10/01/2020

AN ALLIGATOR FARM IN SUNNY FLORIDA

Published by

“TICHNOR QUALITY VIEWS”

TICHNOR BROTHERS. INC, BOSTON, MASS

Ref: 170 (62598)

Before the time of Mickey Mouse in Florida there was probably more Alligator postcards produced than any other subject, it may be that there still are more, but not around Orlando!

This is a nice coloured photographic postcard which is quite typical of the many Alligator farm postcards that have been issued down through the decades in Florida. This one here was posted in 1940 with a nice simple message.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

10/01/2020

V.I.P. EXCURSIONS, INC.

WHOLESALE TRAVEL CLUB

ADVERT PRE-PAID POSTCARD

Official pre-paid advertising company postcard

It was the inclusion of Mickey and Minnie Mouse on this postcard that led to me buying this from an antiques stall in Florida late last year, whilst on my holiday. Clearly this has gone into my Disney themed collection, but this could also fit nicely into a shipping, Holidays, Advertising or games and gambling collection equally as well.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

I often wonder if anybody else saves these free competition or advert styled pre-paid cards that were once delivered in the thousands across America, and in similar formats here in the UK and other countries. I suspect many would have discarded these because they do not look too attractive of this side, although they are packed with historical details which will interest future collectors in 100 years-time. There is also a postal history aspect here as well as these did travel through the post and although no postage stamp was applied there is some interest in the use of these pre-printed pre-paid U.S. POSTAGE PAID permit marks as there are different varieties.

10/01/2020

SAN DIEGO’S

WONDERFUL CLOCK

MANUFACTURED BY

J. JESSOP & SONS

Official company Postcard

No Printer Shown

Ref: R-31614

If you collect clock’s then I suspect this would be a great addition to a collection. I liked it because it was just such an attractive and interesting looking postcard. I also like a postcard which gives you all the information you might like to know about what is depicted. This saves you having to do any work!

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

10/01/2020

UNIQUE PROOF OF UNISSUED

THUNDERBIRDS

COLOURING POSTCARD PACK DESIGN

LONDON POSTCARD COMPANY

This is one of those truly unique and special items that a collector like me is overjoyed to own. There was a time when the London Postcard Company were considering issuing a set of nine ‘Colour-In’ black and white Thunderbirds postcards. The company produced this single artwork postcard pack design which was to hold the nine postcards. It was a single proof item produced to check the viability of producing the actual cards and packet. Unfortunately, due to lack of interest in the proposed item the pack was not produced. Even more interesting the postcards were not designed either. The reverse side of this packet design has nine blank blocks which is where the postcard designs would have appeared if produced, or even designed, although three of the card designs were initially created to appear on the front of this packet, but there is no certainty that these three cover images would have definitely been used as postcard designs as this was still in its proof stage and subject to change.

So, after the decision was made that this item and the nine postcards were not going to be produced by the company this proof item laid around the offices of the London Postcard Company. This was until one of my visits, I had a close connection with the company and was invited up to their offices through my writings for the Picture Postcard Monthly magazine. I was shown this item and given its story. I was then told that it was of no use to them anymore so would I like this. Would I like this? Yes, of course I would!

The London Postcard Company issued what I think were some of the best film and television related sets of the 1990’s and early 2000’s and there are many modern collectors who seek out their postcards and related ephemera. So, what is the value of an item like this? There is only one which does make it a truly unique item, and in my mind a fascinating one as it gives a picture of what the company were possibly looking at producing. As far as this popuklar company is concerned, this is a bit of history. You also of course have the fact that ‘Thunderbirds’ is a very popular TV programme and I suspect there are people out there specialising in Thunderbirds material who would also be interested. In many ways the question is irrelevant as I am highly unlikely to ever part with this, but I do sometimes wonder about its value…

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE PROOF PACKET

You can see the empty spaces where the postcard designs would have gone. Looking at this does make me wonder what these postcards would have looked like? Personally I am sad they did not produce this set as I think they would have been interesting, but remember that this was many years before the craze for colouring-in books and items surfaced and became a new craze (what was it, 3 or 4 years ago now, maybe a bit longer). This proof packet was from the very early 2000’s.

