05/02/2019

POSTER ART 150

LONDON UNDERGROUNDS GREATEST DESIGNS

EXHIBITION FROM 15 FEBRUARY – 27 OCTOBER 2013

Exhibition promotional poster

Poster by

LTM DESIGN

For the year of the:

‘UNDERGROUND 150’

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM1534

An interesting design, one in a series, which uses pieces of previous London Underground poster artworks in a montage. I found four of these on my last visit to the museums gift shop. I depict the four cards here. I like these a lot.

POSTER ART 150

LONDON UNDERGROUNDS GREATEST DESIGNS

EXHIBITION FROM 15 FEBRUARY – 27 OCTOBER 2013

Exhibition promotional poster

Poster by

LTM DESIGN

For the year of the:

‘UNDERGROUND 150’

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM1539

POSTER ART 150

LONDON UNDERGROUNDS GREATEST DESIGNS

EXHIBITION FROM 15 FEBRUARY – 27 OCTOBER 2013

Exhibition promotional poster

Poster by

LTM DESIGN

For the year of the:

‘UNDERGROUND 150’

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM1535

The penguin piece top left is from one of my favourite ‘Underground’ posters.

POSTER ART 150

LONDON UNDERGROUNDS GREATEST DESIGNS

EXHIBITION FROM 15 FEBRUARY – 27 OCTOBER 2013

Exhibition promotional poster

Poster by

LTM DESIGN

For the year of the:

‘UNDERGROUND 150’

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM1538

03/02/2019

THE ROYAL PROCESSION,

ASCOT

Unknown Publisher

I much prefer the more unusual royalty themed postcards, the one showing the royal family at events rather than in official portrait type of release. The royal family have been linked to Ascot for many years and their attendance still makes the news to this day. No date is printed on the postcard, but it was posted in 1929 and it can be suggested that the photograph was from either that year or close to it. Royal Ascot is held in June and this postcard was posted on the 18^th June. The message from the sender states he had attended Ascot, so there is a chance this card was bought on that visit (logically it was).

The carriage has King George V and his wife Queen Mary riding in it

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

02/02/2019

HAPPY ‘GROUND HOG DAY’

GROUND HOG DAY

FEB 2^nd

“MAY MISS FORTUNES SHADOW

NEVER CROSS YOUR PATH”

THE ROSE IS RED

THE VIOLETS BLUE

THERE AIN’T NO SUN

& SO I’L SKIDDOO

A reproduction of an antique postcard printed in the USA

Published by

THE EVERGREEN PRESS, PLEASANT HILL, CALIFORNIA

Ref: 6311

I had not seen a Ground Hog Day postcard before coming across this card, and the one below, las year. I found the both on a postcard stall at an antiques centre in Mount Dora, Florida. When I saw them, I knew I had to have them.

GROUND HOG DAY

FEB 2^nd

“MAY THE SHADOW OF YOUR PURSE

GROW LARGER EVERY YEAR”

“I MAY NOT HAVE A GOOD SHAPE

BUT – EVERYBODY LIKES

MY SHADOW”

A reproduction of an antique postcard printed in the USA

Published by

THE EVERGREEN PRESS, PLEASANT HILL, CALIFORNIA

Ref: 6310

This is a companion card to the one depicted above. I wonder if there were any other cards in the series? I suspect there was as six ‘designs’ was a popular number and there my be at least four more out there  

01/02/2019

THE U. S. NAVY FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION SQUADRON

THE BLUE ANGELS

EXECUTE THE DELTA BREAKOUT

OVER THE CINDERELLA CASTLE

IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM

AT WALT DISNEY WORLD, FLORIDA

EN ROUTE TO THE

MELBOURNE AIR AND SPACE SHOW

MARCH 19, 2015

Published by

POSTCARDS AND MORE

It is not often you come across a postcard which depicts the Magic Kingdom theme Park Castle that is NOT an official theme park card. This private postcard issue is a great card which also has an aviation theme as well.

