16/01/2020

DOM ZU BERLIN

AN INTERACTIVE TOUR OF THE BERLIN CATHEDRAL

ON MULTIMEDIA CD-ROM

THE 3-SENSES POSTCARD

Stimulates Sight, Hearing and Smell

(RCD Patent 2004)

Published and Produced by

3 SENSES POSTCARD

NOVELTY POSTCARD WITH A CD-ROM CONTAINED WITHIN THE POSTCARD

I bought this unusual postcard on my last visit to the Berliner-Dom (Dom Zu Berlin) last year. Novelty postcards are of a ‘particular’ appeal to me and when I saw this one it fascinated me. I have postcards in my collection that have DVD’s contained within them and I even have something called a video-postcard, but this was the first card I had seen with a CD-ROM in it. Apparently, this CD-ROM gives you a full interactive tour of this wonderful cathedral, one which I enjoy walking around in actuality. Because I want to keep my postcard intact, I have not opened it up to remove the CD-ROM, but I suspect most people will remove theirs which should in theory make mint copies of this card slightly less common.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

You can see the PULL tab which opens-up the area between the front and back cards allowing you to remove the CD-ROM from inside. Text in the stamp box informs you that you can send this card through the post for the basic postage cost. I wonder how many people have posted one of these.

15/01/2020

PRATER, VIENNA

WIENER RIESENRAD

VIENNA GIANT FERRIS WHEEL

This giant Ferris wheel is at the entrance to the Prater Amusement park in the Leopoldstadt district of Vienna. This Ferris wheel is famous and is a major landmark and tourist attraction. Last year when I visited Vienna this Ferris Wheel was top of my list of things I wanted to see and do. I greatly enjoyed my visit and ride on this attraction and recommend anyone visiting Vienna to pay a visit, but I also recommend an early visit as the queue gets longer with the day.

The Wiener Riesenrad (German for Vienna Giant Wheel) was built in 1897 and it was the world’s tallest extant Ferris wheel from 1920 through to 1985 (earlier Ferris wheels had been taller, but they were all taken down by 1920.

The wheel was designed by British engineers Harry Hitchins and Hubert Booth and built for the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef I.

Having now ridden it I am delighted that it still exists, but it nearly didn’t as in 1916 a permit was issued for its destruction, but lack of funds prevented this and it survived.

The wheel was of course badly damaged during World War II but was rebuilt after the war, but whereas the wheel had 30 gondolas before the war it was rebuilt with just 15.

The wheel appears in two films which are favourites of mine. The first is the post-world war II ‘The Third Man’ (1949), which is where I first saw and became aware of its existence. The second film is the James Bond ‘The Living Daylights’, staring Timothy Dalton. Bond has a lengthy romantic scene whilst in one of the wheels gondolas.

So, I had an interest in seeing the attraction and riding in one of the gondolas, I also had an interest in hunting down some interesting postcards depicting it.

GRUS AUS WIEN

‘Greetings From Vienna’

Novelty – Applied Glitter

By

BEHR DESIGN

Published by

EDITION TAUSENDSCHOEN

Ref: PK 125

Made in Germany

This is a postcard from a long series of such like cards published with deckle edging and with colour glitter applied to the surface, which I found across Vienna. The wheel can be seen in the centre.

WIEN – VIENNA

Photo by

JULIUS SILVER

Published by

BOOMCITY

Ref: 20102

I thought this was an unusual photograph and one which caught the weirdness of some of the attractions and artwork around the Prater amusement park. The wheel can be seen in the background along with a painting of Elvis Presley that can be seen on the side of one of the attractions.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

The wheel even appears on the reverse side of this postcard

VIENNA

Published by

BOOOM!

Copyright 2016

Ref: Nr. 1008

Here you can see some of the visual frontage of the house of horrors ride/ attraction in the Prater amusement park. This is another great photograph which also contains the Ferris wheel in the background, although I think the photograph was taken to make the wheel an important component.

