25/09/2018
50TH ANNIVERSARY V. J.
OPERATION STRUGGLE
Lt. Cdr. IAN FRASER V.C. D.S.C
L/Seaman JAMES JOSEPH MAGENNIC V.V
BROOKLET V.C. CARD No. 31
Published by
BROOKLET
Ref: LL28 5UF
As the text here on the front explains, these two men were awarded the Victoria Cross for their Midget Submarine attack on the Japanese cruiser ‘Takao’ in the Johore Straits in Singapore on 31st July 1945.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Now, this is special. There is a Singapore 60c ‘End of WWII’ stamp cancelled ‘PHILATELIC BUREAU – SINGAPORE’ cancellation dated 31 July 1995, which is the anniversary date of the attack on the cruiser that the card refers to.
More importantly though, this has been signed by the following people, all of whom were either involved in Operation Struggle, or in the case of Ogden, were midget submarine crew on another mission:
Lt. Cdr. Ian Fraser V. C. [Victoria Cross] (one of the two men depicted on the front of this card)
Engine Room Artificer Third Class Charles Alfred Reed CGM – Submarine engine man on midget submarine involved in Operation Struggle. He took the wheel of submarine XE3
Lt Frank Ogden – diver of midget submarine X-24 who was responsible for laying the charges that destroyed a supply-ship in Bergen Dock, Norway in April 1944.
ERA Fourth Class Henry James Fishleigh DSM – midget submarine crew member involved in Operation Struggle
Sub-Lt William James Lanyon Smith, RNZNVR, DSO – was at the controls of midget submarine XE3 during Operation Struggle
Lt. Cdr John Elliott “Jack” Smart DSO, OBE, VRD – Commander of midget submarine who took part in the attack on the German cruiser LUTZOW and the Japanese cruiser Takao
What a superb signature collection and they all have a fantastic story behind them. The midget submarine operations of World War II were the stuff of legends, true ‘Boys Own’ stories, but for real. I was really pleased to get such an item, especially one with so many signatures on it. Ian Fraser is a well-known Victoria Cross recipient, and he has signed many items, but the other signatures which appear here are mostly new to me. I don’t know what the true catalogue value of this card is, or how much it originally cost the first buyer, but I was amazed to come across this in a cheap box on a dealer’s stall. The box was an unsorted box which the dealer had put out on his stall with a basic £1 per item price tag. £1 for this card was an extremely good find for me. It also was fun trying to research the the names here as there was no extra material or text to help identify these people. I spent some time searching internet sites on the midget submarines of WWII before I obtained all the information included here. I still think it is possible that Lt. Frank Ogden was involved in Operation Struggle in some way, but I have just not been able to confirm it.
PHOTOGRAPH
This is an image of one of the X-midget submarines that the above people crewed
25/09/2018
MEETING OF THE CONCORDE STUDY CIRCLE
AT STAMPEX IN LONDON ON
16 SEPTEMBER 2017
Published by
HENK HEIDEN
Limited Edition of just 10 postcards
This very special postcard was produced in a special edition of just ten with each person depicted on the postcard receiving one as a gift from fellow member Henk (who can bee seen second in from the left side). As each copy was given to one of the members depicted I doubt any of these will appear in other people’s collections for some time. Fortunately, I was one of the ten people depicted in this photograph (and my apologies again for inflicting my face upon you yet again!)
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
25/09/2018
TEMPLE OF MUSIC
BUFFALO N. Y.
WHERE PRES [President] MCKINLEY WAS SHOT
Published by
DAVID ELLIS
Buffalo, New York
Printed in Germany
Ref: No. 3
I bought this card for £1 at a STAMPEX show in London (last year I think). It appealed to me because of where and how it was posted, but the front design was of historical interest to me as well. I was not surprised that the Americans issued a postcard relating to the shooting of their 25th President, William McKinley, who was assassinated six months into his second term. He was shot on the 6th September 1901 at the Pan-American Exposition at the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. He was shot by a Leon Czolgosz at a public meeting. He was shot twice in the abdomen but was not killed immediately. He was to die later, on the 14th September from gangrene which developed around one of the bullets that the doctors could not find. His killer was tried and found guilty on the 26th September and executed by electric chair on the 29th October.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I loved that an American sold postcard, printed in Germany, was posted in the Netherlands to another address in the Netherlands. This card has certainly done some travelling.
