EMAIL ADDRESS - markspostcardchat@gmail.com
03/02/2020
MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA
Published by
KARTO
Ref: 47-60347
(Original retail price, as printed on the card – 1.60 Euro)
I have not read the original books, but I have always loved the characters and used to watch the animated television series. I have collected postcards depicting the characters ever since. As a norm I have usually found that Moomin postcards are quite expensive in comparison to other similar cards of the different eras that the Moomin postcards have been available. I think this is because of the popularity of the characters abroad, where I think it is fair to say they are more popular than here in the UK. As a result of this most postcards featuring the Moomins need to be imported into the UK, so their original cost is high, and this results in a higher second-hand price.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
UNTITLED
MOOMIN CHARACTERS
Published by
KARTO
Ref: MUUMI Series
47-60502
UNTITLED
MOOMIN CHARACTERS
Published by
KARTO
Ref: MUUMI Series
47-60501
UNTITLED
MOOMIN CHARACTERS
Published by
KARTO
Ref: MUUMI Series
47-60500
UNTITLED
MOOMIN CHARACTERS
Published by
KARTO
Ref: MUUMI Series
47-60499
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
With the exception of the individual reference numbers, all of the above four postcards have the same basic postcard reverse format. I like the use of colour here which adds some visual appeal.
02/02/2020
ONE NATION?
JUST SAY NO!
JOIN THE ALP
(AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY)
Published by
AVANTCARD AUSTRALIA
1998
Ref: #2384
This Australian postcard has an Alice in Wonderland theme, but I am not sure if it is a good bit of theming or that it is meant to be. The ALP is a democratic socialist party that was being led by Kim Beazley in 1998 when this card was published, and in a year when the ALP won the 1998 federal election, although neither of the people superimposed onto this image is Kim Beazley.
I don’t know the background behind this image, but I would like to so if you know then please email me as I am curious, especially about who these people are.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
02/02/2020
LONDON HAS EVERYTHING YOU “GO” FOR!
“There must be a McDonald’s SOMEWHERE ‘round here”
Published by
CHIC PIX STUDIOS
Ref: R 43
I’ve posted a few Chic Pix postcards recently and mentioned the style of their designs. I like these, but then I like exclusive postcard designs, especially when they add little extras on the reverse side (although this one does not have as many as others).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
IT’S VACATIONTIME ANYTIME
IN
LONDON
‘WISH YOU WERE HERE’
Published by
CHIC PIX STUDIOS
Ref: R 47
This one is a very typical ‘Chic Pix’ design one which shows the clever and attractive approach they had to their postcard designs. This one again is themed around London.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Pretty much the same reverse side as the card above, but this company liked to mix up their reverse sides, so you do get different text in the Queen’s speech bubble. I wonder if anyone noticed this. I always check out the reverse sides of Chic Pix postcards.
02/02/2020
ALICE
Pen and Ink Drawing
By
BRIAN PARTRIDGE
1989
Published Privately by
BRIAN PARTRIDGE
You can find a selection of Brian’s pieces of artwork on postcards published by several publishers, but the hardest ones to obtain have always been the ones that Brian published himself. Often these were produced in quite low numbers with a very small distribution circuit. I obtained many of these through my contact with Brian over many years. Some of these, although I’m not sure about this one, were sent out with a newsletter that Brian produced for several years for fans of his work. I received these newsletters, and the special cards that came with them, but I think this one here I was lucky to find in a dealers cheap unsorted box. I recognised Brian’s artwork immediately, both the style and the theme as Alice in Wonderland is Brian’s favourite topic to draw.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Signed by
BRIAN PARTRIDGE
Always nice to find these postcards when they have been signed.
02/02/2020
TOP – Front of Postcard
BOTTOM – Reverse side of Postcard
L’OREAL
KIDS
BECAUSE WERE WORTH IT TOO!
