14/02/2020

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

UNTITLED

ELEPHANTS & HEARTS

NOVELTY APPLIED FELT

(Elephants ears are grey felt pieces and the red hearts are red felt pieces attached to the card)

Published by

PAPERCHASE

A recent acquisition which I have been saving for today, obviously.

TO MY VALENTINE

EMBOSSED POST CARD

Early American Valentine’s Day Post Card

Unknown Publisher

I bought this one last year when In America, so it’s a little ironic that I am typing this whilst back in America again, although I am now in New York this time when I was in Florida when I bought this one. I thought it was a great card and a real bargain at just $1 (worth more I thought).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

TO MY VALENTINE

AIR-LINE LIMITED

Unknown Publisher

American Produced Post Card

With my interest in zeppelins and other airships I suppose this one was always going to appeal, although I think it is a bit of a weird postcard design personally. Would you want to receive this one as a valentine days card?

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

UNTITLED

TORTOISE AND HEART

By

Design by – MONSTER RIOT

Published by

LAGOM DESIGN LTD

Copyright 2013

Ref: MRP06

13/02/2020

LOWER MANHATTAN & BROOKLYN BRIDGE AT NIGHT

NEW YORK CITY

Published by

ACACIA CARD COMPANY

258 BROADWAY, NEW YORK

Ref: 328

Printed in CURTECHCOLOR

Today is our first full day in New York and we intend to visit the 9/11 Memorial Site, which I have been to before, but we are also going to visit the museum which I have not visited (our coach tour last visit did not allow time for this). I am also hoping to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge which I have previously seen but not stood on (and I like new experiences, and I’ve been told the view from the middle of the bridge is worth it). So, that’s part of todays agenda. Therefore, this old postcard from my collection seemed ideal for todays post. It’s the type of card which was almost worthless before the 9/11 attack on the twin towers, but due to the destruction of the towers it is now a sought after and very collectible one.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This card was posted to the UK in 1979 by someone who was at the top of the Empire State Building, which is somewhere we also plan to visit over the next couple of days. I also liked the slogan cancellation used here:

STRIKE BACK AT CANCER

GIVE

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

I also thought it was amusing that the sender has addressed to the ‘INMATES’ … nice!

12/02/2020

CENTRAL PARK

NEW YORK

Published by

STUDIO ZAKE,

NEW YORK

PRINTED IN NYC [New York City]

From one side of our hotel, from the higher floors, where our hotel room is located, you can see all the way across Central Park, its quite a view and one we see every time we are waiting for the lift.

We have been out and about around where our hotel is located and that’s quite close to Times Square. As we walked past the souvenir shops I saw several copies of this postcard still on sale, although my copy came from a cheap box at a recent UK fair, ironic really considering my current location (but it does show how postcards get around, mint or used).

11/02/2020

THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

AT NIGHT

1940’S

By

CARLO BAVAGNOLI

Published by

GRAPHIQUE DE FRANCE

Copyright 2002

Ref: BV101

I am sat on the bed in our overnight hotel awaiting the time for our booked dinner. Tomorrow we fly out of Heathrow to New York. If all goes well in a couple of day’s we will be travelling to the top of the Empire State Building, as depicted here. I have only been to New York once before, back in 2018 and was only in the city for a day and a bit. This time I am going to be visiting for three full days and two partial days either side. Webpage postings will depend on the hotels wifi access, but I will be placing posts on our facebook page, which is always worth checking out and liking.

It has been a bit windy the last few days but looking out of my rooms window I can see that the planes are all flying so I believe we will be taking off (fingers crossed).

10/02/2020

JASON CONNERY

1986 Photograph by

PAUL COX

(For Idols)

Published by

REFLEX MARKETING LTD

Ref: PC 174

Jason Connery is an actor who is probably a lot less known than his father, the more famous Sean Connery (of James Bond fame). Jason is perhaps best known for playing Robin Hood in the TV series ‘Robin of Sherwood’, he took over the main part from Michael Praed in 1986. He did also appear in Doctor Who (Vengeance on Varos), Casualty and Smallville. It is his connection with the TV series Robin of Sherwood that caused me to buy this postcard.

10/02/2020

SUPERMAN

Unknown Publisher

(I think this is Chinese in origin, but that’s not confirmed)

This is a smashing image of part of the film poster for the 1978 film ‘Superman’. I remember when this one came out and yes, as the adverts stated, I did believe a man could fly…

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

The cancellation on the stamp is very Chinese in style, and it is this cancel that makes me think this is Chinese, also the stamp is very Chinese in format, although the country of origin cannot be made out (which again makes me think Chinese – with Japan there is normally a clear NIPON on the stamps).