The 2 ½ cents stamp has been cancelled with a ‘DORDRECHT’ circular cancel dated 6th February 1911. The card was addressed to the city of Rotterdam and has a receiving cancel for ‘ROTTERDAM – 37’ dated 6th February 1911 (same day delivery).
PHOTOGRAPH
18TH August 2018
This is a photograph of a stall at the Mount Dora flea market I visited whilst on my recent holiday in Florida. On this stall I found a very similar card which was priced at $12. Makes my £1 seem like a bargain!
25/09/2018
OBAN
OBAN FROM THE SOUTH
Published by
Published by
W R & S
‘WILLIAM RITCHIE & SONS LTD’
EDINBURGH
In their:
RELIABLE SERIES
This clearly uses the same format as that on the postcard posted below, although the reverse side is very different. It is also by the same publisher as the below posted card. The photograph used here is from the turn of the last century, 1900 – 1909, but I strongly suspect nearer the earlier year. I like these cards, but I don’t normally come across them as they are in dealer’s sections which I do not normally look through. This card, and the two immediately below, were found in a Stamp Dealer’s stock in a box marked up as ‘Unusual old used postcard’s’.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here we have two ½ penny green King Edward VII stamps which have been cancelled with two strikes of the OBAN single circle date stamps dated 30th June 1909. This is addressed to Italy, but the location is not clear on the boxed circle arrival date cancel, but it looks like the location was Milano in the written addressed, this of course being Milan.
This also has that small AUCA red boxed collector’s cachet as well, as described below on the previous posting this is a mark used by a collector for his personal collection of cards.
25/09/2018
ELLEN’S ISLE, LOCH KATRINE
ARMS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT
TROSSACHS HOTEL SERIES
Published by
W R & S
I have done some research and discovered that this W R & S logo was used by the company called ‘WILLIAM RITCHIE & SONS LTD’
EDINBURGH
In their:
Trossachs Hotel Series
This is a nice black and white view postcard which has a colour circular crest bottom right. This type of layout, a photograph or piece of artwork, with a crest of some sort in the corner of the design was a popular format used by various companies and printers.
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian (1771 – 1832). He wrote such classics as ‘Ivanhoe’, ‘Rob Roy’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’. He turns up on many Scottish issued postcards and is a national figure of historical interest. I have a couple of cards which are related to him and this one is connected through the depiction of his crest.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This has some really-nice clear cancels and marks and interesting usage. It was posted to France using a King Edward VII 1 penny red stamp which has been cancelled with a ‘CALLANDER’ double circle handstamp dated 12th August 1905. On the left side is a smaller single ring ‘TROSSACHS cancel of the same date, which I suspect is an area cancel applied after the card was posted and cancelled in Callander, but it could be the other way around (but I suspect not as the stamp is normally cancelled initially at point of posting). The address this card was posted to is in Le Blanc and upon arrival has received a LE BLANC – INDRI (I think this is INDRE and either they use an I at the end in their cancel or its just a poorly printed E). I am a bit confused by these locations as INDRE is nowhere near LE BLANC, so I am going with the Le Blanc location which is half way between Tours and Limoges (Indre is located way over to the west of Nantes!). Whatever the exact location, the date on this cancel is the 14th August.
The small red boxed AUCA cachet applied top left is a collector’s mark, something which a certain collector used to mark the cards in their collection. I have a handful of cards from this collector’s collection with this personal cachet.