Published by
BOOMERANG CINEMA
Both sides of this postcard are colourful! This is a good example of the Boomerang free rack postcard service being used to advertise a what is a normal product, all-be-it one which is for use by kids, although clearly the advert itself is aimed at adults, or is it? Is the design so colourful in-order-for it to be attractive to kids and then get them to ask their parents for this product… devious…
02/02/2020
FLORIDA’S GRACEFUL FLAMINGOS
Published by
CITY OF MIAMI NEWS BUREAU
Printed by
CURTEICH – CHICAGO
C.T. ART-COLORTONE
Ref: TROPICAL FLORIDA SERIES
178.F
I like Florida themed postcards, especially older ones so would possibly have picked this one up anyway, but I have-to-be honest and say it was again the reverse side which caused me to buy this one.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This postcard was posted in 1956 using a 2cents US postage stamp. This has been cancelled with a CLEARWATER, FL [Florida] wavy-line machine cancellation. Unfortunately, 2c was not enough postage so a purple coloured double circle TAX TO PAY mark has been applied stating that 12 centimes is due. There is also the straight line ‘POSTAGE DUE ….. CENTS’ mark, although the amount due has not been written (which is not unusual as the main mark states the amount owed). On arrival in the UK a 2d black POSTAGE DUE stamp has been applied and cancelled, although I can not make out the details of this cancel. Also, the card has received a large green coloured 2d I.S.T postage due mark. I liked this combination and I have always collected ‘Postage Due’ marks and stamps on postcards.
02/02/2020
POSTZEGELS VERZAMELEN
“EEN BOEIENDE HOBBY”
Collecting Stamps
“A Fascinating Hobby”
Published by
PTT POST
(Official Nederland Postal card)
This simple photograph depicts a PTT POST red postal service van (PTT POST being the Nederland’s version of Royal Mail) which looks like it is on a bridge.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This has a nice 75c 1913 – 1988 75th Anniversary of the Erasmus University Nederland postage stamp applied which has been cancelled with a pictorial ‘Rotterdam’ hand stamp dated 30.IX.88 (30TH September 1988).
02/02/2020
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION
OF THE CANADIAN COAST TO COAST RAIL LINK
Official Canadian Maxi-Card
The photograph depicted here is a famous one which shows Donald A. Smith, a director of the Canadian Pacific Railway, driving the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental line on the 7th November 1885.
This maxi-card has the 34c CP Class P2a 2-8-2type train stamp applied to the front which has been cancelled with the special Canada Post 1885 – 1985 centenary cancellation dated 7th November 1985. A nice, and reasonably easy to find, maxi card.
02/02/2020
THE MORNING AFTER
By
CHRISTINE CIPRIANO
Published by
GALERIE NAIFS ET PRIMITIFS
Ref: CC 8
French cat art postcard. A nice card.
MAMA AND BABIES
By
CHRISTINE CIPRIANO
Published by
GALERIE NAIFS ET PRIMITIFS
Ref: CC 18
02/02/2020
VISIT US AND
THE 1967 WORLD’S FAIR
ASTOR RESTAURANT
Photography and Publishing by
W. SCHERMER
This is a Canadian postcard and I suspect one which was used as a promotional postcard by the restaurant so possibly even originally a free one (although that’s by no means certain).
Although this is a nice dated card, so would have been only available for a specific period, it is not a stand-out card as such, but it does have a nice reverse side layout.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I love the way this side is laid out. All this text printed both top and bottom and in both English and French. For some reason, to me at least, this is an eye-catching layout.
01/02/2020
TIGERKOPF
(Tiger Head)
1909
By
LUDWIG HEINRICH JUNGNICKL
(1881 – 1965)
Published by
VERLAG GALERIE WELZ SALZBURG
Ref: Nr. 492
Printed in Austria
Another tiger postcard from my collection. This time it is a piece of artwork on display. I like this one.
01/02/2020
SUOMI
(FINLAND)
Unknown Publisher – Printer
Those who know the flag of Finland will immediately recognise that this is not the current Finnish flag. I myself was a little confused, but then after a bit of study I found that this golden lion on a red background was the temporary state flag used between December 1917 and May 1918, although the golden lion ensign (heraldic logo) does appear on the State Flag (within the blue lines that make the cross), on the Flag of the Defence Forces and on the flag of the Republic of Finland (in each case this appears in the blue cross). So, this heroic looking woman is holding a Finnish flag, just an older version.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
01/02/2020
RUPERT
(THE BEAR)
PARTY INVITE POSTCARD
Unknown Printer – Publisher
If you are lucky, you can pick up one of these for 60p, if you are lucky in a different way, you will have one but it will cost you £3 (depending on the dealer I have seen these priced quite low, but this has been rare, and at £2.50 and £3, which is the price range which I think is about right for this one.
