05/11/2020

MR PRESIDENT

DONALD TRUMP

Unknown American Publication

I am not sure that the title of this postcard is still going to be the case if things go as they seem to be going as far as the reporters on CNN are saying. I know that things have not yet been finally determined. Like many people I have been following the progress of the Presidential election, which is actually unusual for me as I don’t think I have ever followed one before, not even the last one which brought Trump into the White House. I think this election is probably one of the most important for some time, certainly the American public seem to think so because of the high number of people who appear to have voted, especially the high number who have submitted postal voting forms. It does amaze me that unlike our British elections, which are one day of voting and an overnight count with, normally, a result known by the morning, the American system can cause long delays. I know that last time the American election was resulted over-night, but here we are two days after the American voting day and we still do not have a final decision. Things look to be close between the two candidates in a range of areas, Georgia (Trump currently top), Nevada (Biden currently top), North Carolina (Trump currently top) and Arizona (Biden currently top). As I am typing this Pennsylvania seems to be an important one with Trump currently being on top, although Biden seems to be cutting into Trumps lead. The thing that seems to be impacting on this election is the number of postal votes that remain to be counted. If I am right, the CNN reporters are saying that there is a higher number of democrats who have postally voted, which means that where the postal votes have been left to the end of the counting, which is in a number of the above locations, it is Biden who has the higher percentage of votes. Interestingly, the CNN reporter has just stated that Trump can not win without winning the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Georgia, and he is ahead in the polls at both locations, but Biden is not that far behind. Oh, it is interesting, slow, but fascinating. As a footnote, please do not assume that my depiction of a Trump postcard in any way means that I endorse him as a candidate. I have always tried to keep my webpage non-political. I have my own opinions, but here on this page I try, I really do, to keep those to myself. If I had a Biden postcard, I would depict one. I suspect I will have access to some in the not-to- distant future, but currently I do not have one.

As a second footnote, you may like to know that I bought this postcard in New York in February of this year during my trip there. It was a cheap tourist postcard bought in one of those many tourist gift shops close to Times Square.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD 

Hard to see, but this has the seal of the President - with details of Donald Trump being the 45th President

04/11/2020

CHINESE COVID-19 RELATED POSTCARDS

Unknown Publisher

&

Unknown text meaning

I have a small (ever growing) collection of Chinese postcards issued in relation and connection to the Covid-19 pandemic. These two postcards depicted here have a special chop (cachet/cancellation) on the reverse side dated 7^th April 2020, so these are from earlier on in the world pandemic story, but quite late in China’s own story.

We are supposed to be moving into a second Lockdown here in the UK in the morning, depending I suppose on a vote in the Houses of Parliament tonight, so I thought a pandemic themed posting was required today.   

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REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

(The one above has the same reverse layout, with the cachet applied as well)

03/11/2020

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

SKYLINE VIEW FROM FERRY

Circa EARLY 1930s

Designed exclusively for the

STATUE OF LIBERTY MUSEUM STORE

Printed in China

Ref: ESL-1006

I picked this card up in the Statue of Liberty Museum Store back in February when I visited this famous iconic New York landmark. It is a lovely postcard printed on a fabric patterned card surface which is reminiscent of the old American ‘Linen’ styled postcards of the 1930’s and early 1940’s. It also has a deckle edge which again gives a feeling of age despite this being an up to date issue.

I wanted to post an American themed postcard today as the country is currently going to the polls for their Presidential election. Will it be Trump, or will it be Biden? I do not know, but television programmes are calling this one of the most important elections in modern American history. It certainly seems to be having a high level of voting. I shall watch some of the early viewing but will wait until tomorrow to see if a result has become clear (which is by no means a definite).

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

02/11/2020

KEEP MUM SHE’S NOT SO DUMB!

CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES

Published by and for exclusive sale at the

EDEN CAMP MODERN HISTORY THEME MUSEUM

MALTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Another one of the World War II poster designs on sale at this superb museum experience (which I assume will also have to close during the second lockdown, which commences in a few days).

So, lets look at something more amusing related to this famous poster. When I first saw this poster as a kid, and to be fair to myself I was quite young, I thought to myself, obviously, clearly everyone wants to keep their Mum, we all love our Mum’s. At this point I had not seen the sub-line ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’, so my young mind looked at this literally. I wanted to keep my mum and I knew only too well she was not ‘Dumb’. Anyway, more to the point, as a young boy looking at this poster, I wanted to know who was not keeping their Mum’s… were they giving them away? I decided immediately I was keeping mine!