01/02/2019

WOODY

PLEASUREWOOD HILLS

AMERICAN THEME PARK

CORTON, LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK

(‘Dufex’ style shiny card)

Official Theme Park Postcard

Printed by

E. F. TAYLOR & CO. LTD, BEDFORD

Woody was (is?) the mascot for this 50-acre coastal parkland theme park. I don’t know if Woody is still there because this card is quite a few years old now. I have a nice collection of these ‘silver style’, Dufex titled shiny postcards (and have shown some here on the webpage), but I was unaware of this private exclusive one before seeing it on a dealer’s stall.

31/01/2019

WE WANT BEER

Published by

USTUDIO DESIGN

Ref: 1000 PAP 004

1000 WORDS – THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

An historic photograph (courtesy of the Library of Congress). I suppose this is from the prohibition era, although no date is given on this postcard. This is a recent release.

31/01/2019

OH WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Published by

PAPERCHASE

This was another paperchase postcard which was new to me on my last visit to a paperchase shop (so, I suspect this was at the Bluewater shopping centre. A nice design I thought).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

I like the little flower.

29/01/2019

VIEW FROM THE NAZE

WALTON-ON-NAZE

Published by (or at least Printed by)

STENGEL & Co. Dresden – Berlin

Ref: 19635

A nice early photograph with a woman depicted on the right side with an early cycle. This has a cancel applied on the front for SURBITON B. O. [Branch Office] – KINGSTON ON THAMES – 9.45 AM – FEB 3 – 03 [3^rd February 1903]. I liked the look of this card when I saw it, and it is also for a location that I have visited, and which is in my home county.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This has a couple of interesting points, the first being the WALTON-ON-NAZE three arc squared circle postmark (Type 1 in the ‘Collect British Postmarks’ 8^th edition), which is dated 3^rd February 1903.

The second thing is the address as this is addressed to an ‘ISOLATION HOSPITAL’ in Tolworth which had me heading to the internet for more info. This hospital is located-in Red Lion Road, and it opened in 1889 after the Infectious Diseases (Prevention) Act 1889 compelled local authorities to isolate infectious patients to prevent the spread of the diseases in question. There were only 22 beds initially and when this postcard was posted. In 1906 the hospital was extended with an extra 12 bed block.

I wonder what the patient receiving this postcard was in the hospital with. I hope they got better.

29/01/2019

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

Unknown Publisher

No matter how old the postcard may be, if it depicts the Houses of Parliament, it is highly unlikely to be an expensive one. This one was posted in 1904, but would probably cost no more than £1, possibly even less (maybe just 50p).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

The ½ penny stamp has been cancelled with a six straight line machine cancel dated 30^th November 1904. This is a LONDON. E. C. machine cancel.  

29/01/2019

TRAIN CROSSING ROMNEY MARSH

R.H. & D. Rly [Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway]

Published by

NORMAN

Ref: 4

This small railway is well known and is a major tourist attraction for the area. I keep meaning to visit it myself and ride this line. They have been issuing postcards for years with this card here having been posted in 1935.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

28/01/2019

TAPESTRY (DETAIL)

WOOL, SILK AND SILVER GUILT THREAD

PERU, 1680 – 1720

Published by the

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Ref: 130752

My love of animal images led to me buying this one. This looks like the depiction of a lion to me even though this is apparently from Peru, but it could be, and probably was, that the image was commissioned by someone in Europe for their estate, which would also explain why it has ended up at the V&A.

28/01/2019

IMAGES OF THE WONDER BAYS

IN HINTZE HALL,

THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,

LONDON

                LARGE SQAURE SHAPED POSTCARD

Published by the

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Ref: 16187

This museum does have a fondness for the large square shaped postcard format and I think they use it well with their images. Here you have a number of the displays that can be seen in the alcoves (they call them ‘Wonder Bays’) along each side of the main hall. The two giraffes are on the immediate left side as you walk through the main entrance. In the alcove (wonder bay) beyond them is the massive, truly massive, swordfish depicted at the top of this postcard montage. Another great exclusive postcard from this excellent museum.