09/01/2020

VENEZIA

BASILICA DI SAN MARCO

Novelty Cut-Out Model Postcard

Scale Model – 1: 1500

Published by

FORMA CULTURA – TUTTI I DIRITTI RISER VATI

VENEZIA

Ref: VENEZIA 1/5

(they refer to this as a 3D POSTCARD, but not in the normal sense of 3D)

I have all sorts of different cut-out model postcards, some of which have previously appeared on the webpage, but this one here was a present from my friends Les and Arlene who bought it on their holiday.

The Saint Mark’s Basilica, or to give it its full name the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, or more commonly just St Marks, depicted here, is located in Italy in the famous city of Venice (Venezia).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

With the instructions on how to build this model

09/01/2020

UNTITLED

The famous five

WALT DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK POSTCARD

Official Walt Disney Theme Park Postcard

Ref: FAC-014503-19137

(Both of the photographic postcards have this same reference number)

Bar Code Number – 4 00021 28755 6

I have already mentioned that the postcard options I found in the Walt Disney World theme parks in Florida this year were poor, well, poorer than all previous years anyway, but I still bought was what available. There were two photographic postcards on sale, just two, which is a massive drop on previous years.

This is one of these two new designs (they were not on sale in 2018 when I visited then).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

MINT COPY

REVERSE SIDE OF ANOTHER COPY OF ABOVE POSTCARD

POSTED IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM THEME PARK

This copy was posted using a US Global value Forever stamp featuring a Poinsettia flower. This has been cancelled with an ORLANDO wavy line machine cancellation. I posted this card on the 29^th November 2019 and I posted it in the Magic Kingdom theme park. Before I posted this I had the MAIN STREET U.S.A. MAGIC KINGDOM cachet APPLIED (This is still in black as it was in 2018). I also got one of the round Mickey Mouse face stickers, which are easy to get and are free from many staff members all over the theme park. I thought this made a great combination.

UNTITLED

Mickey & Minnie Mouse

WALT DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK POSTCARD

Official Walt Disney Theme Park Postcard

Ref: FAC-014503-19137

Bar Code Number – 4 00021 28754 9

The second of the two exclusive photographic postcards

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

MINT COPY

REVERSE SIDE OF ANOTHER COPY OF ABOVE POSTCARD

POSTED IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM THEME PARK

This one was used in exactly the same way as the postcard depicted above

09/01/2020

PRINCE HARRY

Photo by

ACTION PRESS/REX

Published by

J. SALMON LTD

Ref: 2 – 99 – 00 – 74

Prince Harry is in the news because he and his wife have announced that they are stepping back from their positions as senior royals. They are planning to become financially independent, although rumours seem to indicate that this was not discussed with the Queen and she is said to be unhappy with this move. Stepping away from official duties will allow the couple to spend their time equally between here in the UK and in America, where Meghan’s family reside.

This postcard image is clearly an older photograph, but it seemed to me to be a topical card for today’s posting.

09/01/2020

POSTCARD FUDGE

NOVELTY POSTCARD WITH BOX AREA CONTAINING FOUR PIECES OF FUDGE

Published by

W. J. NIGH & SONS LTD

SHANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT

Ref: 5–02-22-97

Best Before NOV 2003

 [so, I won’t be eating these anytime soon!]

I bought this on a visit to the Isle of Wight sometime during the summer of 2003. I had never seen anything quite like this before. I love fudge and it was not easy buying this and not breaking it open to eat the fudge. I managed to avoid doing this by buying a big box of fudge to consume at the same time. I love this card, but I do wonder if it would have survived a trip through the post! Also, when I returned to the Isle of Wight this past summer (summer 2019) I did not see anything like this, so I assume they do not make these anymore.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE NOVELTY FUDGE POSTCARD

09/01/2020

SOUVENIR

STAMP PACKS

(With Postcards Included)

OFFICIAL ROYAL MAIL PRODUCTS

EXCLUSIVE TO W. H. SMITH SHOPS

I have depicted some of these before (see the post that’s dated 21/06/2019 – ‘June 2019 Blog 2’ Tab, which is under the ‘June Blogs 2019’ Tab). In fact, I posted details and images of 12 of these packs then. Below I post details of another three which I have recently found. The Elton John pack I found before Christmas, but the other two I only found on Tuesday, two days ago.

STAR WARS

SOUVENIR STAMP PACK

This pack contains two postcards, one which has ten mint Star Wars stamps applied, these are the stamps which were issued late last year (2019 – I have not received the PHQ Stamp Cards for this set yet, but they will appear sometime in the future) and which individually depict characters taken from all the Star Wars movies, past and present. The second postcard has the Star Wars miniature stamp sheet applied, which depicts space craft and other forms of transport from the films.