As I grew up of course I came to realise the true message contained in this poster, which was a very clever design. It is one which I really like now, possibly because of the fact that when I see it now I still remember with amusement my childhood thoughts when I first saw this one… and I still think you should all keep your Mum’s.

02/11/2020

THE SHOP THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED

30 SHAMBLES, YORK, YO1 7LX

Published by

THE SHOP THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED

On this coming Thursday, the non-essential shops will have to close again, so I assume this delightful Harry Potter shop in York will have to close its doors again. So, if you ever get the chance to visit York when things are back open, and if you are a Harry Potter fan then I highly recommend this shop, and when you do get inside don’t forget to pick up your copy of this exclusive shop postcard (I think it was 50p, or maybe 75p, certainly no more). I picked mine up a few months ago when the first lockdown came to an end and we got to take the campervan out for a break.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

31/10/2020

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE

(OR AS HAPPY A HALLOWEEN AS CAN BE HAD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES)

A THRILLING HALLOWEEN

Novelty ‘Mechanical’ Postcard

(Moving Arm)

Published by

MERRIMACK PUBLISHING ORPORATION

1990

5^TH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Printed in Hong Kong

Ref: No. 6464

This superb postcard I picked up in America last year during my visit to Florida [oh how I have missed my holidays]. I bought it at an antique & Collectibles fair and although modern, from 1990, it was not a cheap card. It cost me $12, but I really liked and it should be remembered that Halloween themed postcards are highly collected in the US and sell for far more there than they would, say, here in the UK. The thing that appealed to me is the moving arm, which you can see across this image and the one below, which shows that the arm on the central cat, holding the jack-o’-lantern, moves around in a circle.

As you can see the central cats arm moves around

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

You can see where the arm is attached by the small metal rivet

31/10/2020

SEAN CONNERY ….. R.I.P.

Sir Thomas Sean Connery

25^th August 1930 – 31^st October 2020

Scottish actor best known as being the first actor to portray James Bond in feature films.  

30/10/2020

NEW ADDITIONS UNDER THE ‘….BY NIGHT’ p/c’s TAB

Click on the main ‘…. BY NIGHT’ p/c’s tab top left of page

And then the ..BY NIGHT 3 sub tab

This is mainly a selection of foreign cards of this type of design

30/10/2020

DISNEYLAND PARIS 

2020

(YEAR POSTCARD)

Published by and exclusive to 

DISNEYLAND  PARIS

Ref: FAC-080162-19189

I got this postcard on eBay and it is probably a good job I did as Disneyland Paris have announced that they will be ‘closing-down’ until February 2021. The parks closed as of the end of yesterday, 29th Oct in line with the French Governments latest restrictions (with a short Christmas open period between dec 19th - Jan 3rd, should conditions allow this to happen). We had looked at visiting in November, but the increase in Covid-19 cases across France has led to the country implementing a new list of restrictions as of today (technically a near lockdown situation). So, no visit this year. To make things even weirder, if possible, today is the day that we would have been flying back from Florida having spent a few weeks over there visiting Walt Disney World. That clearly never happened. My wife Jo and my daughter are both ‘Disney’ fanatics and have sorely missed their dose of Disneyness this year… as I think I have said many times recently, maybe next year (but I’m starting to think that that may not be the case either…)

Update Dec 2021

We did get to do a three day local Disney Cruise from the UK, but I was right about a visit to a Disney Park possibly not being the case in 2021... hopefully 2022, fingers crossed!    

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29/10/2020

RUSSIAN SPACE THEMED POSTAL STATIONERY POST CARDS

Official Postal Stationery Post Cards

I have a small selection of these Russian cards and it is, after the television themed ones, the space ones that appeal most. Unfortunately, due to the language issues I often have no idea what the individual cards depict or commemorate or celebrate, although on a couple someone has nicely written some details in pencil, which I assume are correct and do give details of what is represented, where this is the case I will give these details. Even though I may not know much about the cards I do like these, so I am happy to just depict these here for your visual delight (with details on a few as mentioned).

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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME “INTERBOL” 1994

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25 YEARS OF TITOV SPACE FLIGHT

SPACE IS FOR PEACE

20 YEARS OF SPACE FLIGHT OF BELYAYEV AND LEONOV

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MIR SPACE STATION

There is no writing on this one but I know that this depicts the MIR Space Station because I have seen one in a display referenced as such (and I assume the person giving that display knew what he was doing). This is my favourite of this selection, probably because I remember many of the news items that have related to it.

