19/11/2022
BRITISH RAILWAYS. SOUTHERN REGION
AN ELECTRIC PULLMAN
By
ALAN ANDERSON
Published by
J. SALMON LTD
Ref: 5049
I do like these early(ish) Salmon artwork train postcards, and they are becoming more and more collectible now that the company has ceased producing postcards. I do understand the fascination in the steam trains depicted but personally I find myself more interested in the early electric and diesel engines, and it is an electric one shown here. My recommendation is that if you come across any of these Alan Anderson painting postcards under a fiver then pick them up as I think they really have a good future.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This is the reverse side layout you need to look out for with these postcards and as you can see this one cost me £2.50, but this was some years ago now.
18/11/2022
CHILDREN IN NEED
18th NOVEMBER 2022
2022 POSTCARD
Adapted from a 1914 postcard design.
Pudsey Bear artwork by Michael O’Brien
Published by
REFLECTIONS OF A BYGONE AGE
All proceeds from the sale of this card go to BBC ‘Children in Need’ appeal
This postcard has been available for a couple of weeks now and it has become an annual release for many years. The company has released a wide range of different Children in Need designs and have raised a lot of money for each annual appeal. I have been picking up the cards regularly and obtained this one when it was made available at the last Nottingham Postcard Fair.
17/11/2022
CLOCK TOWER,
SHOEBURYNESS
Locally Published Postcard
Postally used 1910
It has been a while since I posted an older postcard, so I have amended this by depicting this cracking topographical one today. We lived in Shoeburyness, or Shoebury as we call it locally, for many years and we now live right next door to the area and do most of our shopping in Shoebury. This clock tower was a well-known local landmark for many years and was the entrance into the military area, which explains the military dressed people standing by it, alongside a number of what look to be police officers.
There is no doubt that local view postcards like this are amongst the most collected of postcards. I have always collected postcards which depict old images of areas I have lived and worked, which is mainly areas around Southend-on-Sea and Basildon, and everything in between (I have worked at both major towns, although Southend is now a city of course after a recent upgrade, and Rayleigh, Canvey Island, Benfleet, Hadleigh, Rochford and the smaller areas of Hockley and Great Wakering).
This card was posted from Shoeburyness in 1910 and went to London. It is a nice quality photographic postcard with nice postal usage and a clear local cancellation, and it cost me £5.50 when I bought it some years ago.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
17/11/2022
7eme SALON DE LA COLLECTION
15et 16 AVRIL 1995
Organise par
LES COLLECTIONNEURS BERGERACOIS
Centre Jules-Ferry – 24100 BERGERAC
Design by
GERARD MARTIAL
Limited Edition 5000
Published (or more likely Printed by)
EDITIONS DALIX
This design is clearly based around the character of Cyrano de Bergerac, he of the large, or long, nose. The character comes from a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand, although many are more aware of the various feature film versions of the story.
Although stated as being a limited edition of 5000 I don’t ‘actually’ think that this is much of a limited edition as this is quite a few.
This is a card I have owned for many years now and I am not too sure where I acquired it, which probably means it came in one of the many bundles of such like French cards I have picked up over the years.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
16/11/2022
STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT
LANTERN PRESS ORIGINAL POSTER
Published by
LANTERN PRESS
Ref: #40485
I bought this in 2020 on my last trip to the US, and just a month before the UK went into a full lockdown. Not long after our visit it was New York that was one of the first areas of the US to be hit hardest with covid-19 infections. But, having said that, I only have very fond memories of our time in New York, and it is postcards like this one which bring back these memories.
I have mentioned before the American publisher ‘Lantern Press’ and have said that I believe them to be probably the best current modern US postcard publisher. I also love their motto, which appears on the bottom on the reverse side of this card, ‘IT’S ALL ABOUT THE IMAGE’. Yes, it is, and they have some of the best poster styled images available.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
14/11/2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIS MAJESTY
KING CHARLES III
LES GRANDES GUEULES
MORCHOISNE – RICORD – MULATIER
Artwork by
MORCHOISNE
Published by
DERVISH INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS 1000
Let’s hope I have not committed treason with my choice of postcard, but I have always liked this French issued card which is slightly larger than normal modern postcard size. I have not seen another copy of this one for many years now, so I suspect its not too easy to source now. I believe this is from the 1980’s (possibly 1990’s, but I don't think so).
