01/04/2019

MCM COMIC-CON 2019

“THE STALKER”

Acrylic on canvas

By

CLAUDIA HAHN

2010

Published by the Artist herself

These large sized Tiger art postcards were one of my real finds at the MCM Comic-Con event I recently attended. As you know, I love tiger postcards and it is one of my specialist themes. When I saw these on Claudia’s stand, I had to have them. Claudia also signed them all for me on the reverse side. I really like these.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Signed, dated and noted as being signed at Comic-Con Birmingham

“GRUMPY OLD MAN”

Acrylic on canvas

By

CLAUDIA HAHN

2010

Published by the Artist herself

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Signed, dated and noted as being signed at Comic-Con Birmingham

“JHURIJHURA AND HER CUB”

Acrylic on canvas

By

CLAUDIA HAHN

2010

Published by the Artist herself

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Signed, dated and noted as being signed at Comic-Con Birmingham

BUSINESS CARD

I suspect that Claudia would be only too pleased to sell you any of the above postcards (although obviously I have not confirmed this, but she is a working artist after all – so it would be worth making contact)

01/04/2019

MCM COMIC-CON 2019

MARVEL SUPERHEROES

PHQ STAMP CARDS

With event exclusive

‘2019 – BIRMINGHAM – 23^RD -24^TH MARCH’

Cachet.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN

A company called BENHAMS, who I often buy stamp stuff from at STAMPEX and through the post attended Comic-Con for the first time this March. It was the release of the Royal Mail marvel stamps that gave them a reason to be able to attend such an event. On their stand their had the new PHQ stamp cards for the Marvel set and were selling these individually with the appropriate stamp and with the addition of an exclusive event cachet, which you applied yourself where ever you wanted it on the card. These were £2.50 each, so I settled for doing just two for myself for my collection. It is the type of thing which I like to add to my collection and I suspect that not very many were done, in fact I would be very interested in knowing how many ended up being sold (I am guessing a low amount, but I could be wrong – although I did not see any others being sold during my times around the stall).

There was a problem with the ink not drying on the cachets, which would mean if anyone just placed the freshly cachet applied card in anything like a bag etc., the cachet would have smeared. I struggled to prevent mine from making a mess (I carried them around for an hour in one hand trying to dry them!). Having said all this, I still like them and think they will be considered as unusual.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

With applied stamp and special cachet

MARVEL SUPERHEROES

PHQ STAMP CARDS

With event exclusive

‘2019 – BIRMINGHAM – 23^RD -24^TH MARCH’

Cachet.

UNION JACK

As you can see, I picked the two British superhero cards for my cachet application, as this seemed appropriate as the event was held here in the UK by a UK based company.

the full Marvel Stamp Card set will be displayed in the very near future here on the webpage.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

With applied stamp and special cachet

01/04/2019

MCM COMIC-CON 2019

UNTITLED

Artwork by

SOPHIE EVES

I placed some of Sophie’s work on the webpage after my last visit to Comic-Con, back in November 2018 (check out the ‘November 2018 Blog 8’ page for images), so I was already aware of her designs. This one I did not see last time, so I picked it up this time.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE CARD

As with all of Sophie’s cards this is plain backed, but by buying and applying a related sticker, which also depicts a piece of Sophie’s artwork, and getting Sophie to sign the card for me I think I have produced a nice little souvenir of my visit. If Sophie attends again in the future, I will check out her stand for any new cards.

BUSINESS CARD

SOPHIE EVES

01/04/2019

“STAMP CLASSICS”

ROYAL MAIL PHQ STAMP CARD SET

PHQ Set 452

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

Stamps issued – 15^TH January 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

QUEEN VICTORIA £1 GREEN OF 1891

1^ST class stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (1) 1. 19

It is about time I started showing some of this years PHQ Stamp Cards as we are now three stamp sets into the year and I have yet to show you the first release, so here it is. For obvious reasons this one was very popular with the stamp collectors.

KING EDWARD VII 2d TYRIAN PLUM OF 1910

1^st class stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (2) 1. 19

KING GEORGE V 2s 6d OF 1913

1^st class stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (3) 1. 19

This is from a stamp set known as the ‘Seahorses’ issue

KING EDWARD VII 1 ½ d OF 1936

£1.55 stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (4) 1. 19

KING GEORGE VI POSTAL CENTENARY ½ d OF 1940

£1.55 stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (5) 1. 19

We may have been at war, but we were still issuing new postage stamps and the 100^th anniversary of the penny black was worthy of a new stamp release despite the circumstances of the time.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II CORONATION 2 ½ d OF 1953

£1.55 stamp value

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (6) 1. 19

MINIATURE SHEET

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (7) 1. 19

Another example of a stamp sheet which was too big to fit on a single PHQ Stamp card, so two have been used. The stamps depicted on the above PHQ cards were only available on this stamp sheet and were not sold separately. This set will remain popular because of its subject matter.