As with all the other packs there is a double-sided A4 sized poster like card included in the pack.  

REVERSE SIDE OF STAR WARS PACK

Depicting the two postcards and the A4 double-sided poster/card

ENLARGEMENT OF THE AREA DEPICTING THE TWO POSTCARDS

CENTENARY OF REMEMBRANCE

1919 – 2019

SOUVENIR STAMP PACK

Again, you have a pack containing a double sided A4 poster card and two postcards. One of these postcards has the last of the yearly World War 1 commemorative stamp issues applied (mint stamps un-cancelled but stuck down to the card – as is the case with all cards across all the packs).

The second postcard is a bit more unusual as this has each-individual ‘Poppy’ art stamp from each of the World War 1 commemorative stamp sets issued between 2014 and 2018 applied. These poppy stamps were my favourite designs from each set, so it is nice to have them all here on one single postcard.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE PACK

Depicting the two postcards and the A4 double-sided poster/card

ELTON JOHN

SOUVENIR STAMP PACK

Again, you have the A4 double-sided poster/card and two postcards. The first postcard has the Elton John stamp set applied whilst the second postcard has the Elton John miniature stamp sheet applied. This is another great package, and one which I was interested to find as they have not done similar packs for past music related stamp issues

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE PACK

Depicting the two postcards and the A4 double-sided poster/card

.

.

.

SWA

(SOUTH WEST AFRICA)

Postal Stationery Post Cards

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

(TOP)

NAUKLUFT (NNP)

5c ORYX STAMP

(BOTTOM)

SESRIEM PRECIPICE (NNP)

5c ORYX STAMP

SWA

(SOUTH WEST AFRICA)

Postal Stationery Post Cards

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

(TOP)

NAUKLUFT PARK

5c ORYX STAMP

(BOTTOM)

SOSSUS VLEI (NNP)

5c ORYX STAMP

SWA

(SOUTH WEST AFRICA)

Postal Stationery Post Cards

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

(TOP)

NAUKLUFT (NNP)

6c GREATER KUDU

(BOTTOM)

SESRIEM PRECIPICE (NNP)

6c GREATER KUDU

.

.

SWA

(SOUTH WEST AFRICA)

Postal Stationery Post Cards

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

(TOP)

KUISEB RIVER-BED (NNP)

6c GREATER KUDU

(BOTTOM)

TSONDAB RIVER (NNP)

6c GREATER KUDU

SWA

(SOUTH WEST AFRICA)

Postal Stationery Post Cards

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

(TOP)

SOSSUS VLEI (NNP)

6c GREATER KUDU

(BOTTOM)

NAUKLUFT PARK

6c GREATER KUDU

08/01/2020

ISRAEL

POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARDS

Official pre-printed stamp postal stationery post cards

(TOP)

60 value

(BOTTOM)

120 value

Both these postal stationery post cards have been cancelled first day of issue with a special cancellation dated 21^st January 1959. I found these in a cheap box at a stamp fair in London. I like this sort of item as in my mind they have a strong connection to the postcard story, although a different one to the better-known picture postcards. This type of card is more likely to be collected by either a philatelic collector or someone who is interested in postal stationery, although they are also collected by people who specialise in a collection of the stamp issues of a single country or state. This is often because the pre-printed stamps are sometimes of a design or value unique to these cards, therefore the stamp imprint is different.

07/01/2020

BIG BREAK - BROKE

TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY

Every Night 9pm ‘E’ [Entertainment Television]

‘Get the truth behind the most intriguing lives and stories in Hollywood – from the network that knows Hollywood best’

Published by

GO-CARD POSTCARD ADVERTISING

The three postcards, that I have so far found, in this series all advertise the often quite sad and horrific stories of television and music stars after their fame has passed, or where their behaviour caused their star to wane or die.

This first card shows the young cast members from the American series ‘Different Strokes’, from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Here you can see Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato.

I suspect the stories this advertised programme was going to discuss is the fact that Coleman sued his parents and business adviser over misappropriation of his assets, Bridges suffered sexual abuse as a child and was a drug addict and lastly, and possibly most sadly the fact that Plato died in 1999 from a an overdose of the painkiller Lortab mixed with the muscle-relaxant Soma.  