This is from a series of similar cards all depicting images from a book that was released.
12/11/2022
FLINTSTONES
Published by
FACET – LUNTEREN – HOLLAND
Trade Marks of Screen Gems Inc.
Facet Publishers
Copyright: Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc 1964
Ref: 1
These 1960’s Dutch postcards are very collectible, and copies can be found priced anywhere between £3 and £8+ a card on eBay (I have recently seen four different cards clubbed together on eBay priced at £154, a truly frightening price). There is a single copy of this pictured card currently on eBay priced at £4.16 (with £6.94 postage) available from Spain. Anyway, what am I trying to say here? Well, this card, which I picked up at last weekends Nottingham Postcard Fair shows the value of visiting postcard fairs as this copy cost me just 50p and bargains like this are now only available from fairs. This is the joy of postcard fair attendance.
I have quite a few of these Flintstone cards and I particularly like the ones where the colours are all wrong with this most often happening with the clothing worn by the characters. This is a good example as Wilma Flintstone always appeared wearing her white dress, but here she is depicted wearing a blue one. Some of these unusual colour changes do make these very interesting cards.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
With applied cachet
11/11/2022
LEST WE FORGET
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2022
Postcard Titled
REMEMBRANCE
THE FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Photograph by
Mrs M. SPINK
Published by
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION AND
THE ROYAL BRITISK LEGION WOMEN’S SECTION
Printed by
JUDGES OF HASTINGS
(Calendar Postcard with perforated strip across top)
I found this postcard in a cheap box at a postcard fair and knew that I would be using it today as a perfect example of a relevant postcard. This one evokes all that we need to know and remember about today.
10/11/2022
LESLIE PHILLIPS….. R.I.P.
Leslie Samuel Phillips
20th April 1924 – 7th November 2022
Film and television actor who appeared in feature films from 1938 until his recent death. Best remembered for his Carry-On film appearances (including Carry On Nurse, Carry On Teacher, Carry On Constable).
CARRY ON CONSTABLE
Film Poster (1960)
Published by
LONDON POSTCARD COMPANY
I was saddened to hear of the death of Leslie Phillips as I was always fond of his many appearances including his voice work and many younger people will recognise his voice as that belonging to the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter feature films.
07/11/2022
THIS PANDEMIC LIFE
By
MARK ROUTH
Limited to 500 postcards
(100 of which have been hand numbered and signed by the artist)
Published by
MARK ROUTH
Ref: markspostcardchat 4
We are back home from our weekend away attending the Nottingham Postcard Fair where I picked up my latest published postcard (the printing of which was organised by Brian Lund for me). This is a piece of artwork that I was inspired to do after watching the television programme ‘Grayson’s Art Club’ which helped bring the country together by getting members of the public to do some artwork whilst in lockdown in 2020 and 2021. The original piece, A3 in size has now been framed and hangs in our home.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
One of the 100 signed versions
07/11/2022
WORLD POST DAY
9TH OCTOBER 2022
Published by
POSTE ITALIANE
Received this great postcard from Melissa Reed who loves to send out postcards from her home base in Italy. This means I am receiving some great postcards but am also getting some great Italian postage stamps as well as these are clearly being used to pay the postage. I am a great lover of used postcards as I like to look at the cancellations and the different postage stamps used, not to leave out the messages written on them.
