24/05/2019
GRUSS VON DER GROSSEN SCHEIDEGG
Published by (and reference number)
8190 VERLAG 11. CHR. BRENNENSTUHL, MEYRINGEN
A nice early postcard from Switzerland depicting a typical mountain scene with a chalet and the iconic cows which appear so often in images like this one. The Grossen Scheidegg is a mountain pass in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland and at a height of 1,962 m the pass crosses between the Schwarzhorn and Wetterhorn mountains.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
The red Swiss postage stamp has been cancelled with a MEIRINGEN bridge cancel dated 4th August 1903. It was addressed to Belgium to a location called St TROND where upon arrival it received a St. TROND cancellation dated 6th August. There is also a further mark which is the number 3 enclosed in a circle. I am not sure what this last mark is, but it could be a specific numbered postal centre number or route number and could have been used as a marker to show that the card had passed through that place or upon that specific route.
23/05/2019
CORNISH HARBOURS
Published by
JOHN HINDE LTD
Ref: 2DC 966
This may appear to be, and in reality it is, from this side at least, a simple and common multi-view tourist. It is a design which was once common and which can often be found in very cheap boxes, but as is often the case with this type of card in my collection it is something on the reverse side which caught my eye.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
The sender of this card (Ruby by the looks of it) forgot to apply any postage stamps to it when she posted it in Cornwall in 1987 (it is addressed to a Norfolk address). A boxed rectangular ‘TO PAY, 23P’ cachet was applied top right where the stamps should have been applied. The card received a ST IVES, CORNWALL wavy-line machine cancellation dated 31 July 1987. Also, 3p and a 20p ‘TO PAY’ stamps were applied bottom right and these have been cancelled with a NORFOLK large circle cancel dated 5 AUGUST 1987. The stamps also have pen signature mark across them, and the card has been anointed ‘CHARGED’ with signature above the stamps centre right.
I think this combination of TO PAY stamps, cachet, pen marks and cancellations is a modern philatelic gem.
21/05/2019
CAISTER LIFE BOAT MEMORIAL
NEAR GT. YARMOUTH
Publisher Not Known (by me – but there is a logo – see below)
This is a nice early postcard depicting this lifeboat memorial. The memorial was built in remembrance of the Caister lifeboat disaster which occurred on the 13th November 1901 off the coast of Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk (UK). After flares were seen that night the lifeboat Beauchamp launched, after many difficulties including the rough seas washing the lifeboat off-of its skids, requiring the launching crew to haul the boat back up the beach, which took nearly three hours. The lifeboats troubles continued though with the sea forcing it back against the shore and turning it over trapping the crew beneath it. Three of the crew were rescued but another nine of the crew perished. Eight of the bodies were subsequently recovered at the scene with the ninth being washed away only to be found the following April. At the inquest a retired coxswain was asked why the crew had not turned back to which he replied: “They would never give up the ship…going back is against the rules when we see distress signals like that”. The press of the time turned this into “Caister men never turn back”; ‘Never turn Back’ was later to become the RNLI motto.
The memorial depicted here was financed by public donation and is located in the Caister Cemetery having been built in 1903.
21/05/2019
NIKI LAUDA ….. RIP
Andreas Nikolaus Lauda - 22nd February 1949 – 20th May 2019
Austrian Formula One driver, a three-time F1 World Driver’s Champion (1975, 1977 and 1984). He was champion whilst driving for Ferrari and McLaren. Lauda was seriously injured in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. His car burst into flames and Lauda came close to death after inhaling hot toxic fumes and receiving severe burns. Lauda subsequent recovery and amazing feat of driving again just six weeks later at the Italian Grand Prix was an outstanding piece of personal bravery and a famous piece of F1 lore.
Upon his second retirement from racing Lauda returned to running his airline Lauda Air, but he subsequently sold his Lauda Air shares in 1999 and took up a manager role with the Jaguar Formula One racing team, but he returned to the world of airlines in 2003 when he started up another new airline called ‘Niki’.
POSTCARD
LAUDA AIR
Official Airline Promotional Postcard
20/05/2019
EVE ARNOLD:
IN RETROSPECT
9TH MAY – 18TH AUGUST – 1996
BARBICAN ART GALLERY
(MARILYN MONROE PHOTOGRAPH – Marilyn resting after photo session, Hollywood, California 1960)
Published by
FREECARD ADVERTISING
It is always nice to find a postcard related to one of your collecting themes which comes from a more unusual source. This Monroe postcard advertised an exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery in London in 1996. I don’t see this one very often and it is a cracker.