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

ALT WIEN

OLD VIENNA

Published by

SMILE GMBH, WIEN

Ref: 17606

This type of postcard format is very popular with tourists and versions can be found in cities and tourist locations all around the world. Quite often the old images used on these modern multi-view postcards have been taken from old postcard images, which I think makes them even more interesting. Here the wheel can be seen bottom right.

WIEN – VIENNA

VIENNA – GIANT FERRIS WHEEL AND AMUSEMENT PARK “PRATER”

Published by

COLORAMA

Ref: Bestall-Nr. PK Wien 39

This is a lovely modern multi-view which has some great images of the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel). My favourite picture here is the close-up of one of the gondolas, bottom centre. This may be a classic styled modern postcard, but it does make a great souvenir of a visit.

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

View from my Gondola 

WIEN

Published by

SMILE GMBH, WIEN

Ref: 18085

A very, very typical modern tourist multi-view postcard in a design commonly seen across the world. For me it was just another nice view of the Ferris Wheel, or Riesenrad so I bought it as another souvenir postcard for my collection.

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

WIEN

PRATER, RIESENRAD - THE PRATER AND THE GIANT WHEEL

Published by

SMILE GMBH, WIEN

Ref: 18082

An attractive night-time, or dusk, photograph of the Ferris Wheel.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

WIEN – VIENNA

WIENER RIESENRAD

VIENNA GIANT FERRIS WHEEL

Published by

COLORAMA

Ref: Bestell-Nr. PK VIE03

When I am collecting a theme or a location on postcard there are some cards that I will come across which will shine out on that topic. This is one such card in that category when I was looking around Vienna for postcards depicting the Ferris Wheel.

THE PRATER AND THE GIANT WHEEL

Published by

SMILE GMBH, WIEN

Ref: 18501

This photograph is the one which best reminds me of the wheel as I saw it from the ground.

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

VIENNA

RIESENRAD

Published by

SOUVENIRWORLD

HANDELS GMBH

Ref: 8334

A sepia toned modern photograph. This trick of taking a modern photograph and making look more appealing, and older, through the process of toning. This is another postcard trait which has been used for many years. It is another way of placing something which looks different in the postcard racks and thus attracting the eye of tourists (and collectors) like me.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

I liked the skyline outline of buildings that runs across the bottom of this reverse side.

WIEN – VIENNA

RIESENRAD / GIANT FERRIS WHEEL

PANORAMIC VIEW

Published by

PLAYA

Copyright 2011

Ref: #009

This card is from a series of better-quality photographic view cards, all with rounded corners, which I came across in a selection of shops around Vienna. I wanted one for my collection and needless-to-say it was this one of the Ferris Wheel which won out. When you travel it is not possible to buy every postcard you see, not even for me, so I do have to sometimes pick and choose my subjects and images. In Vienna it was this Ferris Wheel that I chose to concentrate on.

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

PHOTOGRAPH

28^TH APRIL 2019

Taken during my trip to Vienna

14/01/2020

VIENNA

Published by

SMILE GMBH, WIEN

Ref: 18219

I bought this map postcard whilst in Vienna last year. It is a map of the Vienna underground train system, the Vienna Metro which unfortunately due to time I did not get to use on my guided tour of the city, but I did think that this could be a useful postcard as well as an interesting one. If you had one of these, you could make your way around using the trains.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

14/01/2020

OLD KING COLE

After the painting by

MOLLY BRETT

Published by

THE MEDICI SOCIETY., LONDON

Ref: Pkt. 175

I have always been a fan of the artwork of Molly Brett, who was well known for her paintings of animals in human like circumstances. The song ‘Old King Cole’ was one I remember learning when I was a child. I can still remember all the words despite my failing old age memory, but there is something about a tune which triggers memories more than anything else. We used to sing this in the playground, but I suspect with the advent of mobile phones and computer games I doubt many kids today have even heard of this one.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This card was posted in 1952 using a King George VI 2d postage stamp which was cancelled with a Shepherds Bush W12 slogan cancel; POSTAGE ON LETTERS – FOR – EUROPE 4., dated 18^th September 1952 which was seven months after the death of King George VI (who died on the 6^th February 1952).   

