03/08/2019

TORY TAXES

THE HORRIBLE TRUTH

Published by

RECYCLED IMAGES

Ref: 112

The ultimate in conspiracy theories? I ended up buying this postcard because of the inclusion of the television screen, it therefore classes as an unusual addition to my television themed collection. It could, of course, with the inclusion of Prime Minister John Major, be added to a political themed collection as well, and I suppose, with the addition of an alien we could push things towards a sci-fi collection, but that is pushing it a bit. These cards were printed in a way which makes them look almost amateur in their production, but I have always believed that this was deliberate and by design.

Oh, and by the way, I don’t really believe John Major is an alien, a bit strange perhaps, but not an alien.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

03/08/2019

PIECE HALL, HALIFAX

WHOLESALE FOOD MARKET ACTIVITIES IN THE 1920’s

AMENITIES AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT,

METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF CALDERDALE

Published by

E. T. W. DENNIS & SONS LTD., SCARBOROUGH

Ref: JBD 4/80   127/09

I do like these locally produced history postcards as they are packed with social history and interest. For me it is the motor cars and vans which are of interest, but despite these motor vehicles I can see that the horse drawn form of transportation is still very much in evidence. This photograph shows a period of change, but one still in the throws of transformation. History coming alive through an image.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

03/08/2019

DESIGN FOR A TILE PANEL

WATERCOLOUR (ABOUT 1890)

By

WILLIAM DE MORGAN (1839 – 1917)

Published by the

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Ref: E260 (E404-1917)

This postcard is one which would have really appealed to me as a kid. It has everything that I would have been looking for, wildlife – parrots in this case – and an unusual source, a design for a tile, just the sort of card I would have been looking out for.

I have been to the Victoria & Albert Museum several times over the past year, but this postcard design is no longer available, which adds a little more to the interest for me.

03/08/2019

THANK YOU

SCOUTS. PE PREPARED…

Published by the

SCOUT ASSOCIATION

Ref: Item # 101072

A very basic, but very practicable postcard designed by the scout association as a way of thanking someone for helping in some way with something scout related. It is an official postcard which could be used by leaders at any level in the scout world.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This ‘particular-card’ was used to thank people for their help with the ‘COUNTY BEAVER FUN DAY 2017’. This information is passed on by way of a large applied transparent sticker stuck down to this side

03/08/2019

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

POSTCARD SIZE

TRADE-CARD

“BATMAN”

RETURN OF THE CAPED CRUSADERS

SHINY SURFACED GLOSS PRINTED CARD

DC CLASSIC ORIGINAL MOVIE

Each card has an individual printed number on the reverse side which makes them rather unique. When I saw this card, I had to have it for my television collection. The front image is so good that I suspect any Batman collector would love to have a copy. It is also printed on really thick high-quality card.  

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE CARD

03/08/2019

FUCHSIA ‘BRILLIANT’

(ONAGRACEGE)

Silver effect Card

Published by

F. J. WARREN LIMITED

DUFEX CARD

Ref: 500202

One of the silver shiny effect issues published under the ‘DUFEX’ title by F. J. Warren. Not one of the best designs but a good example of the style and type.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Standard brown printing reverse layout for these issues

03/08/2019

“BRITISH ENGINEERING”

ROYAL MAIL PHQ STAMP CARD SET

PHQ Set 456

(postcards that reproduce the Royal Mail’s stamp releases)

Stamps issued – 2^nd May 2019

(As always, I have my copies used with the appropriate stamp applied to the front of the card and cancelled first day of issue with a special hand stamp)

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

(TOP)

RASPBERRY Pi

Microcomputer – helps to teach programming

1^st CLASS VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (1)

(BOTTOM)

THE FALKIRK WHEEL

ROTATING BOAT LIFT CONNECTS SCOTTISH WATERWAYS

1^st CLASS VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (2)

This is not a set I found that interesting, but then engineering is not one of my things. The set does not appeal, but one or two of the designs are alright and I cannot deny that the designs are well presented. The choice of items they chose to depict is quite an interesting selection.

(TOP)

THREE-WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

REDUCES POLLUTANTS IN CAR EXHAUSTS

£1.55 VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (3)

(BOTTOM)

CROSSRAIL

CREATED 26 MILES (42KM) OF NEW RAIL TUNNELS UNDER LONDON

£1.55 VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (4)

This might be the most interesting of the six individual designs. Railway related postcards are very collectible, and I am not sure if there have been any Crossrail cards issued (but I would not be surprised to find that there has been) prior to this one, but it is the first that I have come across.