20/05/2019
GOODIES
SPACE SUPPLIES
‘SWEET RATIONS’
WITH CUT OUT EXPLORER SPACE ROCKET
Published by
ROBERT OPIE
(ROBERT OPIE COLLECTION)
Another postcard in the massive output by this producer – these can be found in most museums, tourist sites and specialist shops all over the UK – Robert has all but cornered the ‘Modern’ postcard sales market, something Robert will, and should be remembered for
Ref: SWEET TOOTH SERIES – 01ST03
“During the 1960’s the race to put the first man in space and the first man on the moon made products with a space theme all the range”
LATE 1960’S SWEET BOX
(Text from reverse side of postcard)
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing and as a result I suspect July will have a range of references to the commemoration. I know that the US Postal Authorities are issuing a stamp set, amongst other counties also celebrating the anniversary. So, I thought I would get in early with this great related piece of space related advertising from here in the UK from the late 1960’s.
19/05/2019
SEAFOOD
HAVETS LACKERHETER
(The Lakes of the Sea)
Published by
CARLA FORLAGET (AB N. KVARNG)
Ref: 3892
This lovely postcard image was posted from Sweden (I believe its source country) in 1997 using a really-nice snow leopard cub’s postage stamp (which has the date 1997 printed on it – see below). Living beside the sea as I do, I have always been partial o seafood of any type, but crab is possibly my favourite seafood.
19/05/2019
POLISH POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARD
40gr Value
CHILD READING HER A-B-C BOOK
“STAATLICHE SCHULBUCHVERLAGE WSt.”
STATE SCHOOL BOOK PUBLISHER
Official Polish issued Postal Stationery Post Card
(Ref: P485 in the MICHEL Catalogue)
Knowledge is great, and we can access this as collectors from all sorts of sources. I have the MICHEL postal stationery catalogues, there is a pre-1960 one and two post 1960 ones, although some of the post 1960 information comes on a disc which is included with the part 2 of the post 1960 catalogues. I have only just started to get my head around using this disc and it was from this that I obtained the details of this card. These catalogues are very expensive (around £100+ for the three that I have mentioned here) but I have found them a great, and essential source of information… although they are printed in German, so I have to use Google Translate to understand much of what I am trying to pick up from them!
POLISH POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARD
40gr Value
CHILD READING HER A-B-C BOOK
“STAATLICHE SCHULBUCHVERLAGE WSt.”
STATE SCHOOL BOOK PUBLISHER
Official Polish issued Postal Stationery Post Card
(Ref: P485 in the MICHEL Catalogue)
This is a postal cancelled version of the above postcard. Because of my access to the MICHEL disc I now know that this can not be a first day of issue cancel because the catalogue gives the release date as the 15th August 1970, and clearly the cancel used here is dated 17th September (09) 1970, but the image used within the cancel seem to go well with the image printed on the pre-printed postage stamp design. I think it still makes for a nice combination, and these only cost me 50p each.
15/05/2019
I’M AWFUL BLUE
AND YOU’D BE TOO
WHEN SOMEONE DEAR
IS AWY FROM YOU
Published by
EDWARD GROSS CO., N.Y.
‘SMILE MESSENGERS’ SERIES
Ref: COMIC No. 429
An American postcard which was posted in the UK in 1937. I found this card in a cheap box sometime last year and the image appealed to me for some reason. It is not in the best of conditions, but the image is kind of cute.
15/05/2019
COPA DO MUNDO 1974
MUNIQUE – ALEMANHA
(WORLD CUP 1974)
BRAZIL
Published by
EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE CORREIOS E TELEGRAFOS
MINISTERIO DAS COMUNICACOES
This is a great maxi-card with football theme related to the World Cup with the appropriate Brazil issued stamp for the 1974 tournament. The stamp has been cancelled with a first day of issue special cancellation, two in fact (including one with a nice football image in the centre).
14/05/2019
DER INDISCHE ELEFANT
The Indian Elephant
Maxi-Card
Published by
HERAUSGEGEBEN VOM, KULTURBUND ZUR
DEMOKRATISCHEN ERNEUERUNG DEUTSCHLANDS
SEKTION PHILATELIE
Ref: III/18/117 A 1654/56/DDR
This is a lovely postcard of Indian Elephants with an applied German DDR issued postage stamp featuring the same elephants and released to promote the Tierpark (Zoo) in Berlin. The stamp has been cancelled with a special first day of issue Tierpark cancellation dated 14/12/1956. I think this makes for a lovely combination.