The stamp and cancellation from the reverse side of the above postcard
02/11/2022
WHY WRITE A LETTER
WHEN
POSTCARDS SAY IT BETTER
National Postcard Week
May 4th – 10th 1986
Limited Edition of 500
Signed on the reverse side by Sally Carver
Published by
SALLY S. CARVER
‘CARVES CARDS’
I have always thought that this is a great postcard and one which says everything positive about the postcard itself and the collecting world we are in. I have owned my copy for many years now and when I appeared briefly on television earlier in the year, I included this postcard amongst those I had on display.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Signed by the publisher
31/10/2022
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
(RED M&M)
GAGNE UNE FETE M&M’S
POUR TOI & TES COPAINS
(Win an M&M’s party for you and your friends)
Published by
BOOMERANG FREE CARDS
(French Language Issue)
I hope everyone is having a great Halloween whatever country you are in (it seems to be pretty much celebrated around the world now, probably due to all the appearances of US celebrations on many, many television programmes… lets hope its not the Halloween feature horror films!!)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
(YELLOW M&M)
GAGNE UNE FETE M&M’S
POUR TOI & TES COPAINS
(Win an M&M’s party for you and your friends)
Published by
BOOMERANG FREE CARDS
(French Language Issue)
As I hade decided to show you the red M&M card, I thought I should also include the accompanying yellow M&M version as well (especially as he is always being bullied and picked on by the red M&M)
REVERSE SIDE FOR BOTH OF THE ABOVE M&M HALLOWEEN CARDS
26/10/2022
HUMAN RIGHTS
(I [HEART] HUMAN RIGHTS(
By
LARS REFN
Published by
GO-CARD
Issued 2010
Ref: # 12600
This was a recent acquisition from the last Nottingham Postcard Fair. There was something about this cartoon that appealed to me, although having said this I admit that I am not so sure I would fancy actually meeting this gentleman in real life, or his dog!
24/10/2022
THE HAND OF FEAR
DOCTOR WHO
Illustration by
COLIN HOWARD
Released by
BBC VIDEO (February 1996)
BBC VIDEO COLLECTOR CARD SERIES
Ref: Collector Card No. 10
Jodie Whittaker bowed out as The Doctor last night in a special feature length episode of the series as the story ended with the Doctor regenerating (with a neat little twist as to who the Doctor regenerated into… I wont spoil it here if you have not seen it or heard about it yet). Having watched the episode, I thought a related postcard would be a good posting today. In the story a number of past Doctors made an appearance with the original actors, with one exceptional and understandable exception, playing the character. Sadly, Tom Baker was not amongst these actors last night, but he appears here on a very collectible postcard which was given away free inside the video release for this episode (remember these? Its all DVD and Blu-ray now, or downloads and cable & satellite). This card, number 10 in the series, was the last of these video cards, all of which are collectible but more so this particular one as it was produced in lesser numbers than the other previous nine cards (something to do with a change in the issuing policy for the Dr Who videos from this release which resulted in this video release being cut shorter in numbers so that they could move forward with the newer styled videos).
The artwork on all 10 cards in the series depicted the same image as appeared on the video covers with the artwork being done by Colin Howard. Many years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Colin Howard at a science fiction fair and I have a nice Doctor Who related poster signed by him. People who collect Dr Who memorabilia like to keep their copies of these postcards with the original videos so they can be hard to source but do crop up occasionally on eBay and at fairs and are worth looking out for.
22/10/2022
GRAND CIRCUS
WORLD’S FAIR
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL HALL, ISLINGTON
Published by
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM
I was at the V&A yesterday having a quick look around before going over to the Science Museum for an exhibition there. I love the V&A and can spend hours walking around the many different rooms and halls looking at their very eclectic range of exhibits and items. I obviously ended up in the gift shop at the end and although I have bought many postcards from here over many years (since being a child in fact) I still found a few ones which I had not seen before. This included this superb circus poster card.
17/10/2022
CRYSTAL PALACE
ROAD RACING CIRCUIT
PROGRAMME FOR THE CORONATION TROPHY RACE FOR CARS
SATURDAY 24TH APRIL 1937
Published by
MAYFAIR CARDS OF LONDON
Distributed by
MODERN POSTCARDS WHOLESALE
Ref:
BEST OF BRITISH SERIES
BB 633
“Prior to the Crystal Palace being burnt down in November 1936, the general manager, Sir Henry Buckland felt that establishing a motor racing circuit would attract the crowds again. Construction started the day after the fire and the first meeting was held in April 1937”
Text from reverse side of postcard
The coronation that is mentioned in the title of this trophy race was the coronation of King George VI, who was of course the last King of England prior to our current new King, Charles III. George VI was coronated on the 12th May 1937, and the coronation for our new king, recently announced, will be held on the 6th May 2023. Charles will be my first king and I am nearly in my sixties so like many people I have only known a Queen.