(TOP)

SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET

ALLOWS HIGH-QUALITY IMAGING IN MRI

£1.60 VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (5)

(BOTTOM)

SYNTHETIC BONE-GRAFT MATERIAL

ENCOURAGES NEW BONE GROWTH

£1.60 VALUE

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (6)

HARRIER JUMP JET

HARRIER GR3:

SHORT TAKE-OFF

1^ST CLASS VALUE

Stamp from miniature stamp sheet

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (7)

Although the designs from the six individual stamps were not to my taste, I did really enjoy and like the four stamps which were incorporated in the Harrier Jump Jet stamp sheet that was issued alongside the individual six stamp set. This was my favourite of the four sheet stamps.

HARRIER JUMP JET

HARRIER GR3:

CONVENTIONAL FLIGHT

1^ST CLASS VALUE

Stamp from miniature stamp sheet

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (8)

(TOP)

HARRIER JUMP JET

HARRIER GR3:

TRANSISTION TO LANDING

£1.55 VALUE

Stamp from miniature stamp sheet

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (9)

(BOTTOM)

(TOP)

HARRIER JUMP JET

HARRIER GR3:

VERTICAL LANDING

£1.55 VALUE

Stamp from miniature stamp sheet

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (10)

(TOP)

HARRIER JUMP JET

MINIATURE SHEET

Full sheet depicted on postcard

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (11)

One side of the stamp sheet attached and cancelled

(BOTTOM)

HARRIER JUMP JET

MINIATURE SHEET

Full sheet depicted on postcard

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 456 (11)

This card has the other half of the stamp sheet attached

02/08/2019

OOSTENDE 1940

WAPENPLATTS, PLACE d’ARMES

Published by

NELS

PHOTO. – EDIT J. DE MEESTER,

Oostende

Ref: B 3

When I first saw this photograph, without seeing the motor car, I thought it was a WWI bomb/shell damage card, but then I saw the date, 1940. The photograph is so indicative of the older WWI styled postcards that it seems to me that maybe someone was following that trend at the start of WWII. Would postcards like this be as popular in 1940? I suspect they were not, as this is the first such card I have seen, but then I am only assuming this is bomb or shell damage as no mention of this made, but then in 1940 who would have thought it was anything else.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

02/08/2019

RETOUR

SUR TERRE

STAR TREK IV

THE VOYAGE HOME

Published by

EDITIONS F. NUGERON

I think this just might be the most colourful Star Trek film series poster that I have come across. I have always loved this particular’ image, although the film is not one of the best in the series, but it is watchable and quite funny in places as much of it is a comedic element.

These Editions F Nugeron French published film poster postcards have become more and more collectible since the company ceased trading.

02/08/2019

WOMEN’S FAIR

OLYMPIA

1938

Unknown Artist

Published by

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Ref: LTM 602

It is some years since this poster postcard was on sale. It is one of the many earlier designs from this company which you will now need to hunt down either on eBay (but I have checked and there is not one on there as I type this) or from a modern postcard dealer at a postcard fair. It depicts a great period poster design.

02/08/2019

ANTHONY BROWNE’S

KING KONG

RELEASED 6^TH OCTOBER (2006)

RRP £12.99

Promotional Postcard for the Publishing Company:

JULIA MacRAE BOOKS

Official Company Postcard

I saw this postcard at the fair I attended last weekend in London. It was immediately going to be making its way into my collection, for two reasons. The first is that the original ‘King Kong’ movie is on my all-time top ten movie list. Because of this I have always bought every King Kong themed postcard I have come across. Secondly, and as a big coincidence, we bought a copy of this book for our youngest son when it came out. We still have it on our bookshelf.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

02/08/2019

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC TEAM

“MAKE YOUR MARK IN BEIJING”

AUTOGRAPH POSTCARD

Official Team Autograph Postcard

I have two copies of this postcard sized card, which were designed to obtain autographs of the team members on the reverse side. I have a selection of signatures across these two cards, but the front of both is identical. If these were unsigned, I would still find a mint card interesting as there are 10 athletes depicted here.

REVERSE SIDE OF FIRST COPY OF POSTCARD

AUTOGRAPHED BY NINE MEMBERS OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 2018 OLYMPIC TEAM

With some work and looking at the events and the signatures it is possible to make out most of these and they appear to all be from the female members of the team:

RHONDA WATKINS – Long Jump          ???????????