14/05/2019
NO KANGAROOS
IN AUSTRIA
Published by
SMILE GmbH, WIEN (Vienna)
Ref: 14204
This ‘No Kangaroos’ design can be found all over Vienna (and I suspect elsewhere in Austria) on tee-shirts, tea-towels, posters, plates and of course postcards. Apparently, the design is based on the fact, that there are people who travel to Austria and ask them where their kangaroos are! This stupid question apparently comes from the similarity in the pronunciation of Austria and Australia. I can’t believe it, but it seems people ‘actually’ get confused about the two. Austrian’s got so annoyed about being asked about kangaroo’s that it resulted in the now quite well-known phrase and logo ‘No Kangaroo’s in Austria’. I would like to point out that I did know this…
Also, the gold area on the sign is applied gold glitter. It makes this card a little more attractive and one for my 'Novelty' collection as well.
13/05/2019
PRAHA
(PRAGUE)
John Lennon Wall Painting
VELKOPREVORSKE SQUARE
Published by
FOTO @ MILAN @ KINCL. CZ
Ref: 1435
Could not resist this card when I came across it in Prague. It seemed to be a quite common card and one which seemed to be popular and which does seem to go on to prove the ongoing popularity of all Beatles related images.
13/05/2019
DORIS DAY ….. RIP
Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff
3rd April 1922 – 13th May 2019
American actress and singer. Well known for such films as ‘Calamity Jane’ (1953), The Man Who Knew Too Much (a Hitchcock film from 1956), Move Over Darling (1963) and Pillow Talk (1959). On TV her ‘The Doris Day Show’ ran from 1968 to 1973.
This postcard from Holland has appeared on the webpage before, but with todays sad news it gets a well-deserved second airing.
12/05/2019
ORIGINAL WIENER
STRUDELSHOW
SCHONBRUNN PALACE, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Published Exclusively for the ‘Strudelshow’ by
EDITION TAUSENDSCHOEN
Made in Germany
Copyright
BEHR DESIGN
The ‘Strudelshow’ is regularly given in a basement area of a Café just to the far-left side of the famous Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn). It has to be pre-booked as the show is extremely popular and regularly fills out (there are not many seats and it is a very intimate like show). The show includes full details of how to make the famous Apple Strudel, and you also get to eat a slice of a prepared apple strudel as well. What’s not to like?
I was delighted, after eating my perfectly made slice of strudel, to find that there was a special postcard available which can only be bought at the show itself (1.50 euro each). I had to have one. The card has a decorative deckle-edge and has touches of glitter applied, especially on the tablecloth, but also scattered around on the metal cooking pots and moulds which adorn the image. As a souvenir of my visit, and the show itself, this was a great little item and I had to have a copy.
PHOTOGRAPH
27TH April 2019
Strudelshow
This is a photograph of the man who gave us our show on how to make their traditional Apple Strudel. He was very good and very funny. If you ever visit this palace this extra little show is worth taking-a-look at (and don’t forget to buy your souvenir postcard)
11/05/2019
VIENNA
Novelty added ‘Glitter’
Published by
SOUVENIRWORLD
Ref: 8302
Taking a horse and carriage ride through the centre of Vienna is a very tourist thing to do, but it is also very, very popular. It’s not cheap, but its also not so expensive as to be prohibitive. It was the fact that Jo and I took one of these rides that caused me to add this postcard to my collection. I also, as you know, like a bit of novelty with my cards and the added glitter across the night sky is also appealing. So, this is a souvenir of my time in Vienna as well as an addition to my collection.
10/05/2019
PRAGUE, MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF NAZISM
IN THE PINK SYNAGOGUE
Published for the
ZIDOVSKE MUZEUM V PRAZE
By
TISK LABEL KUTNA HORA
As I recently crossed Europe from Belgium down into Germany and across into Austria and up through Hungary and the Czech Republic and back into Germany I followed trails of terror inflicted on the residents of these countries by the Nazi’s, local raised political groups and local anti-sematic organisations, and in Germany this was particularly, although not exclusively, aimed at the Jewish communities. All the countries we visited had terrible tolls inflicted upon their Jewish occupants, some more awful in their individual detail than even I was aware. We visited at least one Jewish location or memorial in every city we stayed in.
In Prague there is a well visited Jewish cemetery and a lovely Jewish area which is worth a walk around. There is also one of the best souvenir shops that I came across (I mentioned it and placed some photographs of it on our facebook page – check the entry for Saturday just gone). This postcard was picked up in this excellent Jewish Museum shop, which is well worth a visit, and this postcard is a memorable and important souvenir of my visit and the terrible 20th century history of the Second World War period.
08/05/2019
It has been a very long time since I placed anything on the ‘Censored’ tab section of this webpage, so today I have put three postcards there. There are two art cards and one photographic. If you fancy taking-a-look then click on the tab and then go to the Censored 2 tab.