All this of course, is not why I bought this postcard, it just makes it a good reason to post it on the website today. I bought this because I collect postcards related to the Crystal Palace, mainly because of its connection to the history of UK television which is my main collecting theme. There is a lovely representation of the palace across the top of this programme, as it would have appeared before being burnt down in the year before this programmes release.
14/10/2022
ROBBIE COLTRANE ….. R.I.P.
Anthony Robert McMillan OBE
30TH March 1950 – 14th October 2022
Scottish actor, comedian and writer who will best remembered for playing the character of Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films although he also appeared in two James Bond movies (Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough). On television he appeared in ‘Tutti Frutti’, ‘Alfresco’ and as the character Dr Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald in the series ‘Cracker’.
ROYAL MAIL PHQ STAMP CARD
Hagrid & Harry Potter
14/10/2022
THE CLIFFS BANDSTAND BY NIGHT
WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA
Unnamed Local Printer/Publisher
Ref: 140021
After the world-famous Pier here in Southend, this bandstand is probably the next most pictured local attraction on old postcards. I have a huge number depicting it and now look out for more interesting photographs of it. This one appealed to me because of the amazing lights which are included in this image. I am no architectural, or art expert but these seem to me to have a 1920’s look to them and may possibly be of an art deco style. I have always assumed that this photo is from that decade. It was ‘definitely’ these lights which made me buy this one.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
12/10/2022
ANGELA LANSBURY ….. RIP
Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury
16th October 1925 – 11th October 2022
American actress and singer (although born in the UK – US citizenship from 1951)
I was greatly saddened, although perhaps not too surprised considering she was nearly 97 years old, to hear of the death of the great actress Angela Lansbury. I had long been a fan and as a child had thoroughly enjoyed the film ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ which I saw in the cinema, as a child the film was wonderful, and I still have fond memories of when I first saw it.
Perhaps though, she is best remembered by many as the writer Jessica Fletcher in the long running (12 seasons) television series ‘Murder She Wrote’. For me though I think one of her best performances is as the voice of the animated character Mrs Potts in the Disney animated film ‘Beauty and the Beast’. I love her rendition of the song ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and I think it may even be my favourite Disney animated film song. So, I thought this Disney postcard would be an appropriate posting for today.
MRS POTTS, HER SON CHIP AND COGSWORTH
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)
Published by
THE ART GROUP LTD
Ref: DISNEY – THE ARCHIVE COLLECTION
No 8834
09/10/2022
GREETINGS FROM IN FRONT OF A TV SET
Published by
WATUSI POSTCARDS
(Printed and distributed in co-operation with BUNCH OF ARTISTS (LONDON))
Ref: Number 4 in the series ‘A BIG HELLO’
Copyright 1983
Order WAWA 004
I love any postcard that relates in any way to the world of television. I especially like postcards which depict older TV sets which this one does. Although this card is from the 1980’s I only recently came across this copy at the Woking Postcard Fair last month. I had not seen this design before so was delighted to come across it. It also shows that anyone who thinks they know everything about modern postcards is misinformed. I have collected and specialised in modern postcards, and especially TV themed ones and I was unaware of this release.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
06/10/2022
THIS IS THE RAT THAT ATE THE MALT
‘The House That Jack Built’
From the Original Drawing by
RANDOLPH CALDECOTT
Published by
FREDERICK WARNE & CO LTD, LONDON & NEW YORK
And HUNKEYDORY DESIGNS LIMITED
Printed in Great Britain
Original image copyright 1916 – This postcard copyright 1974
In the current issue of Picture Postcard Collecting (Oct 2022 No. 21) has a smashing article in it by Anne Ross on the life and work of the artist Randolph Caldecott. Therefore, I decided to show a couple of Caldecott postcards from my own collection. This one is pictured in the magazine article although my copy has an unusual usage as you can see below.