14/01/2020

A new ‘Tab’ has been placed on the webpage today populated with Queen Mother 80^th,90^th ,100^th birthday postcards and a very large selection of ‘In Memoriam’ cards issued after her death in 2002. Just click on the tab above:

HM QUEEN MOTHER

13/01/2020

UMKA THE LITTLE WHITE BEAR

Cartoon Directed by

VLADIMIR PEKAR and VLADIMIR POPOV

(1969 – 1970)

Published by

Postmania

Printed in Russia 2013

Ref: 0246

I do like film related postcards, especially cartoon films and animated ones. I have not seen this film, which appears to have been a Russian film, but I thought this postcard was delightful.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

13/01/2020

HILDA

Published by

VALENTINE’S

Valentine’s Name Series

I have shown some of these name postcards previously. I normally pick these up from cheap boxes when I come across them, which is not too often, as although I like them, I do not specifically look out for them or collect them. This one was cheap, but when I turned it over, I was surprised to find something quite interesting printed on the reverse side.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This side has a printed advert on it which reads:

BURT & CO.,

49 Broadway,

Deptford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cycles & Accessories

~~~~~~~~

Largest Stock and

Cheapest Prices in the District.

Cycling is quite a collected topic, and older related ephemera is popular, so this printed advert is quite a find, especially when you consider it would also be of interest to anyone interested in the history of the Deptford area.

13/01/2020

“THEN WE’RE AGREED, BROTHERS –

THE WORK REMAINS UNFINISHED

UNTIL WE’VE NEGOTIATED FOR 12%”

By

IAN DANIELS

Published by

GATHERED IMAGES

Ref: DAN 7

I have a fondness for postcards depicting the standing stone circle at Stonehenge, but most of the cards I have are photographic or nice art images of the site, but this is a cartoon one.

13/01/2020

HERE WE ARE:

POWERFUL, EROTIC AND READY TO GO

By

KULTURRECYCLING

Published by

VETRIEB: DISCORDIA

WIEHLERSTRASSE 5

Distributed by

CATH TATE CARDS

Ref: D5067

There was a series of these amusing postcards where an older photograph was placed on a card within a wide white boarder with then a comedic phrase or quote added. Some of these can be very funny, others just mildly amusing, but as a series I like these. This is not the first one to appear on this webpage.

12/01/2020

BBC NATURAL HISTORY

WILDLIFE PHOTOS – WILDLIFE SOUND – WILDLIFE FILM

Photo

PETE OXFORD

Official BBC Natural History Unit Picture Library Postcard

The joy of visiting postcard fairs is that you get to look through boxes of postcards that dealer’s have put together from all sorts of sources, many of which you will not have seen before and would not normally have access to. This card here is just such a card and was one that I came across and had to have this for my television collection. So far, this is the only copy of this card I have seen.

12/01/2020

POP ART NEW

GENERATION

Published by

NOBIS DESIGN

MADE IN GERMANY

Ref: ng004

This is a great German modern issue which I came across in Berlin last year. I am sure you already know, but just in case, this is an image of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (I bet few of you knew her first name though). Uhura was (and still is in the feature films) one of the crew of the USS Enterprise in the television series STAR TREK. She was originally, as depicted here, played by actress Nichelle Nichols (in the new feature films the character is being played by Zoe Saldana).

As a kid I loved the then re-runs of the original Star Trek television programmes and as a result I now have a very large collection of Star Trek themed postcards, but I am still more than happy to add new ones to it.

12/01/2020

MONSTERS OF STEEL IN ACTION

FRANCE

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

About four years ago I was in America at an antiques fair (another one being held at Mount Dora in Florida) when I came across a small selection of the World War 1 ‘Chicago Daily News’ war postal postcards. I have found that American WW1 related postcards are a little harder to find, especially in the UK, so when I came across this little bundle, I was intrigued enough to ask the price. There were nine postcards, with a couple having fold damage, but with three of these featuring tanks, and with one of these showing a very early American type. So, how much? The postcards were on display on a ‘general-antiques’ stand, so the seller was unsure himself, but he decided to try for what I think he thought was a good price, $10. I, of course, was more than happy with this. I now have these in my collection, and I think they are fascinating images.