             JOSANNE LUCAS - 400 m Hurdles

             MELISSA De LEON – 800 m

SEMOY HACKETT – 100 m        CLEOPATRA BOREL-BROWN - Shot Put

SASHA SPRINGER-JONES – 100 m       AYANNA HUTCHINSON 4 x 100 m Relay

ALEESHA BARBER 100 m Hurdles

So, on this listing I have only one left to decipher, but I know she did Discus and shot pot, but that has not helped yet, but it leaves me something to still work on. 

REVERSE SIDE OF SECOND COPY OF POSTCARD

AUTOGRAPHED BY NINE MEMBERS OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 2018 OLYMPIC TEAM

With some work and looking at the events and the signatures it is possible to make out most of these and they all appear to be from the male members of the team:

???????? (I assume this s a signature and not just a scrawl)

RENNY QUOW - 400 m & x  400        ????????????

AARON ARMSTRONG 200 m (?)       RONDEL SORRILLO - 200 m

EMMANUEL CALLANDER 4 x 100m (Gold)                                                                        ???????????? 

GEORGE BOVELL (Flag carrier at opening ceremony)

?????????????????                 ???????????????

Not so good with this one as I have either 5 or 4 signatures I have not yet worked out. Again, I will need to do some work here.

I saw these two postcards on eBay and they started at 99p, so I made a bid excepting that someone would bid more, but I did not want someone else to get these cards for so little an amount. To my amazement no one else placed any bids. So, I got these for just 99p which I thin was a cracking bargain and an example of how eBay can be used to obtain something ‘really’ nice for a price which is ridiculously cheap.

01/08/2019

BRITISH PHONE BOX

Published by

JUDGES OF HASTINGS

Ref: C-34087

I came across this postcard earlier this year when I visited Coventry. I found it in a local newsagent and sweet shop. It just goes to show that no matter how many places you visit you can always come across something you have not seen before.

01/08/2019

LITTLEST BIG DEAL

IN TOWN

DISNEY’S ‘CHRISTOPHER ROBIN’

On

SKY CINEMA

Published By

SKY CINEMA

This is one of two postcards which were available on Sky television promotional stands, the type you see in shopping centre walkways and in some major stores. The cards were given out as a promotion for the appearance on Sky Cinema of the 2018 film ‘Christopher Robin’ which starred Ewan McGregor as the titular character. I saw the film whilst on a Disney cruise ship in 2018 and I thought it a nice little film. So, these two related postcards came as a bargain. They are also UK exclusives I think, so these would be sought after by Disney collectors abroad, especially the US.

…WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE

DISNEY’S ‘CHRISTOPHER ROBIN’

On

SKY CINEMA

Published By

SKY CINEMA

I think this one is even better than the one above, although less colourful. Eeyore is probably my wife’s favourite Disney character, certainly her favourite of the Winnie the Pooh characters.

REVERSE SIDE OF THE ABOVE POSTCARDS

Both of the above postcards have the same colourful reverse layout with the coloured Winnie the Pooh stamp-like print top right with a Tower Bridge cancellation like printed mark attached to it, all very clever and philatelic like.   

01/08/2019

DUDLEY ZOO TIGERS

Published by

DUDLEY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

CASTLE HILL, DUDLEY, DY1 4QF

Printed by

JUDGE SAMPSON LTD

Ref: C-4724

I found this one at a postcard fair over the weekend. Clearly, I bought this one because it depicts tigers. Another tiger card for my collection.

01/08/2019

POSTCARD COLLECTING

AN INTERNATIONAL HOBBY FOR EVERYONE

PTA (POSTCARD TRADERS ASSOCIATION)

Official PTA promotional Postcard

As followers of the facebook page will already know, I have become a postcard dealer. It is something I have thought about for over thirty years. It was a sort of retirement plan, something to do when I was no longer working. So, this year we started. So far, we have done four fairs, I think, and I have enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

There is an official organisation for postcard dealers and this the PTA, the Postcard Traders Association. You need a proposer and a seconder, who sign the application form and then with checks made you can become a member of the PTA. We made our submission and have been accepted and confirmed. When our confirmation arrived, it came with this postcard, so I thought I would show you it here.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

01/08/2019

TOP

B. R. SOUTHERN DIESEL-ELECTRIC TYPE 3

BOTTOM

B. R. DIESEL HYDRAULIC “HYMEK” 7017

Both postcards published by

ABBOT TRANSPORT PRINTS

NEWTON ABBOT 67166

(No individual reference numbers)

I do like the old steam trains, and I love travelling on the modern electric trains, something I have been doing for a few holidays now, but my favourite trains, for their look, are the diesels. There is something about their bulky full fronted faces that I love. One I see one of these I always stop and take-a-look. I found these two postcards in a box inside an Oxfam book shop and could not resist them. They are simple but I also cannot resist cards from printers and publishers I had not previously heard of (as was the case here).