28/20/2020

I [heart] POSTCARDS

Experimental Jetset

(Dutch, est. 1997)

Published by

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

New York

When I was in the museums gift shop how could I possibly avoid buying this postcard. As soon as I saw this, I knew it was coming my way.

27/10/2020

DIANA LIMITED EDITION POSTCARD SET

By

JACQUES LARDIE

Published by

EDITIONS DU TRIANGLE

Limited edition of 100 (of each postcard)

After Princess Diana passed away the French artist, or postcard designer if you prefer, Jacques Lardie produced a high volume of postcard designs which featured the late princess. Some of these were better than others, and personally I have always preferred the photo-montage issues to the simple black and white line drawing issues which the artist is also well known for. Both types were usually, and allegedly (I say allegedly because there were some reports which seemed to say that there was some questions around the authenticity of the limited edition printing numbers – I do not know the full story here so I am going with the ‘Allegedly), produced in some quite low edition numbers, often 100, or even only 50, although this set here was a 100 limited issue.

Each of these designs here depict a photograph of Diana along with an image of the memorial to her located at Althorp, the estate of the Spencer family and her childhood home. This memorial is located around the edge of the lake which contains the small island where Diana is buried. I have had the pleasure of visiting Althorp and standing at this memorial and visiting the family house, so I recognised the structure immediately.

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26/10/2020

GREETINGS FROM

ORLANDO

Published by

THE POSTCARD FACTORY

Ref: PC57-WD-OR 003

As I type this, I should be in the Orlando area of Florida enjoying the sun and visiting the delights of Walt Disney World, but, quite rightly, travel to the US is on hold and my holiday was cancelled. With the rising covid levels in America, and especially Florida I am happy to be out of it for a while. Having said all that of course, I am missing my holiday and my annual dose of both the Florida sun and the theme park attractions. If all goes well, and I suspect much of that depends on a vaccine of some sort, we could visit again next year. I suspect when I do go back this postcard here will still be on sale somewhere in one of the many gift shops located outside of the official Walt Disney World area.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

REVERSE SIDE OF ANOTHER COPY

This is the reverse side of a used copy of the above Orlando postcard posted from Orlando in 2007. As you can see if you look up at the top left corner this has a different top logo, in fact it is completely different as the one here mentions Mickey Mouse whilst the above one just has Disney in an oval circle. I do like hunting down different reverse layouts, different reference numbers for the same design and cards where the difference is an added white boarder or different logo. This is postcard study, not just collecting, not that there is anything wrong with collecting with a view to looking just at the front, but for me I enjoy looking at every aspect of a release.

26/10/2020

TEDDY EDWARD AND JASMINE ON THE BEACH

FROM THE TEDDY EDWARD SERIES

BY PATRICK and MOLLIE MATTHEWS

Printed and Published by

J. ARTHUR DIXON LTD

Ref: C.P.2678

On the 18^th October I posted a Teddy Edward card depicting the bear with a pigeon and Big Ben. This one shows Teddy Edward with his companion Jasmine. Living by the sea myself I rather like this one.

26/10/2020

UKRAINE

COVID-19 STAMP ISSUE MAXI CARD

Unknown Publisher – Plain backed

I bought this from the Delcampe auction site recently. I have, as many of you will have noticed, been putting together a collection of Covid-19 themed philatelic items. I am especially interested in any related postcard releases. This plain backed card depicts the artwork used on the Ukraine Covid-19 stamp issue. One of the stamps has been applied on the front and has been cancelled first day of issue.  

UKRAINE

COVID-19 STAMP ISSUE MAXI CARD

Published (possibly) by

HITE

This is a proper postcard which has been used to create a maxi-card with the use of the Ukraine Covid-19 stamp. Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you anymore because I cannot translate the cards text, but it is still a great Covid-19 philatelic card.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

24/10/2020

HARTELIJIK GEFELICITEERD

(CONGRATULATIONS)

Published by

DRC

Ref: GT. 20

(257 – this number appears bottom right corner reverse side)

This Dutch postcard was posted in 1957 and as was the popular form of that time has a deckle edge. Normally these table-top collections on postcard are cheap and common designs. Values change depending on the items included. Here we have one which is more interesting because of the inclusion of the early post war Rolleiflex camera. This make of camera was a made by the German company Franke & Heidecke (and later – I assume when this model was made – by Rollei-Werke). The Rolleiflex name referred mainly to a premier line of medium format twin lens reflex cameras, like the one depicted. As is often the case this company no longer exists having filed for insolvency in 2014 and being shut down in 2015.