MINIATURE SHEET

Published by

ROYAL MAIL

Ref: PHQ 452 (7) 1. 19

31/03/2019

Untitled

(TIGER)

Artist not named

Published by

PAPERCHASE

This is another recent acquisition and one which really appealed to me because of my love of Tiger’s in general and when they are depicted on postcard more specifically. It is a cracking new issue.

31/03/2019

STAY MAGICAL!

Artist not named

Published by

PAPERCHASE

The trend for unicorn postcard designs does not seem to have abated any at-the-moment. This is a design I recently picked up, and it is not unlike some of the others which are still around, bright, straight lined, and simple un context, but still attractive.

29/03/2019

“ABGEREIST, OHNE ANGABE DER ADRESSE”

HEINZ WEWER

Promotional Auction House Postcard

Published for the Auction House:

HENTRICH & HENTRICH VERLAG BERLIN

When I was at STAMPEX in February I picked up two free advert postcards which I liked because of the German connection and the fact that the depicted postal items on the front of these two postcards are from the WWII era, or at the very least the period immediately leading up to the first year of the European war time. They were really-nice to find, and we all love something that’s free.

The second free card

27/03/2019

FIFA FUSSBALL-WELTMEISTERSCHAFT DUETSCHLAND 2006

FIFA WM-STADT FRANKFURT

“FINANZMETROPOLE AM MAIN”

FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GERMANY 2006

FIFA WORLD CUP CITY FRANKFURT

“FINANCE METROPOLIS AT THE MAIN”

Published as an

OFFICIAL GERMAN WORLD CUP POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARD

(This has a pre-printed postage stamp)

This was quite an expensive postcard, but I have always liked any cards related to Football World Cup events. This one is an official artwork card for the event held between the 9^th June and 9^th July 2006.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This has a pre-printed postage stamp design which shows German flags being waved, probably at another football event sometime. This also has the official silver hologram sticker (top centre left) which is what you need to look out for on any official card.

27/03/2019

HEDGEHOGS

IGEL MIT NACHWUCHS

‘Hedgehogs with Newcomers’

(Hedgehogs with babies)

By

ROLF HINZ

Published by

JUGENDHERBERGS – VERLAG, DETMOLD

A nice photograph of an adult hedgehog with two young. This card was posted from Sweden in what looks to be 1993 and was used with a nice child like rabbit design postage stamp.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

26/03/2019

POLISH POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARD

FINAL II OGOLNOPOLSKIEJ

SPARTAKIADY MLODZIEZY 1971

I cannot tell you much about this postal stationery post card as I have struggled to translate the text for some reason, but it is clearly sport related. The date on the text is 1971, but the date on the special hand stamp is 1972. There was an Olympic Games held in 1972, but this was in September and the hand stamp is for April, but the card could still have some reference to these games, which were held in Germany, possibly something to do with training, or the team being announced etc. Of course, this could be for something totally unconnected. It is a nice card though.

26/03/2019

I’M COMING HOME ON………………………….

AND I WON’T FORGET MY STICK OF ROCK

Published by

PHILCO

PPC “PHILCO” SERIES

Ref: COMIC SERIS No. 5416

The sender of this postcard was ‘coming home’ on Friday, as this is what they have written in the area designed for this. The design here uses all the popular features of a seaside postcard from the 1920’s, the sea, the beach, the clothing and the giant stick of rock. This ‘particular’ postcard was posted from Margate in August 1923.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

23/03/2019

UNTITLED

DR WHO DESIGN

By

ANDY LAMBERT

Published by

DWAS (Doctor Who Appreciation Society)

Today I have been attending the MCM Comic-Con event held at the NEC Birmingham. I saw a range of Doctor Who related items for sale and saw many people dressed as various Doctors and his (and, of course, now hers) enemies. I had my photograph taken with a Cyberman and saw a full-sized Tardis model and a gold coloured Dalek, and a WW2 Battle Dalek as well which I have not seen before. So, when I was looking through my pre-scanned postcards for a posting tonight (whilst watching TV on my hotel bed) this one was ideal.