01/08/2019

FRESHWATER WEST

Published by

EDEN PUBLICATIONS LTD

Ref: 1255

Your typical seaside, with no people, postcard view. At first nothing to get too excited about, but this was sent to me by David Rye, he who appears on the below posted postcard. So, here as is often the case, it is the reverse side that is of interest.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Attached to the left side of this postcard is a sticker which depicts an invitation to the ‘PEMBROKE DOCK POLICE “PEACE” OUTING’ 29^th June 1919. This original ticket was addressed to a B. WARLOW. David very kindly sent me the original of this ticket for my police collection and I did post it here on the webpage at the time (I show it again below).

David has taken this postcard (and five others as he did just six of these) and posted it at the Pembroke Dock post office so that the stamp has received the local PEMBROKE DOCK – E – POST OFFICE cancellation. This is dated the 29^th June 2019, exactly 100 years from the date of the Pembroke Dock Police peace outing the original depicted ticket was for. Prior to posting the card David took it to the local police station where they applied the DYFED-POWYS POLICE – PEMBROKE DOCK POLICE STATION boxed office cachet, also dated 29^th June 2019.

And, as if doing all of this was not enough, David also tracked down the local relative of the B. Warlow to whom the ticket was allocated, and who is also called B. Warlow, a Mrs B. Warlow, and got them to sign the bottom of this side of the card for me as well.

Just think of all the work and walking around that David had to do to produce this amazing item, and then he sent it to me for free (I think he deserves that Proof I depicted below which I have sent to him today, don’t you?). So, now I not only have the original ticket (which is postcard size - see below) I also have this superb anniversary postcard item to go with it.

And I thought I would again depict the actual ticket that is shown on the sticker that is applied to the above postcard (I know it has appeared before, but it is worth showing again considering the above postcard posting).  

01/08/2019

DAVID & PAT RYE

OF DAWNSWYR TIPYN O BOPETH

CERDYN POST

Printed by

FORREST PRINT

This is my friend David and his wife Pat in their Welsh national costumes. They are both big fans of the national costume and travel the world to events where they show off these costumes with friends. David is also a big collector of postcards which depict the Welsh National Costume.

David has been kind enough to send me postcards from all the places he visits and from events around this country. He also designs his own postcards using real used postage stamps applied to the front to make images. Some of these have appeared on this webpage in the past. David has also produced a few other postcards like this one of him and his wife. Although David has been kind enough to send me cards over the years I have not prior to today had the luck to find something to send him back for his own collection. I am well past the date when I should have done so. So, when I came across a ‘really’ nice original photographic proof of an issued Valentines postcard which had at its centre a photograph of a lady wearing the Welsh national costume, I knew it would be a unique item for David’s collection. I therefore ended up buying this large unique proof to send to him.

LARGE PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF

VALENTINES PROOF

So, for a few days this item has sat in my collection, but today I wrapped it up and posted it off to David. Is parting with such a unique and lovely item hard? Well actually, no. Because I know this is going to a worthy collection, one which will suit it far better than it sliding into my more eclectic and mixed one, and I will get a great enjoyment knowing that I have found something more than a little special for David. I also have many years of receiving postcards without returning any to atone for. I hope this item puts me somewhere towards reaching that.

REVERSE SIDE OF PHOTO PROOF

31/07/2019

BIRDS OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

Frederick W. Frohawk

(Watercolour)

Published by

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

This is another nice postcard is currently available from the museum gift shop. I have always been interested in bird postcards because I like to do a little bird watching when I’m in the country, or in foreign countries. So, nice artwork designs like this which show unusual birds always appeal to me.

31/07/2019

THE LARGE CAT

By

CORNELIS VISSCHER (1629 – 58)

From the Netherlands

Circa 1657

Published by

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Ref:

E02740

This nice cat postcard is currently available from the museum gift shop  

31/07/2019

ROYAL ARTILLERY MOTOR-CYCLE DISPLAY TEAM

Published by

INSTANCE PRINTERS (WOOLWICH)

I am not going to lie, but this postcard came up on eBay and I bought it straight away and when it arrived it went straight into my television collection as an unusual ‘Wombles’ postcard. The costume may not be stunning, but that is clearly a womble that this member of the motor-cycle display team is dressed up as. This is a great postcard with multiple themes; Military, Police, Motorcycles and, as mentioned, television.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