SIR WALTER SCOTT
ABBOTTSFORD,
FROM THE TWEED
Unknown Printer, Publisher
This is a beautifully printed card which I wanted to show you with the above depicted postcard because of the obvious Sir Walter Scott connection. Of the Sir Walter Scott cards in my collection this is my favourite and it was bought at the same time as the above card. This is an earlier card as it has an undivided back.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Here the 1 penny red King Edward VII stamp has been used to pay the postage rate to Italy. The stamp has been cancelled with a ‘LONDON W. C.’ double circle cancellation dated 5th March 1902. Top left you have a single circle cancellation for ‘CAPRIOLO’ which looks to be dated the 7th March (clearly March although this segment is blurred) 1902. There is also a ‘BRESCIA’ boxed circle date cancellation for the 8th March 1902. The address was changed at some point, but I cannot make out where this was ‘manuscript changed’ to a ‘Via’ location. A nice combination of used marks though.
25/09/2018
THE HUMOUR OF LIFE
AS SEEN BY PHIL MAY
ANOTHER PUZZLE FOR THE POST OFFICE
BILL: “But I dunno the bloke’s address!”
ARRY: “Can’t yer write and ask him for it?”
Published by
DAVIDSON BROS
Pictorial Post Cards from Originals by Phil May
Ref: Serie 6075
Phil May was a popular postcard artist and one who’s output is still collected by specialist collectors. This is one from a series titled ‘The Humour of Life’. This card was posted on 13th December 1903 from Northwich.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
25/09/2018
HINDU WOMAN
Unknown Printer – Publisher
This postcard was posted in 1906 from Bombay (as it was then called), India to Peterborough in England. The message written on the front here reads “How would this suit you for a sweetheart”. During the early years of postcard publishing there was a strong interest in ethnic people and their costumes, and in the case of many African and South American tribes and ethnic groups the lack of clothing! So, a card like this would have been very collectible and of interest to the person who received it.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
The ‘Half Anna’ postage stamp (SG 121 – issued 1902) depicts King Edward VII. It has been cancelled with a nice clear BOMBAY cancel dated 7th April 1906 (11:30 am). I am not clear why this was changed by the sender from Post Card to Printed Matter (changed in manuscript across the top). This is normally done because something has been attached to the front or reverse side of the postcard, which has not happened here.
25/09/2018
MOUNT PAGET
(9625 feet)
SOUTH GEORGIA
By
J. RHIND (1984)
Printed by
THOUGHT FACTORY
I did a display last night at my local stamp club on the Falklands War 1982 (there are some photographs of this on the facebook page). The island of South Georgia is closely connected with this war and I showed a range of philatelic items relating to the Island, but not this postcard which did not make the cut for the display, although it is still a nice one.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This has some great usage. There is a 5p ‘King Edward Point’ Falkland Island Dependencies (South Georgia) postage stamp cancelled with a FALKLAND IS DEPENDENCIES – S. GEORGIA circular date stamp dated 27th August 1985 (this is not first day of issue as the stamp – SG 78A – was issued in 1980). The postcard also has a really-nice large blue cachet for KING EDWARD POINT – SOUTH GEORGIA which features two Elephant seals.