‘DIGGING IN QUICK’

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

A FLOCK OF FIGHTING ENGLISH TANKS

READY FOR ACTION WITH AMERICAN TROOPS

FRANCE

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

As you know, I am very fond of WW1 tank related postcards, and this one is a cracker not only in its visuals but in its mention of the tanks being ready to go into action with American troops.

UP IN THE BLANKET

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

I wonder if this was because its was this mand birthday, or perhaps he had been awarded a promotion or similar.

FIGHTING A GAS ATTACK

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

Almost certainly a training programme rather than a real gas attack, but still an interesting image

CHOW TIME

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

GIVING THE GERMANS GAS,

FRENCH OFFICERS, AMERICAN INFANTRY

FRANCE

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

Although it says Gas, these soldiers are carrying and using early flamethrowers, so maybe the phrase ‘Giving them gas’ did also relate to the use of flamethrowers. The railway tracks in the foreground on the lower left half would seem to indicate this this again is in an area where training took place rather than on the front line.

This is one of the cards which has been damaged and you can see the fold marks down the centre, but despite this damage (which does of course greatly affects the value) I like this card and will keep it with the others.

ENGLISH TANKS AND AMERICAN

INFANTRY IN ACTION – FRANCE

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

I am not a tank expert, but these do not look like English tanks but more like the French Saint-Chamond Tank. If you know exactly what these vehicles are then please email me and let me know as I would be very interested to know.

AMERICAN HEAVY ARTILLERY

MOVING INTO ACTION – FRANCE

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

WAR POSTALS

Published by

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS

G. J. KAVANAUGH

WAR POSTAL CARD DEPARTMENT

Another one with some damage to it, but still an interesting image

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This is the standard format for all of the above postcards

12/01/2020

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

AT ANCHOR IN THE SOLENT

Published by

J. SALMON LTD

Ref: 2 – 58 – 03 – 15

A nice photographic postcard depicting the famous QEII ocean liner.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This side is the reason why I bought this postcard. This has a special unique cachet applied which has the outline of a golfer with the text:

CUNARD QE2

Anchors off ANSTRUTHER, Fife.

Visit is the OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

at ST ANDREWS GOLF COURSE

18^TH July 2000

The card has also received the official ships cachet:

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

SOUTHAMPTON

OFFICIAL NO. 336703

GROSS TONNAGE: 70327

NETT TONNAGE: 37182

The card has then had a millennium issue Machin Queens head 1^st class postage stamp applied which has been cancelled with the ST. ANDREWS FIFE pictorial golfer cancellation dated 20 July 2000. This cancellation was in use for some time as a permanent cancel for the golf course.

This combination makes for an attractive usage.

REVERSE SIDE OF ANOTHER COPY OF:

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

AT ANCHOR IN THE SOLENT

Published by

J. SALMON LTD

Ref: 2 – 58 – 03 – 15

The same card as above but here this copy was posted in SOUTHAMPTON using a 2000 UK Christmas 2^ND class postage stamp, cancelled with a small ring SOUTHAMPTON cancellation dated 15 November 2000.

This card also has a unofficial multi-coloured cachet applied top left which reads:

CUNARD

“QUEEN ELIZABETH 2”

CAPE TOWN LINE VOYAGE III

Departs Southampton for Cape Town

November 15^th 2000

There is also a large boxed ships cachet giving details of the ship. There are many versions of this ship’s cachet and a different one can be seen on one of the other cards depicted here.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

AT ANCHOR IN THE SOLENT

Published by

J. SALMON LTD

Ref: 2 – 58 – 03 – 15