31/07/2019

ICE HOCKEY

Russian Issued Postcard

I thought this was a nice cartoon sports card when I saw it at Woking earlier this year. Beyond the fact that this clearly an ice hockey game I can tell you nothing else about this postcard because all of the reverse side text is in Russian (no great surprise there). I have just placed it in my collection as a nice card.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

31/07/2019

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

LAP – BIRD

By

Jasper Doest (The Netherlands)

WILDLIFE PHOTOJOURNALIST AWARD:

PHOTO STORY

HIGHLY COMMENDED 2018

Published by

THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (London)

Ref: D54408

“Bob the Caribbean flamingo became an ambassador for a wildlife rehabilitation charity on the Dutch island of Curacao after a crash into a hotel window left him severely concussed. Odette Doest, the local vet, cared for Bob and he sits on her lap as she drives around the island to promote the charity.”

(Text from reverse side of above Postcard)

I do love the unusual photographs that crop up in this annual competition, and these are often the ones which also look great on postcard.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

TIGERLAND

By

Emmanuel Rondeau (France)

ANIMALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT

HIGHLY COMMENDED 2018

Published by

THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (London)

Ref: D54408

“High in the Himalayas of central Bhutan, a Bengal Tiger treads a path that links the country’s national parks. Emmanuel searched for evidence of recent use by tigers and then installed cameras in the most likely spots. This magnificent male, previously unrecorded, inspected the kit closely before disappearing into the forest”

(Text from reverse side of above Postcard)

I have mentioned before that tigers are my favourite animals and that I have collected them on postcards since I started collecting as a young boy. This is another smashing card from this series.

31/07/2019

UNTITLED

STREET ART,

LONDON

Published by

CHRIS HUNTLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

You may remember a similar card from this company which depicted members of the Marvel Avengers team which I placed on the webpage on the 26^th July (July 2019 Blog 3 tab). I bought this postcard at the same time. This one I bought because it depicts anther superhero, but this time from the DC Comics world, and probably one of the best-known superhero’s of all time, Superman. Another great current modern postcard issue

31/07/2019

MUZEUM KOSTEK (LEMI)

Official Museum Postcard

If I am right, this is an advert styled postcard (or possibly a souvenir card) for a Lego museum in Kutna Hora, Czechia (a country located partially between Germany and Poland). I like Lego themed postcards as they often depict characters which allow the cards to be added into other themes. I have cards for Star Wars and Harry Potter Lego toys. On this card you have Superhero’s (Superman and Wonder Woman), and for my television collection you have the Simpsons characters and a Teenage Hero (Ninja) Mutant Turtle (wearing a red eye band so this is Raphael). A great card from an unusual location.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Another example of a nice reverse layout and use of coloured greyed back images (not sure what the proper word is for a toned back colourised reverse image, the black and white ones are called ‘Greyed Out’. Perhaps just describing it as a faded coloured image would be more precise)

31/07/2019

PIER APPROACH

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

Local Unnamed Publisher

Ref: 128475

This is an interesting older postcard from my hometown. One of the amazing facts with this image is that every building and structure depicted here (with the exception of the steel girder platform that the building is shown sat on just out beyond the shoreline) has gone. The building caught fire and was destroyed, and the council decided to knock down the gateway entrance that can be seen at the front of this card. Now all this stuff has gone it makes this photograph of historic local interest. Not bad for £3.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

31/07/2019

ST DENIS BOULEVARD

AND ANCIENT GATE

PARIS

Published by

A. PAPEGHIN, PARIS – TOURS

Ref: 148

This card is one that has been removed from a postcard book, so it has a perforated edge down the left side. Postcards like this that have been removed from old postcards books do not have a great catalogue value, but does it matter when the image on the front is as interesting as this one is. Look at all those fantastic old motor cars. It is images packed with people, vehicles and landmarks that catch my eye and historical interest. I think this one is a cracker and at just 50p worth adding to my collection.

31/07/2019

GREETINGS FROM THE HOPSTORE

THE GREAT POSTCARD EXHIBITION IS COMING!?

Published for the

GUINNESS HOPSTORE

From the Seamus Kearns Collection

This is a cracking poster like design, but despite its many different aspects, including the Punch & Judy show, it was the sign top right ‘THE GREAT POSTCARD EXHIBITION IS COMING’ which caught my eye, for obvious reasons. I also like Guinness adverts and artwork and have a small, well, small for me, collection of Guinness related postcards, so I was always going to buy this one when I saw it.