25/09/2018
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
MICKEY & MINNIE
Postcard Pack Postcard
This is one postcard from a pack which is available only on board the Disney Cruise line ships, I bought mine onboard the ship called the Fantasy (although this photograph was taken onboard the Disney ship 'Dream' as can be seen by the name under the Donald statue on the left - I assume there is no specific 'Fantasy' set, but then the ships are sister ships and nearly the same anyway). I bought two packs, one which I have kept as mint and another which I had partially sent from the Disney Caribbean Island ‘Castaway Cay’ (which is technically in the Bahamas), and partially posted at the Magic Kingdom theme park when we got back to Florida. This is one of the ones posted at the Magic Kingdom.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This one was posted at the Magic Kingdom theme park and has the MAIN STREET USA – MAGIC KINGDOM cachet applied. I used three of the USA Disney Villains stamps on each of the three postcards I posted from here. This one has the following:
Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)
Scar (The Lion King)
Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
FIREWORK DISPLAY
Postcard Pack Postcard
The Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line with the authority to hold a firework display from the ship whilst at sea. I watched it on my cruise and although not as good as the theme park firework displays it was most enjoyable (I am a bit of a fireworks fan)
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This one was posted at the Magic Kingdom theme park and has the MAIN STREET USA – MAGIC KINGDOM cachet applied. I used three of the USA Disney Villains stamps on each of the three postcards I posted from here. This one has the following:
Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)
Cruella De Vil (One Hundred and One Dalmatians)
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
POSTCARD PACK DISPLAY POSTCARD
Postcard Pack Postcard
This was the card at the back of the pack which displayed the six postcards available in the set. What I liked bout this one is that they had also turned this into a proper postcard as well, so you actually-received seven postcards for your money. A nice little extra touch I thought.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This one was posted at the Magic Kingdom theme park and has the MAIN STREET USA – MAGIC KINGDOM cachet applied. I used three of the USA Disney Villains stamps on each of the three postcards I posted from here. This one has the following:
Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
Honest John (Pinocchio)
The Queen (Snow White and the seven Dwarfs)
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
PLUTO ONBOARD THE CRUISE LINE SHIP
Postcard Pack Postcard
This is one of the four postcards from this pack which I had posted from the little Post Office located on the exclusive Disney Caribbean Island which they call ‘Castaway Cay’. The island, in The Bahamas, is the exclusive one which only the Disney Cruise Line ships visit.
The island is unpopulated and the man who runs the Post Office is the only person who comes to the island on a boat other than the cruise line ship!
You can post letters and cards (I suspect it is mainly card’s that are posted from here) and you do this via the buying of a Bahama stamp which is then applied to your mail and cancelled with an exclusive boxed CASTAWAY CAY POST OFFICE postmark – mine were dated the 10TH August 2018, the date of my visit. On my visit the Post Office were using a 65c stamp featuring an image of Blainville’s Beaked Whales issued for the 25th Anniversary of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (the stamp is dated 2017 so I assume it was issued that year).
If you should visit this island on a Disney Cruise I recommend taking some cash with you if you do want to post a souvenir or two as the Post Office only deals in cash (no credit or debit card transactions)
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
MICKEY MOUSE ON CASTAWAY CAY BEACH
With the Disney Cruise Line ship in the background
Postcard Pack Postcard
This postcard was also posted on the Island
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
THE DISNEY FULL CHARACTER LINE UP FOR THE CRUISE LINE
Depicted on the Cruise Ship
Postcard Pack Postcard
This postcard was also posted on the Island
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
OFFICIAL ‘DISNEY CRUISE LINE’ POSTCARD ISSUE
CAPTAIN HOOK & SMEE ONBOARD THE CRUISE LINE SHIP
Postcard Pack Postcard
This postcard was also posted on the Island
THE REVERSE SIDES OF THE FIRST THREE POSTCARDS ABOVE
(Overlaid)
Here you can see the Bahamas 65c stamp featuring an image of Blainville’s Beaked Whales issued for the 25th Anniversary of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation which has been cancelled by the exclusive boxed CASTAWAY CAY POST OFFICE postmark – dated 10th August 2018. These make a great souvenir of any trip to this Disney Island and I recommend posting at least a few to yourself as keep-sakes.