08/05/2019
VICTORIA WOOD 1953 – 2016
Photo by
Steve Pyke 1993
Bromide fibre print
Published by the
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
This postcard was released by the National Portrait Gallery shortly after the sad death of Victoria Wood. It is another example of how this gallery keeps up with the times and continues to publish contemporary and topical images. The card was only around for a limited period and was certainly not on sale when I last visited.
08/05/2019
SCOUT CARTOON
Plain backed Card – Publisher not known
Possibly from Italy (I have seen similar designs with a postcard back which have originated from Italy)
I have a wide selection of scout related postcards and cards, many from the 1980’s and 1990’s (I suspect this one is from this period, more towards the 1990’s I think).
08/05/2019
WORLD OF INVENTION (MINIATURE SHEET)
ROYAL MAIL STAMP CARD
Published by Royal Mail
Ref: PHQ 296 (7) 03. 07
A Miniature sheet designed by Peter Willberg
Stamps illustrated by
Peter Till
This single card is from a set of PHQ cards with the other six cards individually depicting the stamp designs which appear within this sheet. The stamp sheet depicted (and individual copies of the six stamps it contains) were released on the 1st March 2007. A single copy of the 64p Television stamp has been applied bottom left (by me as it happens) and this has been cancelled first day of issue with a ‘THE WORLD OF INVENTION – JOHN LOGIE BAIRD – 1 MAR 07, HELENSBURGH’.
The bi-annual STAMPEX show was on when this sheet and stamp set was issued. For this particular STAMPEX event they produced a show exclusive smilers stamp sheet which included a John Logie Baird label attached to a ‘THANKS’ hallmark 1st class stamp. I obtained one of these at the show and applied it bottom right. This also received the same cancellation, but this is not first day of issue for this item as the sheet was first issued the day before on the first day of the STAMPEX show.
I don’t know if anyone else produced such an item, if not ten this card is unique. This is a nice and unusual card which I produced for my specialist TV collection.
WORLD OF INVENTION (TELEVISION)
ROYAL MAIL STAMP CARD
Published by Royal Mail
Ref: PHQ 296 (4) 03. 07
Showing A stamp designed by Peter Willberg
Stamp illustrated by
Peter Till
This is the single stamp PHQ Card for the 64p postage stamp issued on the 1st March 2007. This has the stamp applied to the front (top right) which has been cancelled first day of issue with the same special cancellation
07/05/2019
PEACE
Published by paperchase
Unknown Artist
This card’s main design seems to be a good counter to the previously posted postcard. It is a fairly-recent addition to the paperchase spinners and is quite simple in its approach, but its message is important. The logo is of course that which was adopted by CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and which was at its most prevalent during the 1890’s on numerous political/green issue postcard releases. Nice to see that it is still being used.
07/05/2019
HITLER POSTCARD
Official Postal Stationery post card release
One from a series
Pre-Printed postage stamp on the reverse side
Having been in Berlin a couple of days, and having followed the devastation caused by the Nazis’ across Europe through the cities I have visited; Prague, Budapest and to a lesser extent Vienna, it is clear the affect that the rise of the Nazi Party, and its leader had here. Related postcards like this one have always been popular, but as I have previously stated they are not collected by people who follow or who believe in the Nazi dogma (with perhaps a few sad exceptions), but are mainly collected by those with an interest in military history and the pre-war German period.
I believe we should never forget how bad things were, and who was responsible and through study of this period in history ensure that the tragic events that resulted are never ever repeated.
07/05/2019
GRUSS AUS BERLIN
(Greetings from Berlin)
KONIGLICHE BIBLIOTHEK MIT DENKMAL DER KAISERIN AUGUSTA
German Published Early Postcard
I spent yesterday re-exploring Berlin (we visited here way back in 2006) and again realised how much I love this city. It is also a fantastic place for postcards, one of the best locations in Europe I have visited, if not THE best. I bought lots of postcards which I will scan once I get home (hopefully I will be sleeping in my own bed tonight, but at the moment I am on the train out of Berlin).
This is a much older postcard from my collection which I scanned before leaving two weeks ago. It was posted in 1903 from Berlin.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This is addressed to the same person as the Berlin postcard I posted on the webpage on the 5th May (see below – only three cards down). The address is an interesting one as the receiver was in an Isolation Hospital. I have written previously about one of these (another post somewhere over the many pages of my webpage). I think this address adds some interest to the overall postcard and its usage. It also has a very nice BERLIN cancellation.