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

GREETINGS CARD

TIGERS

By

JOSEPH WOLF

Official Natural History Museum Greetings Card

Printed by

ARCHIVIST

(Copyright 2002)

I don’t collect Greetings Cards as well because I would never have any money left and no room in the house…. but, occasionally I see one which I just can not resist. This one is exclusive to the Natural History Museum and was only £2. I collect Tigers on postcard and when I saw this smashing image I had to have it. It’s an additional item to my normal collection, but a cracking one.     

28/01/2019

CAMELLIA THEA

PAINTED CEILING PANEL SHOWING TEA

(Camellia Thea)

“One of the 162 decorative panels from the ceiling of the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall. The building’s gallery ceilings are adorned with intricate tiles displaying a vast array of plants from all over the world”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

Published by the

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

A museum as old and as long standing as the Natural History Museum in London will have access to an amazing range of exhibits and structural adornments that would be unique to them on postcard. The Natural History Museum is also huge and has some magnificent halls and rooms, all with their little quirks. The idea of 162 different panels in a ceiling gives you an idea of what this museum contains – if they produced them all as postcards that would be a ‘BIG’ boxed set!

26/01/2019

SIMPLY ALFRESCO

BY TUBE AND BUS

Poster by

GLYN BOYD HARTE, 1998

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM 628

Another superb modern poster issue from this excellent museum published series

SHOP EARLY!

BY

LONDON’S TRAMWAYS

EVERY TRAM A PULLMAN

Poster by

C. E. MONTFORT, 1932

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM 640

I have noticed that there was a trend for ‘Shopping’ themed Underground posters during the 1920’s. Clearly this did not subside at the end of that era and was still going strong in the 1930’s. Because of the snow there is a seasonality to this particular- poster design. Was it aimed at the pre-Christmas shopping public?

WHILE OTHERS WAIT

A SEASON TAKES YOU THROUGH

Poster by

PERCY DRAKE BROOKSHAW, 1927

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM 693

With these London Underground poster designs you get a spread of different artistic styles, and because the museum publishes designs from throughout all periods of production, right up to the modern times, you can compare these and enjoy their differences. I still believe this museums postcard series is one of the best this country has produced.

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

MAY 22 – 23 – 24

UNDERGROUND

Poster by

MARGARET CALKIN JAMES,

1935 PANEL POSTER

Published by the

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM 366 (4R)

[the (4R) above relates to this being the fourth reprint – this was clearly a popular design – dedicated collectors of this museum postcard series have been known to try and pick up a copy from each reprint when these are denoted within the reference number]

This one has always been a popular postcard, I think because it promoted a popular annual event and is a delightful painting as well. Flowers are not an uncommon theme on London Underground posters and I think they were used because in the right depiction they can emphasize the meaning of ‘Summer’ or ‘Spring’.

26/01/2019

TILE DESIGNS

By

WILLIAM DE MORGAN (1839 – 1917)

Pencil and watercolour on paper

Britain, 1872 - 81

Published by the

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Ref: 087533

When I was younger and only collecting wildlife themed postcards I would have loved this card as an example of more unusual depictions of animals. I do like the tile design which depicts a kangaroo.

THE SIEGE OF TROY

Or

THE GIANT HORSE OF SINON

Advertisement for an equine spectacle at

ASTLEY’S CIRCUS

Printed by

T. ROMNEY

Woodcut and Letterpress

London, 1833

Published by the

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Ref: 100775

Posters have always been a popular depiction on postcards, but I wonder if there has been earlier one shown anywhere. This poster is now over 180 years old! It would make a very unusual addition to any Horse themed collection.

26/01/2019

BERLIN

RADIO TOWER

(Funkturm mit Stadtautobhan)

Published by

Hans Andres (ANCO)

I have a small collection of postcards depicting this radio tower in my ‘communications’ collection. It also features on many German postage stamps as well, which I also have a collection of (I have a small ‘Radio’ themed stamp collection which is attached to my television stamp collection, mainly because many of the radio companies around the world naturally moved on into television work as time and technology progressed and therefore there is a connection between the two forms of entertainment – i.e. here in the UK the original radio stations were all BBC controlled, and it was the BBC who launched television here in 1936).