COMEDY – TRAGEDY

TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY

Every Night 9pm ‘E’ [Entertainment Television]

‘Get the truth behind the most intriguing lives and stories in Hollywood – from the network that knows Hollywood best’

Published by

GO-CARD POSTCARD ADVERTISING

This image depicts Chris Farley an actor who appeared on the TV series ‘Saturday Night Live’ between 1990 and 1995. Farley was another actor to die from a drug overdose, aged 33 in 1997. Clearly the card design is telling you that the Comedy came from the TV series and the Tragedy from the overdose death. Farley had issues with alcohol and obesity and in the final years of his short life he sought treatment for both his obesity and drug abuse no less than 17 times. His death in 1997 was from an overdose of cocaine and morphine (in the drug taking world this combination is called a ‘Speedball’)

FANTASY – REALITY

TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY

Every Night 9pm ‘E’ [Entertainment Television]

‘Get the truth behind the most intriguing lives and stories in Hollywood – from the network that knows Hollywood best’

Published by

GO-CARD POSTCARD ADVERTISING

This image depicts the disco group ‘The Village People’, who had that well known No 1 hit ‘Y.M.C.A.’, which, without looking, I think was 1978-1979? The line-up from the YMCA record is the best known, but in all the group has had 24 different members!

In 1980 the group appeared in the musical feature film ‘Can’t Stop the Music’, which unfortunately won the 1981 ‘Worst Picture’ award at that years ‘Golden Raspberry Awards’ (it also won in the category ‘Worst Screenplay’, and was nominated in nearly all the other categories as well!) After a selection of mostly poorly received albums they had a single banned by the BBC because it was about phone sex. Then the founder, Jacques Morali died in 1991 from complications related to AIDS.

The original ‘Cop’ character, Victor Willis was arrested for drug and weapon related charges (later in the 2000’s). Because of the constant change in band members there were issues over writer’s ownership and who had the right to use the groups name, which ended up in more than one group being called The Village People at the same time. In 2018 a court ruling stated that only one group could use the name, which solved that issue.

So, the band has had its ups and downs, which I assume made for an interesting programme.        

REVERSE SIDE OF CHRIS FARLEY POSTCARD

Other than the name of the depicted image, person or programme (which appears down the centre dividing line in very small text), the reverse sides of all three postcards is the same. These reverse sides have a black boarder which may be hard to see clearly here.

07/01/2020

MANDEN (Baskets) -VERKOOPER (Sale)

JAVA [Although it looks like FAVA, which is not what it is]

By

J. VANDER HEYDEN (?)

Published by

G. C. T. VAN DORP & CO., SEMARANG-SOERABAJA

The language is Dutch, and this card is an early postcard from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and although it looks like FAVA in the main text title, I believe this is JAVA, which also makes sense. I also know that VERKOPER [with one ‘O’] means ‘Seller’, which is what this man looks like he could be, a basket and/or pot seller.

This great postcard was bought at the street antique market I have previously mentioned which I came across in Berlin along the Unter den Linden. When I saw this one, I had to have it.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

07/01/2020

QUEEN’S COURT

I. R. AUSTRIAN EXHIBITION 1906

EARL’S COURT, LONDON S. W.

Sold by

GALE & POLDEN, LTD

Official Printers to the Exhibition

Printed by

FREDERIC JASPER, VIENNA

The Imperial Austrian Exhibition [I think the extra ‘R’ in the above title could have stood for ‘Royal’] world’s fair was another of the many exhibitions held in the early years of the last century. This one was at Earl’s Court, London and ran between the 20^th June and the 6^th October 1906.

There were three aspects of Austrian life explored across the exhibition’s different areas, which included a ‘Tyrolean Village’ (lace makers. Beer halls, cafes and woodcarvers), an Underground Salt Mine (apparently reached by a slide) and an area which was described as a ‘Bohemia’ area. I wonder if the Queen’s Court was in this last area.

This postcard cost me 45p, which sounds a real bargain when you realise that there is one of these currently on eBay with a ‘Buy it Now’ price of £8 (which is too much, in my opinion).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

07/01/2020

CRUISING INTO No 10

Published by

BUNCH OF ARTISTS

Ref: BOA 19

A BRITISH SOUVENIR

A great political postcard from the 1980’s, one which is both very popular nowadays, but also one which has a touch of topicality to it as I write this up. Many news reporters and other political and military experts fear we have been recently drawn into the possibility of a war after the recent drone assassination of an Iranian general. Many feared War. But with a different country at that time, and that time because of the placing of cruise missiles in the UK. Then as with now there was much tension in the air, lets hope that as with the 1980’s nothing apocalyptic happens this time either.