10/02/2020

A PREHISTORIC GOLFER

Printed by

McCAW, STEVENSON & ORR LTD., BELFAST & LONDON

Ref: MARCUS WARD’S SERIES No 8

Personally, I am not a golf person, in fact I have never played the game as it has never appealed. Having said that of course I must admit that the game is extremely popular. As a result of this popularity, even if I do not understand it myself, golf themed postcards are very collectible. In the golden age of postcards there was also an interest in prehistoric themed cartoons which clearly led to this postcard design. Also, shouldn't it be FORE and not as the sender has written 'FOUR', the sender clearly did not know his golf terminology spelling! 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This one was posted from Wimbledon in 1903 but for some reason the sender wrote the message upside down!

10/02/2020

WORTH

CRISPIN INN

Published By

W. SANSOM WORTH

In the golden age of postcard photography, the photographer needed his subjects to stand still for a while whilst the picture was taken. All the people in this image clearly knew this, or more likely had been told by the photographer to stand still, but I love the fact that the horse attached to the cart on the left side decided to move his head up and down causing a blur around the edges of its head (clearly the horse was not going to stay still).

Interestingly the Crispin Inn is still with us, although under the name ‘St Crispin’ now. I find it interesting when a building I see on an old postcard is still standing, although often with some changes and modern updates.

PHOTOGRAPH

At some point the structure on the left side has been renovated and raised to the same height at the main building on the right side, and the entrance has been built outwards. Otherwise, you can tell it is still the same basic outline on the right side.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

10/02/2020

WALMER

ROYAL MARINES RETURNING FROM CHURCH

A ‘VICTORIA SERIES’ POSTCARD

Ref: 1599

A nice printed photographic postcard which was posted in 1906. Walmer is a town in the district of Dover, Kent. It is a coastal town although you would not be able to tell this from this photograph. This is a great image for anyone interested in clothing as you can see a range of hats worn by both men and women. This one does not have much catalogue value but does have local history interest.   

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

10/02/2020

NOUBLIEZ PAS QUI VOUS L’ENVOIE

Don’t forget who send it to you

NOVELTY EMBOSSED FLOWER POSTCARD

Unknown French Publisher

Flowers seemed to have been one of the top themes for early postcard publishers, but they have not remained popular with collectors, although really attractive flower cards with something a little extra, like the embossing used here, can still cost a pound or two. Unfortunately, because the date stamp on the reverse side is unclear, I cannot tell which year this was posted.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

09/02/2020

BERLIN

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1961 – 1989

Published by

PUBLICON VERLAGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH (BERLIN)

Ref: B 122.2

If you ever visit Berlin, you will find it hard to avoid its cold war story and history and perhaps the famous Checkpoint Charlie is the best embodiment of this era. There are many postcards still on sale all around Berlin which feature images of this area, and it will come as no surprise that the area around where Checkpoint Charlie used to be is now a tourist attraction with its own museum and photo opportunity (but be aware that the current supposed Checkpoint Charlie hut, where you can get a photograph of yourself, is actually some distance away from where the real Checkpoint Charlie was, but I am sure most visitors are unaware of this and probably care even less).  

This postcard depicts a nice older photograph of the area.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

BERLIN

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1961 – 1989

Published by

PUBLICON VERLAGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH (BERLIN)

Ref: B 122.3

This makes for a nice companion postcard to the one depicted above. The main photograph is the same, but here you get an insert photograph of the area as it looks today.  

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

09/02/2020

DOHANY STREET SYNAGOGUE

By

ECK IMRE GABOR

Published by

WHITE SHIP STUDIO

BUDAPEST

Ref: 024

BUDAPEST BY LIGHT (Series)

You can take a guided tour of this Budapest synagogue which I can highly recommend. They do tours in many different languages and the elderly man who gave our English language one was extremely good. Having walked around the synagogue and visited the crypt (where they have a display based on the terrors of WW2), and visited the Jewish Museum which is housed in a building next to the synagogue, but part of the same overall structure, I wanted an image of the synagogue, and this one was a cracker.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