REVERSE SIDE OF FOURTH POSTCARD DEPICTED ABOVE
Here you can see the entire reverse side of this postcard
(I will post the CASTAWAY CAY exclusive postcards in another future posting)
24/09/2018
SUFFOLK
SEE BRITAIN BY TRAIN
BRITISH RAILWAYS
‘AVOCETS AND RINGED PLOVER,
HAVERGATE ISLAND
Novelty – WOODEN POSTCARD
Published by
THE WOODEN POSTCARD COMPANY
Produced under licence for:
SGMG Enterprises Ltd
NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM Poster
Another wooden postcard from my collection. I would be interested in making a larger collection of these wood postcards, but at around £5 a card it would be quite expensive! Having said that, they are smashing, and I cannot resist buying one or two when I come across racks of them. The birds depicted on this one appealed to me.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE WOODEN POSTCARD
24/09/2018
TOP
“GREETINGS FROM WALES”
Published by
BAMFORTH & CO (HOLMFIRTH)
Ref: W 51
In their:
“WELSH NOVELTY” Series
BOTTOM
“WALES HAS EVERYTHING”
Published by
BAMFORTH & CO (HOLMFIRTH)
Ref: WA W53
In their:
“COLOR GLOSS” VIEW Series
Two very different views of the Welsh National Costume! I suspect the bottom one is the ‘Summer’ issue costume (he laughs). Interestingly neither location depicted is named although the bottom one I am sure depicts the Menai Suspension Bridge in North Wales. This because I have had the pleasure of seeing this bridge and driving across it. It is a beautiful bridge.
The top card clearly shows a mountain range, so the obvious assumption is that this is the Snowdonia National Park area, but I am far from certain and there are other peaks in Wales including the Black Mountains, and annoyingly I have visited them both. I have never climbed Snowdon, but I have been up the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park, and I still can not tell which this is (but if I had to choose I feel more inclined towards Snowdonia, in the north (the Black Mountains are further to the south).
I wonder if my friend David Rye would consider the bottom card as a ‘Welsh Dress’ card for his collection of these? It’s the right hat after all! (he says with a smile.)
24/09/2018
“I DO PERCEIVE HERE A DIVIDED DUTY”
LIFE GUARDS 1880
Caricature by Lt. Col T. S. Seccombe (1840 – 99)
An Original watercolour for the book:
MILITARY MISREADINGS OF SHAKESPEARE
Circa 1880
Published by the:
NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM
I assume this to be a comical interpretation!
24/09/2018
KING OF PRUSSIA POSTCARD SHOW & SALE
JUNE 27-28-29
1985
8TH ANNUAL EVENT
GEORGE WASHINGTON MOTOR LODGE
Artwork by
KURT LIBESNY
Published by
John H. McClintock (1985)
A lovely American postcard show promotional postcard from 1985. This would be a nice card anyway, but it has the bonus for me of being another ‘Mermaid’ themed postcard for my collection.
KING OF PRUSSIA
‘GET IN THE SWIM OF THINGS’
9TH ANNUAL POSTCARD SHOW & SALE
JUNE 26-27-28
1986
GEORGE WASHINGTON MOTOR LODGE
Published by
John H. McClintock (1986)
This was the promotional postcard for the events following year postcard show in 1986. It is another nice card.
24/09/2018
TOP
“FILL ‘ER UP – BUT NO GAS FROM IRAQ!”
SADDAM HUSSEIN INVADED KUWAIT
AUGUST 2, 1990
Artwork by
ANN RUSNAK
Published by
ANN RUSNAK
Ref: No. 4
BOTTOM
“FAITES LE PLEIN – MAIS PAS D’ESSENCE IRAQUI!”
SADDAM HUSSEIN A ENVAHI KUWAIT
LE 2 AOUT 1990
Artwork by
ANN RUSNAK
Published by
ANN RUSNAK
Ref: No. 5
The two different versions of Ann’s card which came out as in protest against the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The second card is in French, although the message is basically the same the exact translation is mildly word different, i.e. ‘Faites le Plein’ means ‘Fill the Tank’. I don’t know if everyone knew that there were two versions, but I think it was common knowledge amongst those who bought this type of issue, and I think it was often sold as a pair anyway, I know that is how I bought mine (a buy from the great moderns postcard dealer ‘Ron Griffiths).
I have a fascination in military themed postcards, especially those which can be described as ‘Protest’ cards, the type that come out after a country has invaded another one, Argentina and the Falkland Islands is another example (I am giving a display tonight to a stamp club on this very conflict). There were a range of anti-Iraq cards issued in 1990 and a collection of them makes for a very interesting collection.