The other topical connection is a personal one and a small one. As I type this, I am watching episode two of the new ‘Dracula’ adaptation which I recorded during its recent showing on BBC. I picked this card because of its military and presidential connections, but then I noticed that here Ronald Reagan has vampire like teeth! How amusing I thought as I watch the count sink his teeth into a young lady onboard the ship ‘Demeter’.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

A nicely designed reverse layout which has lots of nice little bits and pieces. I like this little simple drawing of Concorde.

07/01/2020

BICENTENAIRE

1791 – 1991

GENDARMERIE

By

JEAN-CLAUDE OLIVIER

Published by

EDITION DES ESCARGOPHILES

Ref:

Collection 1991 No 107

Limited Edition of 300

This one is from my collection of police related postcards. It is a limited edition of just 300 postcards. It is another of the many French artist drawn postcards published by the prolific ‘Edition Des Escargophiles’ publisher, a company run by a single French postcard artist known as ‘Sizi’, whose real name was Jean Claude Sizler.

06/01/2020

PEGWELL BAY

THE VIKING SHIP AND HOVERCRAFT

Published by

ELGATE POSTCARDS, FORT MOUNT, MARGATE, KENT

Ref: ET5715

This postcard is well known amongst hovercraft postcard collectors. It is a classic postcard which was produced in high numbers and which was popular with tourists resulting in large numbers being sold and subsequently available to collectors like me. The hovercraft is not the main subject of this postcard, but it is what makes it collectible.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

06/01/2020

THE ISLE OF WIGHT,

HANTS

No Publisher named

(but the style and reference number are indicative of ‘Colourmaster International’)

Ref: PT22718

Printed in Great Britain

Map postcards are currently out of favour with collectors, but they have had their ups and downs before and surely, they are due a resurgence soon. This copy here was posted in 1967, so is now at least 52 years old!

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

06/01/2020

GARDE DESCENDANTE

VUES STEREOSCOPIQUES JULIEN DAMOY

‘Descending Guard

Julien Damoy Stereoscopic Views

Ref: SERIE No 11

3

From the early WW1 period, or just before the outbreak of war, this is a stereoscope view postcard. I was aware of stereoscope view cards, which you slot into a viewing machine which allows you to look through a double eyepiece and see the image in 3D. These were all the range during the late Victorian aga and well into the 20^th century as I have seen images from the 1920’s and 1930’s on stereoscope cards. Having said all this, I thought stereoscope cards were a unique item sold as 3D viewing cards and either long plain backed, or advertising backed cards. I was unaware that these came on actual postcards, printed postcard size, but finding this card back in 2004 introduced me to stereoscope postcards (who knew?).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

05/01/2020

DEUTSCHLAND –

EUER REISEZIEL!

‘Germany – Your Destination!’

1930

By

J. W. ENGELHARD

Published by

PHOTOGLOB

Ref: Nr. 1661

Printed in Switzerland

One of the many superb early transport themed poster postcards issued by this prolific Swiss based postcard publisher.

05/01/2020

REICHSSPORTFELD

DIETRICH ECKARDT – BUHNE

AMTLICHE OLYMPIA – POSTKARTE ZUGUNSTEN DES OLYMPIA – FONDS

REICHSSPORTVERLAG, BERLIN SW 68

‘Reich Sport Field

Dietrich Eckart – Stage

Official Olympia Postcard to the Olympia Fund

Reichssportverlag, Berlin SW 68’

Official Berlin Olympic Postcard Issue

Ref: 6

The German Nazi party, who were in power in 1936, the time of the Berlin Olympics, were responsible for many of the now traditional Olympic games features, such as the Torch Relay and live television coverage. They also produced a wide range of promotional and tourist targeted postcards. There were also stamps, handstamps and cancels and special cachets all produced for use with these postcards. This postcard is one of many in this photographic series.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This copy has been used to receive the special purple Olympic rings circular cachet:

REICHSSPORTFELD

BERLIN

I bought this postcard at a street antiques market in Berlin during my last visit of 2019. This postcard cost me just 50 cents, so it was another of the bargain priced older postcards I picked up in my travels.