I have often believed or suspected that this card came in a pack of some sort, probably with several copies of this card contained within it. It is an interesting card and one I rarely saw, although last year I saw several on one dealers stall (I suspected they were all from one pack, which seemed logical considering my beliefs on their source). Because this dealer had a handful of these, he was happy to believe they were worth just 60p each (if you see these then buy one), but as stated, I think they are rarer than this one little stash indicates.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
A very simple design
31/01/2020
UNTITLED
(Maggie Thatcher Cartoon)
REPRODUCED FROM A PAINTING DONATED BY
MICHAEL WOODWARD CREATIONS LTD
Copyright
TERRY DURHAM/MWC Ltd
Printed/Published by
LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HERITAGE SERVICES
Some people liked Margaret Thatcher, some people did not. Some people like the idea of Brexit, and some people do not. That’s politics for you. Today is a very important day in British politics, whatever your opinion. Today the UK leaves the EU. My own ‘personal opinion’ is just that, my own, and I have always tried to keep this webpage neutral as much as I can especially as I believe that my opinions are of no consequence. If I see any Brexit related postcards being produced, anti-or pro, I will probably buy them, all of them (although I do not expect there to be many).
The one thing I do hope for is an end to all the antagonism between each side. What ever your thoughts we have no choice now, so lets all stop hating each other because of our choices, which all are entitled to, and move on. I am sure there will be something else for us all to worry about soon… possible and infection or disease from somewhere like, oh, I don’t know… China maybe? Who knows…?
30/01/2020
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL
DE MUSIQUE MECANIQUE
DIJON – 16 au 22 SEPTEMBRE 1991
International Festival
Of Mechanical Music
Published by (or more probably printed as an official event postcard by…)
EDITE PAR CRCAM Cote-d’Or
ORGANISATION: DIJCOLORG
A few years ago, I visited Rotterdam and saw one of these colourful mechanical music machines, it was really, really ‘PINK’. I was fascinated and spent some time listening to it. It was a lot bigger than the one depicted bottom left on this postcard. As I like these things now, I could not resist this postcard.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
30/01/2020
MR BRAINWASH
PRESENTS
ICONS
2010 Solo Exhibition Postcard
(KATE MOSS)
Published by
MR BRAINWASH
“Life is wonderful…”
I have mentioned Mr Brainwash before, and have shown postcards from his exhibition, which was held in New York in 2010. On eBay his postcards often reach quite high prices, even the ones depicting topics and subjects which are not quite as collectible (I have a Superman one which always sells for double figure [one copy for $55] AND A Batman themed one which I saw sell for £10). This one depicts the fashion model Kate Moss.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
29/01/2020
AVRO LANCASTER
LANCASTER BLUEPRINT
Published by the
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
Ref: PP02026
On my last visit to the Imperial War Museum, last year, I found they were selling a nice series of what are titled as ‘Blueprint’ postcards. I thought they were great, and they continue the trend whereby the museum continues to publish exclusive and interesting postcard designs. The Lancaster is one of my favourite WW2 allied bombers, and it is probably Britain’s most famous war time bomber.
Mk XIV SPITFIRE
SPITFIRE BLUEPRINT
Published by the
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
Ref: PP01673
If the Lancaster is the best-known bomber of WW2, then the Spitfire is without doubt the best-known WW2 fighter plane. The Spitfire will always be linked to the Battle of Britain, and there is no doubt it helped us through, but it is worth remembering that the fighter plane that helped us the most in the Battle of Britain was the Hurricane, a plane often placed in the background behind the Spitfire, but one of more than equal importance. Having said that, the Spitfire was a better looking and performing fighter plane.
TANK – MARK V
TANK BLUEPRINT
Published by the
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
Ref: PP01647
The only non-aeroplane blueprint postcard in this small series, and my favourite of the three postcards, but that should come as no surprise as I have posted a number of WW1 era tank postcards here on the webpage and oft mentioned my interest in them.