I have always liked Caldecott’s work and thankfully these 1974 re-issues are not too expensive to pick up (much cheaper obviously than original first issue, although they were also re-issued in 1933 as well, so various copies, at various prices, can be found).
The article has given me much information which I was unaware of previously which is why writing about postcards and those who produced artwork depicted on them is so important.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
As can be seen here this postcard was used as an invitation to a ‘Nursery Rhyme’ Party with this ‘particular’ postcard being an invite to the senders Mum and Dad. I love this unusual usage but unfortunately it does not help the value as it probably lowers it from that of a clean mint copy, but this does not bother me.
PRAY, MR FROG, WILL YOU GIVE US A SONG?
BUT LET IT BE SOMETHING THAT’S NOT VERY LONG
‘A Frog he would a-wooing-go’
From the Original Drawing by
RANDOLPH CALDECOTT
Published by
FREDERICK WARNE & CO LTD, LONDON & NEW YORK
And HUNKEYDORY DESIGNS LIMITED
Printed in Great Britain
Original image copyright 1916 – This postcard copyright 1974
This postcard does not appear in the above-mentioned magazine article, but it is a favourite of mine. This one also has the Nursery Rhyme’ Party invite printed on the revere side of it but it was not sent out or had any names written on it which I suspect is because the additional party print was incorrectly applied upside down.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
Inverted Party Invite
04/10/2022
RAZORBILLS, PUFFIN ISLAND
Unnamed Publisher
Ref: P. 181/B A.W.H.
This is another £1 buy from the Stampex show I attended last week. I have always liked and collected bird related postcards and I do have an interest in birdwatching which I have done since I was a child. This one is a simple black and white photograph card, and I would possibly not have considered it worth £1 if I had not turned it over and seen the wonderful usage on the reverse side.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This has a Cinderella local post label, a Lundy 1 puffin value, applied which has been cancelled with a NORTH DEVON circular cancellation dated 1 November 1929. A nice clean and clearly philatelic usage, which means it was done for or by a collector. I have a collection of Lundy Island local post stamp labels and postal history items which includes a range of postcards. Once I saw this side of the card I knew I was going to have to add it to my ongoing collection.
03/10/2022
RAF BERLIN – GATOW
TAG DER OFFENEN TUR
50 JAHRE R.A.F. 1918 – 1968
EIN SUNDERLAND FLUGBOOT DER R.A.F.
WASSERT AUF DEM WANNSEE
20 JAHRE LUFTBRUCKE
1948 – 1968
(RAF BERLIN – GATOW
OPEN DAY
50 YEARS R.A.F. 1918 – 1968
A SUNDERLAND FLYING BOAT OF THE R.A.F.
WATER ON THE WANNSEE
20 YEARS AIRBRIDGE 1948 – 1968)
Official RAF Commemorative post card used with special Cancellation
This is one of my STAMPEX postcard buys. This cost me £1 and I had to have it for a couple of reasons, although the second reason only came to light to me once I had got home and studied the card better. Firstly, the Sunderland flying boat is one of my top three favourite aeroplanes and has been since I was a kid. As soon as I saw the Sunderland, I added the card to my ‘definitely going to buy’ pile. Later I saw that the plane is on Wannsee lake, and this is somewhere I have visited and have a great interest in, so this became another great reason to buy this card.
Also of course, I like different cancellations and the two 2d Machin head stamps have been cancelled with a special ‘R.A.F. GATOW – BRITISH FORCES POSTAL SERVICES 1073 – OPEN DAY – OFFENCE TUR 6 OCT 68’ cancellation.
02/10/2022
GREETINGS FROM THE LONDON SOUVENIR CENTRE,
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Official Shop Product
Printed by
LANSDOWNE PUBLISHING CO. LTD. LONDON
I was walking around this area last Thursday after I had finished at Stampex and decided to visit what is probably my favourite area of central London. This postcard I picked up earlier in the year when on holiday in Norfolk. It came from an antique book shop in Cromer and cost me £1, worth every penny, I think.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
01/10/2022
WORLD POSTCARD DAY
2022 WORLD POSTCARD DAY COMPETITION WINNING ENTRY
By
PAULINE CHRETIEN (France)
Published through
POSTCROSSING
Rather ironically the postal workers here in the UK are on strike today so there will be no cancellation dated 1st Oct on any postcards posted from here on this day, although hopefully people will still post some.