This card has the same reference number as the card above, and it does have the same photograph although this one has the addition of white text on the front, bottom left, reading QUEEN ELIZABETH II.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This one was posted in Papua New Guinea using a ship themed K1 value postage stamp which was cancelled with a MAIL CENTRE LAE – PNG [Papua New Guinea] cancellation dated 28^th February 2000. The card has also received the ships official cruise black cachet:

2000 WORLD CRUISE

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

[picture of ship]

There is also an unofficial multi-coloured cachet applied top left which reads:

CUNARD

“QUEEN ELIZABETH2”

MILLENNIUM WORLD CRUISE

Calls at MADANG,

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

February 25^TH 2000

There is an English language Royal Mail ‘BY AIR MAIL – PAR AVION’ blue label.

12/01/2020

R.M.S. “QUEEN ELIZABETH II”

Photograph

RICHARD ADAMS

Published by

J. ARTHUR DIXON

Ref: PIW 27240

This is another QE II ocean liner postcard from my collection. I collect this ocean liner because of its involvement with the 1982 Falklands War, a subject that is a specialised collecting interest of mine.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This has a long sticker attached across the top which has printed, and coloured text on it which reads:

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

WORLD CRUISE 1999

The Great Tides of

Civilisation

Calls at Nagoya, Japan

6^TH March 1999

This card again has the ships official cachet applied in black:

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

SOUTHAMPTON

OFFICIAL NO. 336703

GROSS TONNAGE: 70327

NETT TONNAGE: 37182

This postcard was posted in Nagoya, Japan using a nice pictorial apple themed 80 value NIPPON (Japan) postage stamp which has been cancelled with a nice pictorial red cancellation. The card has also received a NAGOYA JAPAN circle ring cancellation dated 6^th March 1999.

Another nice usage and collectible item connected with this ocean liner and its voyages, cruises.

11/01/2020

DISNEY

FROZEN II

PARTY PACK

Containing:

8 - INVITATIONS

&

8 - THANK YOU POSTCARDS

Official Part Pack

FRONT OF COMPLETE PACKAGE

Here you can see one of the folded invitation cards at the front of the package. This depicts the two main characters from both the feature film ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen II’, the image being taken from the latest film.

I have depicted many of these party packs and their THANK YOU postcards as over the years of my trips to Florida I have managed to obtain quite a few. On my most recent trip this pack was the only new one I found (and to be honest, I found only one or two other packs, and in the past there have been as many as 12 different packs, so maybe the trend for these packs is fading away).

THANK YOU POSTCARD

Disney

Ref: GS 06/19

This is the front of one of the eight THANK YOU postcards contained within this pack. All the postcards depict the same image, which is unique to the postcards in these packs.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

11/01/2020

THE RARE KING VULTURE

THE BIRD PARK, SANTA CAROLINA ISLAND, CALIFORINIA

Published by

WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Ref: 8A-H1382

This is an American issue which looks like a 1930’s – 1940’s issue. I bought this one on my most recent Florida trip. I have always liked birds of prey and they appear on many postcards. Vultures are not considered by many as being pretty, but perhaps the King Vulture is the exception for many, although I like all vultures myself.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Lots of descriptive text here, but one bit caught my attention; ‘CRASHES DOWN ON HIS VICTIM LIKE ‘MAN MOUNTAIN DEAN’’. I assumed this was either a real or fictional person and after some investigation found that this was someone called Frank Simmons Leavitt (30/06/1891 – 29/05/1953) who was a professional wrestler in the early 1900’s and who was known by his wrestler name ‘Man Mountain Dean’. He took up this name in 1932, so this postcard must have come out some time after this and considering he needed to have become a well known name to have been used here in this text this leads me to suspect this card is more likely from the 1940’s. He participated in 6,783 wrestling bouts before retiring in 1940. He also managed to fit in a film career and was involved with the military (having joined underage at 14yrs and saw duty on the Mexico-United States border and in France in WW1. He re-joined at the start of WW2 and reached the rank of master sergeant).

It never ceases to amaze me how a reference on a postcard can lead me to such interesting people and their stories.    

PHOTOGRAPH

‘MAN MOUNTAIN DEAN’