29/01/2020
WISH YOU WERE HERE…
WWW. JohnCleese. COM
Published by
JOHN CLEESE
John Cleese Personal Fan Postcard
SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE
By
JOHN CLEESE
People who wrote to John Cleese asking for an autograph would receive this postcard. Asking for a signature is a common approach that stars deal with in different ways. Some do signed photographs, of different sizes, others will sign stuff sent to them by fans. Some of course send out photographs and postcards with printed autographs on them, which is the more common approach, unfortunately, but some do send out specially printed exclusive postcards which they do sign for real. This is the case here with this John Cleese postcard.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Signed by
JOHN CLEESE
This signed postcard is from my television collection and came to mind after the recent sad death of Terry Jones who along with John Cleese was part of the famous Monty Python team. I think this is the only signature of I have of a ‘Python’ as they are called.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
A word of warning about certificates of authenticity. Many signed items come with a certificate, but they are mostly an irrelevant addition because anyone, even me with my ‘really poor’ computer skills, can knock up their own certificate and sign it… I’m not saying that these are not genuine, I’m just saying that they are no proof against forgery or fake items. The only way to be 100% sure is to obtain the autograph yourself personally face to face with the signer, but you can learn what signatures look like, and become a better judge of what is likely to be real. I am happy that this John Cleese autograph is a real one.
28/01/2020
SOME FOLKS DON’T WRITE
“DID THAT TRAVELIN’ SALESMAN SAY HE’D
WRITE TO YUH, SADIE?”
“HE SHORE WUZ HAN’SOME, MAW…”
Published by
GENUINE CURTEICH-CHICAGO
“C. T. ART COLORTONE “
Ref: C-691
C. T. HILLBILLY COMICS – 10 SUBJECTS
6B-H821
Only in America could you have a comic postcard which features a very young child, almost a baby, holding a gun! If you check the card out you will see that it is textured, only slightly, but this is a type of postcard which is unique to America, and which they call ‘Linen Postcards’. In America they are much collected and very popular, but here in the UK, where the technique was not used, they are little known beyond collectors like me, who have American postcards in their collections. Personally, I like the unusual look and feel of these cards and from a UK perspective, they are something different.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
28/01/2020
RETRO SEASIDE
“I LOVE CHIPS”
It’s the Great British Seaside!
Design by
JENNY WISCOMBE
Published by
J. SALMON LTD
Ref: 09/80/00/38
Me and Jo had a walk along the seafront this afternoon. The tide was high and there was a reasonably strong wind and it was chilly, but it was a nice walk. Needless-to-say, we saw lots of seagulls, but we also saw Sanderling’s and Turnstone’s and the bird watcher in my caused me to stop awhile and watch the birds moving along the tideline. When I got back home, I went through my cards and I found this seagull one and it became one I wanted to post today [I often have something that draws me towards a certain postcard on a certain day, and my webpage is littered with these postings. Sometimes I explain why, but often a card appears and I know why, but everyone else has to try and guess why]
Also, I have a copy of the Ladybird book that is depicted on this postcard: THE LADYBIRD BOOK OF SEA AND ESTUARY BIRDS. This is a cracking little book which I remember from my youth and which even today I sometimes read.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
28/01/2020
JACKIE CHAN
Unknown Publisher
I believe this to be a Chinese Issued Postcard
(but I admit it could also be Japanese, but somehow, I tend towards Chinese)
I bought this one for my Film collection, but I openly admit that I know nothing about it except the name of the male actor, the famous Jackie Chan (I’m not so sure about the female actress, but it could be Zhang Ziyi who appeared with Jackie Chan in the film ‘Rush Hour 2’). This is the type of foreign issued postcard which you rarely come across and its just luck if you come across one.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
28/01/2020
NATIONAL TREASURE
BOOK OF SECRETS
Novelty Jigsaw Postcard
Published by
BOOMERANG
This superb jigsaw puzzle postcard depicts the film poster for the 2007 sequel film National Treasure: book of Secrets, which starred the depicted actor Nicolas Cage. This is a great card because I suspect many people used it as a jigsaw and broke it up. It is also very fragile and if not protected these break apart with ease. I have mine stored in a stiff individual plastic sleeve. If you have one of these then look after it as I suspect perfect mint copies will become scarce.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
You can clearly see the edges of each piece of the jigsaw
28/01/2020
GOLD COAST RAILROAD
NATIONAL POSTCARD WEEK
3 – 9 MAY 1987
Design by
ANN RUSNAK
Published by
DOROTHY A. LAUGHLIN
Printed by
3-STARR PRESS
Limited Edition of 300 individually hand numbered postcards
I never need an excuse to picture an Ann Rusnak design, but I was going through my stuff the other day and I found some photographs I took at the 1994 Picture Postcard Centenary Exhibition and one of these depicts Ann at her table on the one day that she visited to sell and sign copies of her postcards. So, I scanned this photograph, and this is my excuse for showing this postcard. Having said that, this is one of my favourites of her designs. Each card is individually numbered on the reverse side and the card has been hand coloured.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Signed by
ANN RUSNAK
Interestingly, considering the photograph shown below, this postcard was signed by Ann at the 1994 Picture Postcard Centenary Exhibition shortly before the photograph was taken. It was one of a handful of her postcards which I took to the event to have signed.
