WE ARE THE PEOPLE.

POSTCARDS FROM THE COLLECTION OF TOM PHILLIPS (£20)

Published by the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.

This book from 2004 coincided with an exhibition of postcards from this collection which was held at the National Portrait Gallery in London. I was fortunate enough to attend this exhibition and bought this book as a souvenir of my visit.

The book is packed with simple black and white photographic postcards of ordinary people doing mostly ordinary things, but which, when collected together like this, make for a fantastic pictorial social history exhibition. This book could be enjoyed by anyone.

One of the chapter heading pages from the above book. Other chapters from the selection of 36 include:

DANCE, ASPIDISTRA, PICNIC, PATRIOTIC, PRAM, TWO MEN, MATERNITY, READERS, SHOPS, SPORT, BOATS, CHARABANCS, DOLLS, BICYCLES, SOLDIERS: PORTRAITS and WOMEN IN UNIFORM: WAR WORKERS  

One of the pages from the above book and under the above chapter as shown : Music

One of the pages from the above book

One of the pages from the above book

One of the pages from the above book

THE WORLD EXISTS TO BE PUT ON A POSTCARD: ARTIST'S POSTCARDS FROM 1960 TO NOW

By

JEREMY COOPER

This book coincided with an exhibition at the British Museum, London (which I got to visit - see the webpages facebook page dated 26/06/2019 for images).

This is about the postcard as a form of art rather than mass produced souvenirs. This is packed with images and is an interesting read about another aspect of postcards, one which is often forgotten about.

POSTAL HISTORY SOCIETY -

A 75TH Anniversary Souvenir 1936 - 2011

This is a small 32 page soft-bound booklet which was given away free in 2011 at several stamp shows. Although this mainly gives a lot of interesting historical information about the society it does have an article on the societies conferences and supplies a full list of them up to that date. Special Postcards were issued for many of these conferences (and some have appeared on the webpage) and as a collector of these I found this list to be very useful. This little book is another example of using books to increase your knowledge about a postcard subject.  

Article from the above book on the POSTAL HISTORY SOCIETY conferences with some illustrations of items released for these including three postcards.

(Page 21)

The listing of events as mentioned above

(Page 22)

VINDICATION! - A Postcard History of the Women's Movement

By

IAN McDONALD

I picked this up at a recent Canterbury Postcard & Collectors Fair. I love history books which represent history through the issues of postcards which relate to the theme. This one from 1989 is a great example which is packed with historic information and profusely illustrated with both black and white and colour illustrations.

There is a superb selection of Donald McGill cartoon cards related to the female vote and womens rights (all in colour). The periods of both world wars are covered, but I was also fascinated with the more modern era of the 1980's with a number of cards illustrated and although I have a number of them there were also some I do not. There is a chapter on Mrs Thatcher included, which has two Falkland War postcards illustrated (which I have) and sections on the political 1980's and Greenham Common. A superb book both for the postcard collector and historian.          

PICTURE POSTCARD ANNUAL 1992

By

REFLECTIONS OF A BYGONE AGE

Another of my recent 99p charity shop buys (see below two books). This one was of particular interest as I have the two modern cards depicted on the cover in my collection. Four well known modern postcard dealers picked their top ten cards of the year - so 40 cards. Out of interest I counted how many I have in my collection and I have just over half of them - 21 of the cards (not bad I thought). There is also a continuation of the London Transport Museum postcards which was a listing started in the 'Collect Modern Postcards' catalogues (issues 1 and 2) which appear elsewhere in this book listing on my webpage.

PICTURE POSTCARD ANNUAL 1984

By

REFLECTIONS OF A BYGONE AGE

This was also picked up at the same time as the below book, and was again just 99p. This one is three years latter and the annual has taken up the format which would run through the years.

In this annual they started a listing of the Raphael Tuck postcards (Part 1 - from the 7000's numbers). There also many other articles and useful bits of information as there always was with these issues.

PICTURE POSTCARD ANNUAL 1981

By

REFLECTIONS OF A BYGONE AGE

I picked this up from a charity shop in June 2019 (recently as I type this) for just 99p. Its a very old edition of an annual which ran through to 2018 (there was no 2019 edition although it will return in 2020).

This has some great old articles, including one on Bonzo the dog and the 1914 bombardment of Hartlepool. There is also one titled 'Modern cards in North Wales' which is now of course 38 years old, and which made interesting reading

STANLEY GIBBONS: STAMPS OF THE WORLD 2014

I already have a 2004 set of these (just four books back then) but when I saw these in a charity shop recently (25/09/2018) at just £30 I had to have them.

Most used postcards have stamps on them, afer all that is what the cards are designed for, travel through the postal systems. Therefore some knowledge of the stamps used on your cards is an important factor for collectors. These six books only give you your basic information, but it is a very good start. 