When I first saw this postcard, I was almost certainly going to buy it because it depicts the radio tower, but I must admit that I was also rather taken with the yellow buses which are included. I like buses and have many postcards which depict them. Although most are nice publicity photographs of buses positioned to fill most of the image it is the topographical view cards which just happen to also contain buses on the street(s) photographed that appeal to me more, especially foreign country ones like this.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This was posted to France from Berlin, Germany on the 8^th August 1965. This appears to have been sent by a French tourist and I recognise the locations of Munich and Berchtesgaden as I have been to both these locations myself (it looks like the sender was going to be visiting these on the 9^th August – I wonder if they sent more postcards?)

22/01/2019

WESTON-SUPER-MARE

GRAND PIER & PAVILION

First Section opened June 11^th 1904

Unknown Publisher

This is a delightful early postcard, circa 1904 – 1906, which unfortunately has previously been stuck down in a book, so has some coloured paper spots on the reverse side where the glue was applied. Despite this damage to the back the front remains untarnished, and as it was only 50p (mostly because of the reverse damage) I still thought it a bargain. Living in a seaside location myself I am drawn to postcards which depict other well know seafront resort locations. I have been to Weston-Super-Mare (you could drive onto the beach and park the car on the sand when I went!) so this also made the card appealing.  

22/01/2019

LOVE NEST

1951

MARILYN MONROE

AS EX-WAC ROBERTA STEVENS

Published by

AMERICAN POSTCARD COMPANY INC

Ref: F50

Copyright 1982

Another nice Marilyn postcard from my collection. This is not an easy one to track down these days.

22/01/2019

WOLSEY

PAGEANT

IPSWICH

JUNE 23 – 28

TRAVEL BY L.N.E.R

Printed and Distributed by

STAR EDITIONS LTD

Image Courtesy of the

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

Ref: SUF021

There were some very unusual poster designs published by Star Editions in this series of railway related posters from the collection owned by the National Railway Museum. I don’t think this poster has been published by anyone else (or at least that I have seen)

22/01/2019

POLICE & GYPSIES

Outside Mailman’s Arms, Lyndhurst

Published by

JOHN HINDE (U.K.) LTD

As a

J. ARTHUR DIXON POSTCARD

Ref: L6/SP 11474

Another postcard from my ‘Police’ themed collection. This one is also unusual as it is a J. Arthur Dixon postcard but is shown as being published by John Hinde, which used to be two different independent postcard publishers. A nice photograph though with details of its source recorded on the back (see below)

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

22/01/2019

FRIENDSHIP

FOR EVERMORE!

Design by

SARAH LUCK

Published and distributed by

SARAH LUCK (London)

1989

Oh, how times change! This postcard shows us how we once all started to get along, well, at least for a while. Things are very different today, and ‘definitely’ for the worse. Here we have Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev, both of whom are identifiable. There is also the American President, who I think is supposed to be George W. Bush (although both Bush and Reagan were around in 1989 – I think it is the eyebrows that make this an image of Bush).

22/01/2019

TAKE

PADDINGTON BOOKS

HOME THIS CHRISTMAS

BOOKS THAT MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT!

Published by

BOOMERANG MEDIA CARDS

When I was much younger, I was a big fan of the Paddington Bear books and I read them all. Although I have never returned to them as an adult, I have a huge fond remembrance of them. This has travelled over into my postcard collecting and means I can never resist buying any Paddington Bear postcards I have come across on dealer’s stalls (where I obtained this one), shops or other outlets.     

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

(Double sided advert card-flyer)

PADDINGTON BEAR

OPENS 28^TH NOVEMBER

VUE

I obtained this card item at the same time as buying the above postcard. It is an example of me loving a theme and not being able to resist non-postcard card items which fit into it.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE CARD

22/01/2019

STEP INTO YOUR PLACE

First World War recruitment poster circa 1915

Published by

ROBERT OPIE TRADING COMPANY LTD

ROBERT OPIE COLLECTION

Ref: 01WT04

Although Robert Opie is better known for his advertising material depicted on postcard the company also issues cards showing posters. This is a great war time one.