REVERSE SIDE OF THE ABOVE TWO POSTCARDS
(Overlaid)
I have previously mentioned that I took a selection of my favourite Ann Rusnak postcards with me when I met Ann in 1994, and that she kindly signed them all for me. These two cards had to be included as they were amongst my favourite of her cards. I remember her going through my selection and being amazed at which ones I had and delighted that her cards were liked outside of the USA.
23/09/2018
BONGO
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
OFFICIAL MAXIMUM CARD
Used with
GHANA C1.00 1984 ‘Bongo’ postage stamp
Cancelled First Day of Issue:
7 SEP 1984
There are lots of these WWF Maxi-Cards, normally they come in sets of 4 or 3 depending on how many individual stamps were issued in the set (four seems to be the normal issue number). The WWF issued four first day cover envelopes and four first day of issue maximum cards for each four-stamp release, and these releases came from countries all over the world and were collected by many, many people. Because of the huge numbers produced, and their availability, these cards turn up often and can frequently be bought for as little as 50p (maybe a £1, tops).
23/09/2018
TOP
“YOU KNOW I’M NO GOOD…”
Published by
AVANTCARD AUSTRALIA
Ref: #11787
Issued 2007
BOTTOM
“REHAB… NO NO NO”
Published by
AVANTCARD AUSTRALIA
Ref: #11785
Issued 2007
AMY WINEHOUSE
BACK TO BLACK ALBUM
These two postcards came in the large collection which I received from Australia last week. Amy Winehouse’s story is a tragic one as she died in 2011, just four years after these two postcards were released. I first heard her when she appeared on a television New Years eve show (a Jools Holland Hootenanny show). She looked a bit strange, well, to me anyway, but her voice was something else. Her appearance was on the 31st December 2006 and clearly Jools Holland saw her as an up-and-coming star, which through 2007 she did become, especially with the release of this album. Having looked at the reference numbers I wonder if there is a third card with the reference #11786 ? I shall have to keep my eyes open and look out for it as there will definately be a card with this number.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
these two have the same reverse except for the reference numbers
23/09/2018
THE BANDSTAND
WESTCLIFF ON SEA
Published by Unknown Publisher/printer (but probably locally produced)
Ref: 132A
It has been awhile since I posted an old postcard from my home town. This one depicts the old Bandstand that used to sit high on what was called ‘The Cliffs’, although this is more a slope which overlooks the sea. Locally, images of this bandstand have been very popular, and very numerous down through the years and if not for our Pier this would have been the most photographed landmark during the early years of postcard production. This one was, according to the hand-written message, posted in 1920.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
23/09/2018
ILLUMINATED TRAM,
EDINBURGH
Published by
VALENTINE’S
Ref: 224576. J.V.
This nice Tram postcard was posted in 1944, and the message seems to indicate that the card was bought just prior to its sending. The illuminated message along the side of the tram, although hard to read here, said ‘WE CARRY PARCELS’, which was an advertisement to the fact that the Edinburgh trams did carry parcels, thus the illuminated postman carrying a sack that appears on the corner.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I bought this postcard because it was a nice transport image and at £1 I felt it was worth adding to my collection. It was not until I got back home and took some time looking at the cards I had bought at yesterday’s London fair that I got around to reading the senders message. The first thing it tells you is that the card was bought close to its sending as the message states that the sender visited Edinburgh “yesterday”, so I assume the card was bought on that trip so must have been available at that time. My favourite part of the message though is:
“It’s good news from France isn’t it – landing in the South of France”
Now, the card was posted in August 1944, although the exact day is unclear on the postmark. I can surmise though that it was posted after, but I assume close to the 15th August. This is because the allied invasion of Southern France, known as Operation Dragoon, took place on the 15th August. Overshadowed these days by the earlier D-Day Landings in Northern France little is mentioned about this particular-campaign, so it is nice, and unusual, to find a card which refers to this, all be it only in passing. A nice piece of history.
