Morton.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Unlike many of the black and white promotional official television company photographic cards from this era, which were mainly plain backed, this one does have a proper postcard reverse. This one has the added bonus of a hand-written message from Jean Morton and a second signature.
29/05/2017
BASEBALL
EUROPEO
1997
CHAMPIONATO EUROPEO BASEBALL JUNIORES
18TH JUNIORES
LIVORNO C.P.
20TH July 1997
Baseball is not only popular in the United States, it is played all over the world and here you have a specially produced postcard for a junior championship competition held in Italy. This postcard appears to depict the logo, or badge design for this event. I was interested in this card because it also has a stamp cancelled with a special hand stamp that also celebrates this event, and which has the same fish logo as appears on the card. The stamp used is the 1980 issued castle definitive in the value of 450I (SG 1686a) which depicts Piobbico Castle in Pesaro.
29/05/2017
MIN HOBBY
(“MY HOBBY”)
UTSTALLNING
(“EXHIBITION”)
STOCKHOLM
1942
Special exhibition postcard for a specialist ‘My Hobby Exhibition’ held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1942. The poster styled advert depicts a very traditional Swedish styled Hobby Horse, a design I am aware of as I have family and friends in Sweden and I recognise the style of this horse’s head.
This is not a postal stationery post card as an actual stamp was needed to be applied, here this is a 1940 issued 5ore value ‘Birth Bicentenary of C. M. Bellman (poet)’ stamp (SG 244). This stamp has been cancelled with the events special hand stamp which also depicts the traditional hobby horse. The cancel is dated 28th March 1942 which the poster design informs me was the first day of the exhibition. I would be interested to know if this hand stamp was available for the other days of the exhibition as well or if this one here was the only one officially used.
It is perhaps also worth remembering that this postcard was issued during the second world war, although Sweden was a neutral country of course. But, this was still a major exhibition about collecting at a time that most of the rest of the world was fighting and undergoing restrictions as a result.
29/05/2017
JOHN NOAKES ….. RIP
6th March 1934 – 28th May 2017
Television presenter best known for his time on the children’s programme ‘Blue Peter’ where he still holds the record for the longest run at 12years and 6 months.
Plain backed signed official BBC Blue Peter card.
Adults of a certain age, my age and around it, will already know that John Noakes is depicted far right, with the parrot on his shoulder!