09/09/2018

HISTORICAL COSTUMES OF ENGLAND 1066 – 1968

By N. Bradfield

&

ENGLISH COSTUME From the Second Century B.C. to 1972

By Doreen Yarwood

I picked up these books yesterday from a charity shop. They cost me just a few pounds each. Both books are packed with information and illustrations and although much of the earlier information is of no use to me as a postcard collector, the information around the periods from 1890 through to 1968 and 1972 is enormously useful. Many of us like to be able to date our early photographic postcards, and many do not give dating details, just location. So, if people are included in the image you can look at what they are wearing and use this information to date the card. Both these books, alongside one I already own, will help me in the future.      

Here are some pages from the above books, a page from both issues is depicted

Here are some pages from the above books, a page from both issues is depicted

COLLECTING POSTCARDS IN COLOUR 1914 - 1930

By

Valerie Monahan

This was the very first postcard book I ever bought, way back in the very early years of the 1980's. It was the book that taught me about the early days of picture postcards and which set me on the raod to collecting like I do today.

This has a superb illustrated section at the back.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS CARD

By

George Buday

This may seem like a different topic at first, but this book has an excellent section on the sending of Christmas postcards at the height of the early postcard story. There are also many illustartions of postcards as well. This is a hardbook book which is long out of print and copies are sought after so this is a £20+ book these days. 

PICTURE POSTCARD VALUES 2008

Yet another old postcard yearly catalogue

GERMANY & GERMAN COLONIES - STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE 1971

Yet another cheap buy, but for a country I have a large postcard collection of.

RF PICTURE POSTCARD CATALOGUE 1988

This was another yearly catalogue, now long gone, which was an annual source of pricing and information. As stated below, old catalogues like this are a great source of images and information. 

THE PICTURE POSTCARD CATALOGUE 1993

With prices and many images

THE POSTCARD CATALOGUE 1994

Old catalogues like this are a great source of images and scarcity. The values go out of date but if you compare them you can gauge which cards are more valuable than others etc.

ELVIS MEMORABILIA

THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER

I check out any books like this just in case there is any recorded postcard information included - with this book there were several pages of postcards. This was a £1 cheap book shop buy.

Page from above book

I did a previous posting about this Elvis stamp and the voting postcard that was used. It was nice to see details shown in this book.

Page from above book

This page was about billboard advertising postcards for Elvis concerts

Another page from the above book - possibly the best page.

COLLECT BRITISH POSTMARKS

By

Dr. J. T. WHITNEY

An early edition (1979) of this authoritive publication.

COLLECT BRITISH POSTMARKS - THIRD EDITION (1983)

A further edition with updated details and information

COLLECT BRITISH POSTMARKS - FOURTH EDITION (1987)

Yet another updated edition of this essential guide

GENTLEMAN'S RELISH

By

RONNIE BARKER

Another of the mainly postcard related collection of female images of the late great comedic actor 

TILL THE BOYS COME HOME - THE PICTURE POSTCARDS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

By

TONIE & VALMAI HOLT

A superb book packed with images and information and one which is the 'Go To' book for postcards of this conflict.

Same book as above, but with a slightly different cover 

I'LL BE SEEING YOU - PICTURE POSTCARDS OF WORLD WAR II

By

TONIE & VALMAI HOLT

Almost a companion book to the above issue but this time about the Second World War. This is another of my favourites.

STANLEY GIBBONS STAMP CATALOGUE - PART 11 - SCANDINAVIA (4TH EDITION)

This was another 50p bargain from a bourse night at my stamp club. For specialised information around early stamps used on my postcards these are a great source of detail and scarcity (a number of other similar catalogues are depicted on another earlier BOOK LIST page).

CHANNEL ISLANDS STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY

STANLEY GIBBONS SPECIALISED CATALOGUE

This superb book is a must have for any one who collects the postal history of the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey and their sub islands). This book contains details of the postal stationery post cards issued on the islands which is why I have a copy.

IMAGES OF CHILDHOOD IN OLD POSTCARDS

By

COLIN & TIM WARD

Another collection of golden age postcards on a specific theme

BESIDE THE SEASIDE - A PICTURE POSTCARD ALBUM

This specialist book depicts lots of golden age postcards of seaside towns and activities.

THE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO POST CARDS (2008) 

By

JANE WOOD

This is an American book which consists of pages of multiple black and white images all under thematic headings with values underneath. This obviously leans heavily towards American themes and topic's, like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Indians (Native Americans as they are properly called) and Black History, amongst the other usual topics. If anyone is interested in what is collected in the US and what the value of these cards are then this is worth a look  

A HISTORY OF POSTCARDS

By

MARTIN WILLOUGHBY

A good solid written history of the postcard, filled out with colour illustrations and interesting information

SAUCY SEASIDE POSTCARDS

By

ALAN WELLS

The history of the iconic saucy comic cards. Illustrated throughout with many illustrations in full colour this is a great read. 

THE QUEEN'S STAMPS - THE AUTHORISED HISTORY OF THE ROYAL PHILATELIC COLLECTION

By

NICHOLAS COURTNEY

The Queen has an amazing stamp collection, possibly one of the best in the world, if not the best. This book covers the background history of the collection and some of the stories behind their issue. This is a specialist book, and one only for those interested in this specific collection, but it has some interesting images and stories in it.