It is history like this that makes postcards more interesting and you have the added fact that there are a number of collectors out there who collect camera and photography themed postcards.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

24/10/2020

MARKTDAG

MIDDLEBURG

Published by

N. V. UITG. MIJ “REMBRANDT” UTRECHT

This postcard showing a market scene with people in some national costume is from Middleburg which is a village in Belgium, apparently a miniature village in the outer corner of Oost-Vlaanderen. The street plan is now exactly as it was in medieval times which helped it become the first village in Flanders to be classified as a whole as a protected archaeological monument.

This postcard here was posted to the UK in 1934. I paid £2 for this one, but I think it was well priced and I was happy with the value.

National Costume postcards are very collectible in both Belgium and France and there are numerous issues from the past available, and it is this collectability that causes the prices to be a little higher than similar types of cards from other countries (especially here in the UK)

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21/10/2020

 BUTLIN’S SKEGNESS

CHAIRLIFT AND MONORAIL

Printed and Published (for Butlin’s) by

JOHN HINDE LIMITED

Ref: 3SK 25

I never visited this Butlin’s but the monorail and the set up is much like that at the Minehead camp where we used to holiday as children with our parents. You can also see one of the famous Butlin’s redcoats down on the ground. I think this is one of the better Butlin’s postcards from the 1970’s.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

This card was nicely used back in 1974 with a great ‘VISIT NATURELAND MARINE ZOO – SKEGNESS – OPEN ALL YEAR’ slogan postmark dated 9^th July.

21/10/2020

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

Printed (and Distributed) by

IMPACT (1991)

Ref: # 8545

Another US postcard used with a US postage stamp which features the same animal, a Pronghorn, that is depicted on the postcard. The stamp has been cancelled with a special cancellation which also features a Pronghorn. A nice combination which makes this a ‘Maxi-Card’.

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

WYOMING

PRONGHORN

WESTERN UNITED STATES

JOHN HINDE CURTEICH, INC

DESIGNED AND PRINTED IN THE US

SHOSHONE DISTRIBUTING CO. INC

Ref: 2US WY 358-4

Same cancellation as used on the postcard above but cancelling a different US postage stamp featuring Pronghorns.

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19/10/2020

CITY WALLS

YORK

By

DAVE THOMPSON

Printed and Distributed by

STAR EDITIONS LTD

Ref: THOMPSON236

One of the postcards I bought after the last lockdown ended and we had the chance to take the camper van for a short holiday break. York was our destination, and this is one of the postcards I bought when we visited the city. With all the current issues rising again I doubt I would be able to visit here now, especially as I live in the south and York is up there in the north!

CLIFFORD’S TOWER

YORK

By

DAVE THOMPSON

Printed and Distributed by

STAR EDITIONS LTD

Ref: THOMPSON435PC

19/10/2020

SEE A MALLARD

PICK IT UP

ALL DAY LONG

YOU’LL HAVE A DUCK!

By

HAPPY CHAPPO

Published by

WHALE & BIRD

Ref: THCPC009

This gave me a bit of a giggle, but I bought it for a completely different reason. My Nan, on my mums side, died many years ago (sadly this was after my mother died and also after my auntie’s death as well – my Nan out lived both of her children), but I remember her well and her love of bingo. She also believed in luck and when ever she saw a penny on the ground she would pick it up and say “See a Penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck”, which is the saying that this funny postcard is based on.  It also reminded me of my Nan, and that was a nice thing for a postcard to do.

18/10/2020

EASTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE (NONVENOMOUS) HETERODON PLATIRHINIOS

Photograph by

GENE OTT

Printed by

CAFEPRESS

Published by

SNAKES AND FROGS

This is a maxi-card privately produced with the postcard depicting a snake and the US postage stamp applied to the front also depicting a snake with this stamp cancelled first day of issue – 2^nd October 2008 – with an ‘Empire MI’ cancel (with I believe the MI being short for Miami). I bought this nice card amongst a bundle of animal maxi-cards earlier in the year.

18/10/2020

TEDDY EDWARD TALKING TO A LONDON PIGEON

IN FRONT OF BIG BEN

From the Teddy Edward Series

Printed and Published by

J. ARTHUR DIXON LTD (Newport, Isle of Wight)

Ref: C.P. 2677

I have collected Teddy Edward postcards for many years, and I probably have copies of all the different designs (I say probably because no one has created any checklist – well, no body other than me, so far). My reason for liking these cards is the fact that Teddy Edward was a character in a television series which was based on books by Patrick and Mollie Matthews, but it is the television connection that fascinates me. Only 13 episodes were ever made, but these were repeated for many years which explains the popularity of this postcard series, although I suspect not many people now remember the programme or the character.