ANN RUSNAK
PHOTOGRAPH
1994
Picture Postcard Centenary Exhibition (London)
I have just realised that this photograph is now nearly 26 years old! How time fly’s when you have a hobby. Ann is sadly no longer with us, but I remember with great fondness meeting her on this day and our chat about her postcards, and her surprise at how many I had considering I was living in the UK.
28/01/2020
FOLD OVER NOVELTY
‘SWAN’
LETTERCARD – POSTCARD
Unknown Publisher
This is the address side of this novelty item. This is a fold over card which was sealed down three sides sealing in the message and the unusual enclosure. You can see the perforated edges down each side and along the bottom. This is where the receiver removed the sealed edges to gain access to the inside of the folded sealed card. Because it has an enclosure it could not be sent at postcard rate, so had to go at full letter rate, which is why there are two ½ penny stamps applied (postcard postage rate was ½ p, full letter rate was 1p). The two stamps have been cancelled with LOWESTOFT March 19th, 1905 (although the cancels year section is not readable). Having said that, the year can be made out on the receiving cancel on the reverse side.
REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FOLDED NOVELTY
LETTERCARD/POSTCARD
This item was addressed to Hull and upon arrival received a HULL single circle date stamp cancelled 20th March 1905.
PHOTOGRAPH
INSIDE OF FOLDED NOVELTY
LETTERCARD/POSTCARD
The inside reveals a ‘Pop-Up’ swan design, like you would find in a ‘Pop-Up’ book. The edges are a little rough, but I think it’s in’ fairly-good’ condition for something which is 115 years old. There is an extended leg and wing (which can be seen better on the photograph below).
I think this is a lovely item and when I saw it, it immediately appealed to my fascination for novelty card items. It also was not too expensive, so I bought it.
PHOTOGRAPH
INSIDE OF FOLDED NOVELTY
LETTERCARD/POSTCARD
This angle makes it easier to see the extended leg and wing. It also shows the oval shaped layered paper body of the swan as well.
27/01/2020
LA T. V. EN COULEURS, C’EST SIMPLE
IL FALLAIT Y PENSER
The T.V. in colour, its simple
You had to think it
Published by
CROISADE DE LA BONNE HUMEUR
MEDAILLE D’OR
PHOTOCHROM
Ref: 30320
This postcard, and one below I found on eBay and I openly admit I bought them because they both depict television sets. This cartoon is easy to understand as it shows a child changing the family television set into a colour one (I assume it is a black and white one she is ‘updating’), but the postcard below I have struggled to translate properly, but as it clearly shows a television shop I wanted it for my collection.
LES JOIES DES DEUX CHAINES
JE VOUDRAIS UN LEME POSTE POUR MA FEMME…
The Joys of the two chains
I would like a 2nd post for my wife…
Published by
CROISADE DE LA BONNE HUMEUR
MEDAILLE D’OR
PHOTOCHROM
Ref: 30320 (this is the same as on the above card, so this may be a series number)
27/01/2020
EVIAN
L’ORIGINAL
Published by
MAX RACKS
(American Freecard Publisher)
Copyright 2000
Another mermaid postcard from my collection.
27/01/2020
SMALL KIDS DESIGN
By
NATHAN BAINBRIDGE
Published by
PLANET BOOMERANG
(Free Rack Card – from the schools and university racks)
Sometimes you just like a card for what it is, as was the case with this one which was free in the rack in my children’s school way back when they were young and still going to school.
Print 