MAPPING BRITAIN'S LOST BRANCH LINES

By

PAUL ATTERBURY

Some books are a surprising source of postcard images. This book covers a large number of small railway lines and their stations. Every single one of these is depicted via a postcard image which either shows the station itself or a postcard from that location. I found this a great book and a great way of incorporating postcards within a story.  

DRAWN INTO WONDERLAND

BRIAN PARTRIDGE

This book was published by the postcard publisher P. H. Topics in a limited numbered edition of just 300 copies. Brian Partridge has produced a wide range of postcard designs, some have appeared on this webpage. When this book was announced I booked my copy immediately. I already knew the publishers and I was also in contact with the artist himself as well. This is now a very scarce book with a strong postcard connection because many of the illustrations within it are from postcard releases.

Every copy of the 300 books published was signed by the artist on the first main page of the above book.

Because of my contact with the publisher and the artist himself my copy of this book received an extra signature and dedication, which makes it that little bit special to me.

The last page of this special little book and the page where the books individual number was hand written in. My copy is number 25 or 300.

As can be seen this book was published in 2004. This could well be a very difficult book to pick up today.

STANLEY GIBBONS GREAT BRITAIN CONCISE STAMP CATALOGUE (1994 EDITION)

Still issued yearly this catalogue is the essential guide to all British stamp issues. I use this to check up on the stamps used on my GB postcards

COLLECT POST OFFICE CARDS - 4TH EDITION (1985)

COLLECT POST OFFICE CARDS - 5TH EDITION (1986)

Both of these catalogues continued gathering information around the isues of the Post Office cards, PHQ Cards and in these books the Benham Silk Post Cards as well.  

COLLECT POST OFFICE CARDS

This was the final edition of this catalogue. It contained a PHQ Card listing - a listing of all the postal region postcards - and many other official roayl mail cards (along with the then still popular telephone cards). This is the essential guide to the post office card issues.

STANLEY GIBBONS POSTCARD CATALOGUE - SECOND EDITION (SUMMER 1981)

STANLEY GIBBONS POSTCARD CATALOGUE - 1981

They issued a few of these catalogues. The first one I bought was issued in 1983 (see below), and it was one I used a lot in the period after it came out. This earlier one I bought much later. 

STANLEY GIBBONS POSTCARD CATALOGUE - 1983 (THIRD EDITION)

This was the first SG Postcard Catalogue I bought. It was a very useful guide although the prices are long out of date now.

STANLEY GIBBONS POSTCARD CATALOGUE 1985 (FOURTH EDITION)

With this issue they changed the size of the catalogue into this long thin version, which I always thought was a weird size, but it was handy to carry around at fairs though.  

STANLEY GIBBONS POSTCARD CATALOGUE 1987 (FIFTH EDITION)

This was the last one I bought (and may have been the last one they issued). The information across the various catalogues remaind basically similar, although there are different check lists in each one which almost makes it worth having them all.

POSTCARDS FROM THE NURSERY

THE ILLUSTRATORS OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND POSTCARDS 1900 - 1950

One of the best, and largest (it is a 'Huge' book) books in my collection. It is fully illustrated throughout with colour postcard images. This book deals individually with a large range of different artists and gives a fairly detailed biography for each of them. It is a superb source of information and a book which every collector of children's book artist postcards should have.  

COLLECT MODERN POSTCARDS

By

PETE DAVIES

This is the 'Bible' for UK modern postcard collectors. A brilliant book written by an old friend of mine and ex-postcard dealer Pete Davies. I have used this book countless times.

COLLECT MODERN POSTCARDS - SECOND EDITION

By

PETE DAVIES

The follow up book to the above issue. This updated issue carried on a number of the checklists started in the first edition and was fully populated with new images. Both books are superb.

COLLECT MODERN POSTCARDS - THIRD EDITION

By

PETE DAVIES

This was a much slimmer edition compared to the previous two releases but it still contained a wealth of new information. This issue is special to me as I am mentioned under the Acknowledgements and thanked for my assistence with the 'Television' section. My copy is also signed and dedicated by Pete who wrote 'Thanks for your help'. This has far fewer illustrations but a wealth of written information.

THE ANZACS IN WORLD WAR 1

ILLUSTRATED IN POSTCARDS AND CIGARETTE CARDS

This is a magazine styled book which was published by the 'Queensland Card Collectors Society Inc'. It was kindly sent to me by an Australian contact. It is a superb full colour pictorial history of the Anzac forces and a brillaint source of information. Another specialist book well worth trying to track down if this is your theme.

THE BOOK OF POSTCARD COLLECTING

By

THOMAS E. RANGE

This is an American book which, naturally enough, was aimed towards American postcard collectors, or more specifically stamp collectors or anyone wanting to start up in the world of postcard collecting. It is a fascinating insight into how postcard collecting was/is done in the US. This book came out in 1980 so it is a bit old now, but has a wide range of images.  

MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL

By

CHRIS BEETLES

This has full page, full colour images of many of this artists pictures, many made famous as postcard images. A specialist book, but a superb one.

THE WORLD OF DONALD McGILL

A superb book, in full colour, which gives a detailed history of the postcard work of this famous cartoon postcard artist. This is one of my favourite books.