This postcard, which I picked up free from Stampex on Thursday, is this year’s chosen winning design from the ‘World Postcard Day Contest 2022’ and I must admit that I think it is a lovely design.
30/09/2022
100 JAHRE GOTTHARDBAHN 1882 – 1982
100 ANNI FERROVIA DEL SAN GOTTARDO 1882 – 1982
AIRLO, MONUMENTO “LE VITTIMEDEL LAVORO”
(100 Years Gotthard Railway 1882 - 1982
100 Years San Gottardo Railway 1882 – 1982
Airlo, Monument “The Victims of Work”)
Published by (Carte Officiel)
CFF – EPV
SBB – EPV
Ref: Nr. 8021
Printed by
BIREGG VERLAG AG H. BORNER, 6003 LUZERN
I have not yet scanned the handful of postcards I picked up at yesterdays Stampex show in London, but I wanted to post a postal related postcard today as the event is still fresh in my mind. This is a card which I have owned for many years, and which also fits into my train/railway collection. It is a nice example of a connected postcard image, stamp set and cancellation. I have always liked this sort of card.
I must be honest now and say that I did not have a very good day at Stampex, I found the lack of foreign dealers in attendance to be a real disadvantage to a collector like me (I suspect the Brexit paperwork and travel issues, not to mention cost increases, to have caused their understandable lack of attendance). I only picked up around six postcards, but I will admit that the event catered well for those interested in the Great Britain stamp issues of early Queen Victoria through to early Queen Elizabeth, with a quantity of dealers concentrating on the earlier GB stamp material. If that is your area of interest, then you could find stuff. I am hoping that the issues re foreign dealers get sorted out for future events (only one a year now of course) and things improve for the more casual lower cost end collector so that the show can start to appeal to the more general collectors again; fingers crossed.
26/09/2022
LONDON POSTAL REGION
NEW K-TYPE PILLAR BOX IN PRINCE CONSORT ROAD,
BEHIND THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Published by the
LONDON POSTAL REGION
Ref: LPR 1
I shall be up in London on Thursday for this years Stampex show in Islington, so I thought this London themed postal related postcard was a good fit. This card was a recent acquisition, but I have had copies of this card in my collection for many, many years. The reason I bought this further copy is because I could not resist the special hand stamp used on the reverse side. I have a very large, and very specialised, collection of these postal region postcards and they come used with all sorts of special cancels and we collectors of these cards often have several copies of the same card but used with different special hand stamps. This is how many people collect these and not just postcard collectors as these are also very much collected by modern postal history and stamp collectors.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
This cancel is from 1983 and celebrates ’50 YEARS OF LONDON TRANSPORT’ and I loved the images of the underground train and the London bus. I had not seen this cancel before so had to have this card just for this.
19/09/2022
H.M. QUEEN ELIZABETH II
PORTRAIT BY DOROTHY WILDING
Published by
J ARTHUR DIXON LTD
Ref: R. 2.
Used on front with
FALKLAND ISLANDS DEPENDENCIES 1d
CORONATION 1953 POSTAGE STAMP
I, like much of the country today am watching live the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on television, although many people are also lining the streets of London and Windsor along the route that the Queen will take her final journey along. Today was deemed to be a public holiday and many organisations have closed their doors for the day in respect. Today will be an historical day for many and one which will live on in the memories of all.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
19/09/2022
QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Photograph by
BRYAN ADAMS, 2001
(CANADA 150)
Published by
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
.