09/02/2020

ANDALUCIA

Novelty stitched ‘Spanish Costume’ card

Published by

EDICIONES F. MOLINA – MADRID

These Spanish Costume postcards are a well-known type of novelty postcard and ones which were extremely popular for many decades. This one here was posted in 1956 so it is a reasonably early one. Earlier copies are becoming harder to find and are increasing in value.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

09/02/2020

NORFOLK BROADS

ITS QUICKER BY RAIL

Novelty Wooden Postcard

Published by

THE WOODEN POSTCARD COMPANY

Made in the United Kingdom

Poster from the collection held at the

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

More and more wooden postcards are turning up, but I do wonder how much longer this trend can carry on, maybe a few years yet. This wooden postcard was bought from the Tourist Information shop in Cromer, which of course is in Norfolk.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE WOODEN POSTCARD

These are not numbered or identified by any different text, so all the wooden postcards produced by this company from posters held at the National Railway Museum have this same basic format.

08/02/2020

TIGER

LINCOLN PARK ZOO,

CHICAGO.

 Published by

MAX RIGOT SELLING CO., CHICAGO

Made in the USA

Ref: 408

(R-50408)

A nice American zoo tiger postcard. Another of the many older postcards I have bought during my travels in America.  

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

08/02/2020

O’BRIENS

O’BRIENS SANDWICH BAR

Winner of the

“RHYTHM OF LIFE”

Photography Competition 2004

By

BOB MORRISON, Co. WESTMEATH, IRELAND

Printed and issued by

FREEPHONE IRELAND

For

O’BRIENS SANDWICH BAR

Ref: 30518

Copyright 2005 O’BRIENS

A winning entry in a photography competition based in Ireland and connected with this great sandwich bar.

06/02/2020

PROVINCIALE BOTEN

OP DE WESTERSCHELDE

Provincial Boats

On the Western Scheldt

Ref: No. 6 Namaak verboden E 1250

A multi-view postcard with five images of what I would call lake or river ferries or similar. I know that the Dutch had many boats which travelled, and still travel along their many waterways. This card is an early modern era postcard from sometime post WWII. I found this one in a cheap box at a stamp show.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

06/02/2020

GREETINGS FROM

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

Published by

ERNEST JOYCE & Co., Ltd., Norwich

Printed by

PLASTICHROME by COLOURPICTURE PUBLISHERS, INC

Made in the USA

Ref: EJE 500

P38424

A postcard from my hometown. If this one looks familiar it may be because I have previously posted the same card design but with Greetings from WESTON-SUPER-MARE (check out the posting dated 12/06/2018 – there is some interesting information about one of the females depicted on this card included with that posting, along with more details about the publisher). As this one is for where I live, I had to have this one as well.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

06/02/2020

THE BOYHOOD OF RALEIGH

By

SIR JOHN EVERETT MILLAIS

1870

OIL ON CANVAS 47 ½ “ x 56”

Printed by

BALDING & MANSELL (LONDON)

For the

TATE GALLERY

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This side is the real reason why I bought this postcard. It has been used with a 7 ½ p Sir Walter Raleigh postage stamp from the 1973 Explorers stamp issue. This has been cancelled with a special first day of issue cancellation:

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

BORN EAST BUDLEIGH

EXHIBITION

18^th APRIL 1973

BUDLEIGH, SALTERTON

DEVON

There is also a red cachet applied top left which relates directly to the postcard image, which is partially depicted, and which reads:

VISIT

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON

THE QUIET

UNSPOILT RESORT

ON DEVON’S

MOST LOVELY BAY

‘BOYHOOD OF RALEIGH’

I think that all this makes for a great postcard combination – IMAGE – STAMP – CANCELLATION – CACHET, what more could you ask for?

06/02/2020

SHAKESPEARE & SYNOVE BOOKSHOP

PRAGUE

Thousands of books in English, French and German

Published by the

SHAKESPEARE & SYNOVE BOOKSHOP

For exclusive sale in this bookshop

I came across this bookshop whilst wandering around Prague one afternoon. I love bookshops whatever country I find them in, and this one was a fascinating shop full of older and new second-hand books and new books. They also had some postcards which were unique to this shop, like this one, and some postcards which I did not see anywhere else in my Prague postcard explorations. Having enjoyed this shop so much I bought this card as a memento of my visit.