05/05/2019
THE SONORAN DESERT
ROADRUNNER
Photo by
JAMES TALLON
Published by
IMPACT (1990)
Ref: # 2050
One postcard from a series (I will show some more in the future). I have not seen a roadrunner in real life so like many people my main remembrance of the animal is as a cartoon bird being chased by the cartoon coyote in the well know cartoons.
05/05/2019
BERLIN
PARISER PLATZ MIT BRANDENBURGER THOR
‘Brandenburg Gate’
Published by
DR TRENKLER Co., LEIPZIG
Ref: 3427
I am back on another train, leaving Prague this time on route to Dresden where we transfer to a coach for onwards travel to our final-destination for today, Berlin. This is the only location on this current holiday where we have visited before. I love Berlin and am looking forward to another day in this great city tomorrow. One of the places we will definitely be visiting, as it is only a couple of blocks from our hotel is the Brandenburg Tor (Gate), which is depicted here on this early artist drawn postcard. This particular-card was posted to the UK in 1903.
02/05/2019
CADBURY WORLD
Official Attraction Character Postcard
Official Cadbury World Postcard
Unknown Printer
I have been to Cadbury World three times, spread over many years. Now, I have-to be a bit honest here and say that I think it is an attraction with a little less to see each time I visit. I remember very fondly my first visit, which must have been twenty odd years ago. They had the worlds largest chocolate bar on show, and you walked through an automated packing area where you could see boxes of packed chocolates travelling along conveyor belts within a factory area. All of this has now long gone, so for me the attraction has had an ever-decreasing level of return. But, having said this the attraction still seems to be very popular, especially with families with kids (probably no surprise there, and to be fair there is still much to see and do here).
They have also produced their own postcards down through the years (I remember buying some on my first visit which included some of the displays – including one on what was then the popular trend of a postcard fronted notebook). This postcard here was on sale in the gift shop located at the end of the attraction (there’s always a gift shop at the end of an attraction!).
It shows a selection of Cadbury chocolate advertising characters.
CADBURY WORLD
Official Attraction Character Postcard
Official Cadbury World Postcard
Unknown Printer
Interestingly there were hundreds of the postcard depicted above in the slot in the shop, but when I went through them all I found just one single copy of this particular card (so, if they do not re-stock this one it may not be there if you subsequently pay a visit).
The photograph depicts two characters on the ride which you have to do about half way round the tour. The best thing I can say about the ride is that I suspect little children love it, but then it is designed for them and not for 50+ aged old things like me, but at least this postcard does depict something along the actual tour, something I wish more attractions did.
I may not have been blown away by my third visit here, but the postcards are a real bonus and well worth seeking out as unusual advertising themed cards.
If anyone does pay a visit here please do let me know if this card is back on sale as I am always interested in how postcards change at locations.
29/04/2019
MUSHKA (2017)
By
ANDREAS DEJA (Poland, 1957)
Visual development sketch, graphite and coloured pencil
Published for, and sold at
THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM
SAN FRANCISCO
This is a card I picked up from the museum on my visit last year. Mushka is an animated short about a girl in Russia who raises a young tiger cub.
29/04/2019
JAWS
Published by
BRAINBOX CANDY LTD
Ref: PO 7040
I remember going to see the film Jaws when it first came out. The queue was right around the cinema’s street! This postcard cartoon design is clearly music based, but without any musical knowledge I can only surmise that this is the sheet music for that unique opening theme tune for the shark moving through the sea. The films music is iconic and so well known that it surely must be what is being shown here.
29/04/2019
GRUB AUS HEIDELBERG
DAS GROSSE FAS
Unknown Publisher
I was in Germany three days ago, but I am currently in Austria travelling into Hungary on the train (so have good wifi again). This is an old postcard from before the WWI period. The picture depicts the Heidelberg Tun, or Great Heidelberg Tun, an extremely large wine vat contained within the cellars of Heidelberg Castle. Apparently there have been four such barrels in the history of Heidelberg since the first barrel appeared in 1751. I assume this one depicted is the most current one where allegedly one hundred and thirty oak trees were used in its construction. This latest one has rarely been used as an actual wine barrel as it Is more of a tourist attraction than a working barrel.
26/04/2019
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
AHOY FROM YOUR DISNEY CRUISE LINE PALS
Official Disney Cruise Line Postcard
This lovely Mickey and Minnie postcard is only available to those who travel aboard the Disney cruise line ships. It is free and can be found in the top draw of the desk in each cabin (many travellers are unaware of this postcard as they don’t open this draw – so this is a good tip). I picked up my copy when I sailed on a Disney cruise aboard their ship called the FANTASY.