17/09/2022
WADEBRIDGE,
FROM WEST HILL
GEORGE W. F. ELLIS
PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER. BODMIN
Ref: C 1147
TWIN MONARCH’S SERIES
I bought this postcard recently from an antique shop whilst on holiday in Norfolk, which is probably at the opposite end of the country from where Wadebridge is located, which is in Cornwall. Now, I must be honest and say that I have never been to Wadebridge so my reason for buying this card is slightly different to what others may have found interesting with this image. I liked the old cars depicted. Having said I like the cars I also totally admit that this is a great example of an early post WWII topographical view postcard (a slightly later issue of this card is currently available on eBay priced at £7.95, which makes my copy a bargain at just £1). This particular copy was posted in 1948. I would love to know if this scene has changed much in the past 70 odd years or so since this picture was taken. This type of postcard, from this post WWII era, is becoming more and more collectible as time passes and as people seek cards from this time, especially because postcards were not a high priority post war and although clearly still being produced, they were often cheaply produced and in smaller numbers.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
16/09/2022
BETTER FARMING
1945
JOHN DEERE
QUALITY FARM EQUIPMENT
‘From a 1945 catalogue of John Deere of Moline, Illinois, U.S.A.’
From the “Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading”
Published by
BERIC TEMPEST & CO., LTD ST IVES, CORNWALL
‘BERIC TEMPEST COLOURCARD’
At many fairs I have attended as a dealer I have been surprised at how often I have been asked for ‘Farming’ related postcards. The theme does have its followers and I understand this because I love tractor postcards, either photographic or advert poster art like this one which has been sourced from a catalogue. There is something about tractors which I have always liked although I cannot explain why or how this interest started. This postcard here is a recent buy and I could not resist this one.
15/09/2022
BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY
(Postcard Details)
LET’S GO
WINGS FOR VICTORY
Published by
ROBERT OPIE
(The Robert Opie Collection – Museum of Advertising & Packaging)
Ref:
D-DAY SERIES
RODD8
Here in the UK the 15th September is remembered and commemorated as ‘Battle of Britain Day’. On this day in 1940 there was a period of extremely heavy aerial combat which successfully held off the Luftwaffe attack. Although there had been many days of aerial combat prior to this date, mostly over the UK after the withdrawal, or evacuation from Dunkirk, this day is specifically remembered and is recorded as the last official day of this long battle. Having said this of course there was more fighting and bombing to come in the days, months, and years to come but the invasion of Britain would now not take place and Hitler turned his eyes towards Russia instead.
By pure coincidence I happen to be reading this book now (a charity shop find). I started this a week ago, or so, and I am about halfway through it. I would happily recommend this one as it is an interesting and easy read. My only criticism, and considering how interesting reading it is this is almost a pointless criticism, is that although I am nearly halfway through this the actual fighting in the skies above the UK has not yet started as the author has also covered the fall of France and the evacuation at Dunkirk in this book as he believes a full understanding of this is required to understand what followed, so if you are expecting a book all about the spitfires, Hurricanes and Me109’s fighting over London then the first half the book will not be what you expected (which is no problem for me as I am interested in all aspects of WW11 history, but it might confuse some people considering the books title). My personal opinion is that this is a great read and worth hunting down (if you are more interested in the Dunkirk story and want a more detailed book about this then I recommend ‘Dunkirk – Fight to the last Man’ by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore which is an excellent book)
11/09/2022
09/11/2022 (American)
THE TRIBUTE IN LIGHT
“POSTCARD FROM NEW YORK CITY”
Copyright:
KONSTANTINO HATZISARROS 2013
Published by
PSARIS PRODUCTIONS
This is another postcard I picked up on my trip to New York in 2020. This one depicts the two beams of light which were aimed into the sky at the point where the two towers once stood. I remember seeing images of this tribute on television and thinking that it was a brilliant form of commemoration and that it looked spectacular although the idea itself was so simple in concept (although I suspect it still took a lot of organisation and pre-planning to get it to look right).
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
11/09/2022
09/11/2022 (American)
9/11 MEMORIAL
REMEMBER
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Exclusive product of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Made by Museum Products Inc
Ref: # 200581
In this current period of mourning in the UK we should not forget to remember those who died on this day in 2001 and to remember the event itself as it changed our world and influenced much of what has happened around the world since that date.