21/01/2019

GIN

‘GIN AND BEAR IT’

Published by

CATH TATE CARDS

Ref: OS1214

Cath Tate Cards have been around since the 1980’s originally publishing mainly feminism themed cartoons, which were very popular at the time. This card here is a recent issue and can be found currently on sale in branches of ‘paperchase’.

21/01/2019

CAPE TOWN BUILDINGS

University Building – S.A. Museum

Parliament House

G.P.O [General Post Office] – S.A. Library

Published by

THE VALENTINE & SONS PUBLISHING CO., LTD

P.O. BOX 1685 CAPE TOWN

Although clearly these are images of buildings in South Africa printed on a postcard which looks to have been published in Cape Town, South Africa, it was in fact posted in Portsmouth here in the UK in 1934.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

21/01/2019

I.O.M. DOUGLAS,

FROM DOUGLAS HEAD

Unknown Publisher

Ref: 20164

Whilst we are talking about piers and jetty’s I thought I would also show you this one, a jetty, from the Isle of Man. This postcard is much older and was posted from the Isle of Man to Brighton in 1904.    

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

21/01/2019

WEST BEACH AND JETTY,

CLACTON-ON-SEA

Unknown Publisher

Ref: Series 4406

Clacton-on-Sea is also in the county of Essex, just like my home town of Southend-on-Sea, and Clacton, just like Southend also has a pier, although the pier is not as impressively long as Southend’s (a bit of local support there by myself). This view is typical of seaside resorts here in the UK during the 1920’S and 1930’S.   

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

21/01/2019

TO GREET YOUR BIRTHDAY

Published by

ART PHOTO

Ref: 8605.A.

This postcard will go into my teddy bear collection, but it could also fit quite nicely into the theme of ‘Children’, one which does have its followers, and has done since the Victorian times and the first years of picture postcards.

This has a white boarder which has little embossed flowers and leaves along a long vine like stem. This type of embossed boarder is quite common on these photographic greetings styled birthday postcards.

20/01/2019

WILD THINGS

Published by

ICON

CHIT CHAT DESIGNS

Ref: Item No: 05383

After the ‘Iceland’ stores Christmas advert relating to the growing of palm oil trees and how this was threatening the orangutans, was banned from being shown on television, the plight of the orangutans has gained momentum and the popularity of the apes has grown (the ‘Iceland’ stores cuddly orangutans sold out long before Christmas and became best sellers on eBay). This postcard appeared around this same time in branches of paperchase.

20/01/2019

BY GUM! I SHOULD LOOK SOFT

IF A ZEPPELIN CME NOW.

Published by

BAMFORTH & CO., LTD

Ref: “WITTY” SERIES No. 224

With the German Zeppelin airships bombing London and other areas in the south east and across England in World War I the publishers of comic postcards tried to make light of the bombing raids with amusing comic postcard images like this one. Some depicted the airships themselves, but others, like this one, just made mention of them.

The handstamp is hard to discern on this postcard, but I think it was posted in either 1915 or 1916.

20/01/2019

THE BEACH AND PALACE HOTEL,

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

Published by

MILTON

WOOLSTONE BROS, LONDON E. C.

Ref: THE MILTON “FAC-SIMILE” SERIES No. 32

Another local view postcard from my own home town. As stated in the title this image depicts the beach. I liked this one because of the fully dressed men that can be seen relaxing on the ramp that can be seen in the foreground bottom right. The ramp they are on is one that was used to load people onto the boats that took visitors on trips out onto the Thames river.

20/01/2019

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Unknown Printer & Publisher

The designer of this postcard image was taking no chances on its popularity as they included the extremely popular topic of flowers and then added a couple of dogs for an extra touch of salability. It has resulted in what I think is a nice-looking card.  

20/01/2019

I’VE A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR

YOU IN MY DRAWERS,

BERT!

By

FITZPATRICK

Published by

BAMFORTH & CO., LTD. HOLMFIRTH, YORKSHIRE

Ref: “COMIC” SERIES No. 72

This postcard was clearly issued when the use of the double entendre was at its height. This one is one of the more popular ones from the period. Although common at the time it is now a design which is sought after and becoming harder and harder to find.