PHOTOGRAPH
An image of the side of an Edinburgh Tram with the illuminated advert
(This may even be the same single tram)
23/09/2018
SCOTCH FISHWIVES
Published by
RELIABLE – W R & S – SERIES
This is a very old postcard as it has an undivided reverse side which would indicate a printing sometime around the period before 1902, I suspect quite near to 1900 itself. It is a nice photograph which is full of detail, but which has little in the way of smiles, but then I suspect the life of a fishwife was not an easy one at that, or at any time. This card was worth every penny of the £1 I paid for it (despite the £3 price tag on the reverse side).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
23/09/2018
MANCHESTER UNITED
FOOTBALL CLUB
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS 1968
FA CUP WINNERS 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977
DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967
WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST 1968
Published by
SCANDECOR
Ref: 7917
Copyright 1979
Printed in Sweden
I picked this up yesterday in London at a small fair for just 50p. I used to collect Scandecor postcards when they were still available in the shops back in the very early 1980’s, but I don’t remember ever seeing this one. Scandecor cards were once quite common, but they were shunned by many postcard collectors because of their size, which was an unusually large one for the time. Now, because they are often found only in damaged condition, because the corners get knocked and bent because they were not stored properly because of their size, good condition Scandecor cards, especially on any popular theme, are hard to source. Out of curiosity I searched eBay today and there are only 2 cards from the UK and another 10 from International sellers, and not one of these was from a good theme, and they were all £2+ (mostly £3+).
23/09/2018
JAVANESE SHADOW PUPPET
A HORSE
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Official British Museum Postcard
Ref: E/56
Sometimes I just buy a postcard because I like the look of it and the historical aspect of what is depicted. Basically, I have bought it because it depicts something old (and it helps if the card is cheap as well).
23/09/2018
HOUSE OF MINALIMA
THE GRAPHIC ART OF THE
HARRY POTTER
FILM SERIES
‘GALLERY & SHOP’
26 GREEK STREET, LONDON, W1D 5DE
Official free shop postcard
I visited this shop again yesterday, my second visit this year, and found that everyone could take a copy of this free advertising postcard. This house of Minalima shop is run by two of the people responsible for much of the document artwork that was used in the films, including the Marauders Map, which can be seen here at the bottom of this postcard design. The shop sells packs of twenty postcards (ten designs per pack, two of each design) for £10, which is a very reasonable price for such good quality cards as these, especially when they are all Harry Potter themed. The shop has three floors and on the top floor there is a little display which includes a fireplace with Harry Potter addressed envelopes bursting out of it (see below photographs) If you are a fan of Harry Potter this shop is well worth a visit and whilst you are there you can pick up a free postcard (whilst this offer remains).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
These are quite large cards, modern large size, which is a little smaller than A5. On this side of the postcard I like the OWL POST sign in the stamp box area
PHOTOGRAPH
Taken 22/09/2018
PHOTOGRAPH
Taken 22/09/2018
23/09/2018
DANS LE NOIR?
A UNIQUE SOCIAL AND SENSORY EXPERIENCE
RESTAURANT
30-32 CLERKENWELL GREEN, LONDON
Official free postcard
I think I have depicted this postcard before, or one very similar which my son picked up when he attended here quite a few years back (so, possibly I have not put this card on yet!). Anyway, Me, Jo and our youngest, Peter and Rebecca, visited here last night. It is a restaurant where you eat in complete darkness, after having been walked to and placed in our seats by a blind server who assists you through your meal. It’s a completely different and unique experience, one which I enjoyed (crab meat tastes totally different when you can-not see it!).
Every group that eats here gets a free postcard with their bill, but if you check on the bar desk (in the area downstairs which is lit) then there is a little stack of these cards in a plastic upright container. It was from here that I managed to pick up a small handful of these nice cards.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
PHOTOGRAPH
This is the front of the restaurant
Print 