PHOTOGRAPH 23/03/2019

COMIC-CON NEC BIRMINGHAM

Me and a Cyberman

PHOTOGRAPH 23/03/2019

COMIC-CON NEC BIRMINGHAM

A full-sized gold Dalek and Tardis

PHOTOGRAPH 23/03/2019

COMIC-CON NEC BIRMINGHAM

A green war Dalek, full sized

22/03/2019

DUXFORD

WE SWEEP THE SKIES

IWM (Imperial War Museum) DUXFORD

Design from 2015

Published by the

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS (DUXFORD)

Ref: PPO1657

This was a present from my eldest son and his family, after a visit they made to Duxford. It has been a few years now since my last visit there (I took the Grandchildren whilst I was still working, it must have been at least three, maybe four years ago now!). This superb postcard/poster design makes me want to go back soon.

22/03/2019

BUTLIN’S

BOGNOR REGIS

Printed on behalf of Butlin’s by:

JOHN HINDE LTD

Ref: 2B 42

This postcard is slightly larger than the normal Butlin’s postcards, but it is also one that I had not previously seen. I found it on a stall at a Vintage ‘Retro’ antiques fair. It cost me £2, but I think it was worth that. I think it is a great multi-view postcard and I know that Butlin’s cards are highly collected by many people who had their early childhood holidays at these holiday parks, I know this is why I pick them up.

p.s - the hotel wifi seems to be working well!

21/03/2019

4^TH GURKHA RIFLES

A REAR-GUARD ACTION

(MAGAR AND GURUNG GURKHAS)

Watercolour by Major (later Brigadier-General)

A C LOVETT, CB, CBE, 1910

Published for the:

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, LONDON

I picked this nice military themed postcard up in an Oxfam charity book shop in Chelmsford, Essex sometime earlier last year. I like war themed postcards and have quite a nice collection of postcards just like this one.   

20/03/2019

WICHITA POSTCARD CLUB

SHOW – OCTOBER 20-21, 1990

Artwork by

ANN RUSNAK

Published by

GILBERT & MARGARET PITTMAN

WICHITA

Limited Hand numbered edition of 300 postcards

I thought it was time for another Ann Rusnak design, so I picked this one because I like it and because it is another one which was produced in a very low number. It is also another one of the cards which I took with me when I met Ann and is therefore another signed card from my collection.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Signed by the artist

ANN RUSNAK

18/03/2019

BANKING

“A Biplane is here depicted in the act of turning”

Published by

RAPHAEL TUCK & SONS

In their:

“IN THE AIR” SERIES I

Ref: “OILETTE” Postcard No. 3101

A typical Oilette art postcard from what was probably the UK’s most prestigious and prolific early postcard publisher. This one is circa early WWI period, or the few years immediately prior to the start of WWI. Aeroplane’s are always popular and despite the damage to the front of this card I thought it was still worth saving for my collection, it is after all over 100 years old and I doubt I will look this good at that age!

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Typical ‘Raphael Tuck & Sons’ reverse layout

17/03/2019

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY

SOUVENIR OF ST PATRICK’S DAY

Unknown Publisher

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

Although the stamp has been removed (which is a shame) the reverse side is still interesting as this was posted to Egypt and has two interesting Alexandria cancels. It looks like this was posted in 1913.

16/03/2019

UNTITLED DESIGN

(Flamingo on a skateboard)

Design by

PAUL FUENTES

(Copyright 2018)

Published by

LAGOM DESIGN

Ref: 3100

I honestly think that at the current moment, and over the past year at least (if not two), that the shops from the stationery chain line ‘paperchase’ are currently the best source of new modern interesting postcards. This is yet another one that I recently found in the paperchase shop in Chelmsford. I immediately liked this one, like many of the other animal designs by Fuentes, although they seem to have no logical theme, except they all have so far featured an animal, but that makes them no less attractive.

16/03/2019

I AM SPENDING THE DAY

WITH A VERY OLD FRIEND

Made in Great Britain

Released in the:

“NATIONAL” SERIES

Ref: No. 1462

This is an early comic postcard which was probably posted in 1912, this is because the hand-written message on the reverse side is dated 15/8/12 and the obvious assumption is that the card was posted on, or just after this date.

This image has a selection of interesting and popular themes including alcohol (a much-collected theme), smoking (the man has what looks like a cigar in his hand and I do know a few people who pick up any card that shows someone with either a cigarette or cigar). It has to be said that the evils of drinking was, and in some ways still is, a common theme on comic postcards. I also notice that in many cases the drunken male (females as well when they are chosen to be depicted) looks like they have a red nose, rounded features, darkened eye areas and fat cheeks, and this is ‘definitely’ the case with this man, he is still smiling though, and this is also a common characteristic.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

15/03/2019

LIVINGSTON APPEARS AS DAGGIT

IN RAY BERWICK’S ANIMAL SHOW

Published by

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS, INC (1979)