PHOTOGRAPH

4^TH MAY 2019

SHAKESPEARE & SYNOVE BOOKSHOP

As you can see here the front of this bookshop is not large, but it has a few floors and a fantastic range of books. It is also, apparently, quite a well known book shop in Prague. 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

CZECH STATEHOOD

Published by (and this could also be an artist’s name)

NAREKATSI

I found three postcard designs in this format which seem to be by the same artist. All three I found, and only found, in the Shakespeare & Synove Bookshop in Prague (as pictured above). Clearly, from the use of English, these postcards are aimed at tourists (it may be an assumption on my behalf, but I think it’s a fair one). With some sets and series’, I only buy an example or two, but I liked these a lot so ended up buying all three. They make great souvenirs of my visit.

.

STANDARD REVERSE SIDE FOR ABOVE THREE POSTCARDS

05/02/2020

THE MAYBE –

A YOUNG MAN’S PROGRESS

Digital C-Type Print

By

MAISIE BROADHEAD

Published by

THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM

Ref: TPPC12

This is a great example of how you just never know what you will find in a museum gift shop. I have found over the years that some of the strangest postcard images come from museums, so if you see a museum, doesn’t matter where, or what it is a museum of, I recommend going in and checking out their gift shop (and in many cases you can access the gift shop without paying the museum entrance fee).

This would be an interesting postcard for anyone who collects images of motorcycles and mopeds.

05/02/2020

RAGAZZA

COLLECTION

NEW YORKER

Unknown Publisher

(Although the Publisher may be ‘New Yorker’ if this is not connected with the collection)

Official RAGAZZA advertising postcard

Good quality advertising postcards are not as common as they used to be, but you can still find some really nice ones if you look.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

05/02/2020

CAMBRIDGE

FAMOUS FOR

STUDENTS

Published by

STAR EDITIONS LTD

Ref: BANDB020PC

I visited Cambridge a few weeks ago. It is somewhere I have visited many times in the past and love. We had a good walk around and as always, I checked out the local souvenir shops, book shops and the Tourist Information centre, all good locations to find interesting postcards. This card, and the one below, were found in one of the gift shops.  

BORN AND BRED

CAMBRIDGE

Published by

STAR EDITIONS LTD

Ref: BANDB004PC

05/02/2020

TOM JANE and JOHN TRAVOLTA

In

MEGTORLO

(THE PUNISHER)

Published by

EST CARDS

(EST MEDIA)

BUDAPEST

(Free Rack Postcard)

I watched this film on television last night. Its from 2004, so it is quite an old movie in modern terms, especially for a Marvel character film. Having watched the film I was quite surprised to then come across this card in my collection which I had forgotten I had scanned. The card kind of screamed out to be posted today.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Other than the films title across the top left side this is a standard styled EST CARDS reverse layout.

04/02/2020

THE ROYAL VISIT

TO BRIXTON

APRIL 29^TH 1908

Published by

C.P.Co.

There is no other information on this postcard beyond the location of Brixton, mention of a royal visit and the date, 29^th April 1908. What I have discovered by researching the internet is that on this date the then Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George and Queen Mary) attended Brixton to open the new Lambeth Town Hall. This postcard image appears on the council’s history webpage where it gives details of the opening. An interesting locally produced real photo postcard.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

04/02/2020

UNTITLED

CATS PLYING ‘TUG-OF-WAR’

Unknown Publisher

American Issue

Printed in Germany

Ref: 203

This is a nice ‘golden age’ early postcard. Used in America in 1909. I have often mentioned the popularity of cats in the early days of picture postcards, and this is an excellent example of such an issue.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

The handwritten message is dated January 15^th. The bit of the message I like is “HAD TWO DOG LAKE PERCH FOR DINNER, THE BOYS SAID THEY WERE GOOD”. I wonder if they caught the fish themselves.

04/02/2020

OPERAHAZ BUDAPEST

Opera House, Budapest

Published by

RI CARD (POSTCARD DESIGN)

Budapest

When I was walking around the city of Budapest one evening, whilst visiting for a couple of days back in 2019, I saw this postcard in a small souvenir shop. With its television theming it immediately appealed to me. I loved the fact that this design uses an old television set as its main frame, a TV set from a time long before the flatscreens and button free examples which we all buy these days. Old television sets on postcards are not common and are worth picking up in my opinion.

04/02/2020

ALT WIEN

Old Vienna

Published by

SMILE GMBH (Vienna)

Ref: 17900

A nice tourist postcard which I bought on my visit to Vienna last year. This is a little more unusual as it depicts a selection of older paintings of landmarks in the city. It is a postcard with a bit more class than many modern cheaper tourist postcards on sale and I chose it as a souvenir of my visit.