UNIVERSAL CITY., CA

Ref: No. 213

“A Chimpanzee trained by Ray Berwick – with whom he is pictured – appears in animal show as Daggit from the TV series Battlestar Galactica”

Text from reverse side of Postcard

Have you ever bought a small collection of postcards just to obtain one in particular? I did this recently because the selection I saw on eBay, about nine cards in all, included this card here. This one I knew I had to have so, I bought the lot. As a younger person I watched and enjoyed the television series Battlestar Galactica, a TV attempt to capture the then popularity of the Star Wars film. I remember it fondly, but related postcards are few and far between, so when I saw this one featuring the ‘Daggit’, a robotic dog like creature from the programme (I recognised it immediately, and would have known what it was even if the programme had not been mentioned on the back of the card (the details of which were not recorded on the eBay write up). To be honest, what I paid for the whole bundle I would have happily paid for just this one postcard. I was delighted to add another Battlestar Galactica to my small, but now slightly larger collection of cards related to this series.

13/03/2019

ZIJ KOMEN VAN VER.

ZULLEN ZIJ HIER GRAAG WONEN?

‘They come from afar.

Will they like to live here?’

WAF-WAF : DAT HANGT VAN U AF!

‘Woof – Woof: It depends on you!’

Published in aid of:

Adventsaktie voor Kinderen in Nood (Kerstoproep)

(‘Advent Action for Children in Need (Christmas Call)’)

Caritas Hulpbetoon, Guimardstraat 5, 1040 Brussel

I am very fond of Tintin related postcards because as a kid I used to read the books and watch the animated television series’ which used to be played on TV in the mornings during the summer school holidays. This is a lovely postcard which I picked up from a specialist comic-book shop in Brugge, Belgium on a day trip to this wonderful location. I think it is an older postcard, maybe 1970’s – 1980’s, but it could be 1990’s (but I don’t think so, my money is on one of the earlier decades listed). On eBay I think this card would be worth several pounds (and I have checked and there is not a copy of this one on there).    

13/03/2019

DIE ENTE

BLEIBT DRAUSSEN…

‘The Duck Remains Out…’

NORDDEUTSCHE COMIC-BORSE, HAMBURG

4 OKT (October) 97

Artwork by

Tasty Meadow

Published by

EDGAR GRATIS POSTKARTEN SERVICE

EDGAR CULTURE CARD

Ref: #2.069

One of the ‘stranger’ Disney themed postcards from my collection. This one was a free rack-card from Germany from 1997. The presence of Donald Duck seems a little out of place on this design, but the card is an advert for a comic event, and Disney have always issued comic-books related to their many characters. I was considering placing this card in the Censored section of the webpage, but I have decided that is a thumb, it is a thumb isn’t it? Please tell me it’s a thumb…

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

13/03/2019

WAT DOEN DIE KATTEN IN ONS HUIS

VRAAGT MUIZEKIND AAN MOEDERMUIS

‘What are those cats doing in our home

asks mouse child to Mother Mouse’

Published by

Voka (?)

Printed in Holland

I can not resist any postcard that has a television pictured on it, especially cartoon ones. This one cost me £2 (which was reasonable because it has some damage on the reverse side – it was once stuck down in a scrap-book at some point and has four small pieces of grey paper stuck to the corners). This card was posted from Holland in 1963 (as you can see below)

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

13/03/2019

GUERRE 1914 – 1915

MARCEUIL (P.-de-C.)

MAISON EVENTREE PAR LES OBUS ALLEMANDS

War 1914 – 1915

Marceuil

A house broken open by German artillery

Published by

HURET, EDITEUR, 15. RUE DE SAINT-QUENTIN, PARIS

(Imp. Ch. Bernard, Paris – 29)

Ref: No. 73

Another World War 1 postcard, and another of the many war damage postcard images which were so popular and so numerous, especially during the first 12 months of the war (these often have the heading ‘GUERRE 1914 – 1915’ on the front, used with no expectation of the war lasting longer than this!)

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

13/03/2019

1922 ZENTRALBATTERIE – UNIVERSALSCHRANK (PTT – MUSEUM, BERN)

(1922 Central Battery – Universal Cabinet)

Official HELVETIA (Switzerland) Postal Stationery Post Card

(With Pre-Paid Pre-Printed 50 value Telephone themed Postage stamp)

This is an official Swiss issued postcard with a nice front image of a telephone exchange machine which is held in the PTT-Museum in Bern. This card is from my Philatelic themed collection.

REVERSE SIDE OF TWO COPIES OF THE ABOVE POSTCARD

I have a mint unused copy of this postal stationery post card and one which has been cancelled first day of issue: 22/05/1990.