This superb postcard I picked up when I visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York in 2020, just a month and a bit before the UK went into a national lockdown. The memorial has a nice selection of related postcards which are exclusive and well worth picking up.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
10/09/2022
SNOOPY
(Untitled Postcard)
Published by
LA CARTOLINA PIU
Printed in Germany
Posted from Italy
After the last couple of days and the number of royalty themed postcards posted here, I thought it was a good idea to post something different and a little more light-hearted. So, here you have a nice Snoopy art card which was sold in Italy.
REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD
I have previously discussed Craig Shergold and his attempt to get into the Guinness book of records by amassing the worlds largest postcard collection, so I will not go through all the details again, but it is worth noting the name as it appears on a high number of subsequently passed on postcards.
10/09/2022
PRINCE & PRINCESS OF WALES
Postcard Titled:
DUKE & DUCHESS OF
CAMBRIDGE
‘Artwork from a collection of over 150 pastels of Cambridge by K J Lewis’.
2011
Published by
CAMBRIDGE ART.COM
Ref: PC11
Yesterday Prince William and Catherine were officially announced as now being the Prince & Princess of Wales, which was of course Prince Charles title before he became King Charles, a title which was again officially announced yesterday although he inherited the title of King immediately upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. This progression of members of the royal family will mean that many previously and currently available postcards are now out of date with their title descriptions. The collecting of royal themed postcards had been in a decline, but I wonder if these current changes and extensive news coverage of events will give the theme a boost.
09/09/2022
LONG LIVE THE KING
Postcard titled:
‘Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall’
Published by
SALMON LTD
Ref: 2 – 99 – 00 – 69
For the first time in my lifetime, I can now say this. Yesterday’s sad death of HM The Queen has started a range of changes which people like me will struggle to get used to. I have often, and at many events and locations sang “God save our Gracious Queen”, but anyone born today and from today for I suspect many years will not get the chance to sing this version in their lifetime. I must be truly honest and say that this will take some getting used to as I sing this without thought, the words so well-known I sing it naturally. I suspect I will have to now concentrate hard to get the words correct (I expect to make one or two errors along this route). We now have a King following on from the longest reigning UK monarch, A Queen we have seen everywhere throughout many of our total lifetime until yesterday, she appears on our stamps (the famous Machin Queen head design will now change), money, her cypher on all the red post boxes put up in her reign, and the Queen is mentioned on our passports, and our leading, of that standing, barristers will now, immediately be referred to with the initials KC (Kings Counsel, an immediate change from QC). The royal cypher (ER for Queen Elizabeth) appears on many uniforms and there may be a need to change this cypher now, possibly to a CR styled cypher. As we move forward into the reign of a new British monarch much will change and I am sure collectors of related items will follow and collect these items as they are issued.
08/09/2022
R.I.P.
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Published by
RAPHAEL TUCK & SONS LTD
Ref: No. 116 A
Used with the Falkland Islands 1d Coronation postage stamp
Reverse side of above postcard
08/09/2022
IT’S LOVELY
CHARA-BANCING
HERE
‘SHAPED CARD’
Unnamed Publisher
Printed in Great Britain
Ref: 212
Technically this is not a true postcard, rather it’s a type of large gift card (i.e., a card given to someone on their birthday, or other event, possibly with a present or other item. If you like a type of birthday card but a shaped card that is not folded). Because of their size and the fact that they are printed on card stock many postcard collectors collect these as novelty card items. I have a few of these and do rather like them. This one depicts a type of vehicle which was called a Charabanc, which was a large open-topped coach like vehicle and something which was very popular for outings during the early days of pictorial postcard publishing, and you do come across photographic postcards showing these at many well-known tourist towns and villages.
REVERSE SIDE OF THE ABOVE LARGE SHAPED CARD
07/09/2022
TAKING THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE
ST PANCRAS
THE NEW GATEWAY INTO EUROPE!
Painting by
MATTHEW COUSINS GRA
Believed published by the artist
I had to have this one, a recent acquisition from this past weekends Nottingham Postcard Fair, for two reasons. Firstly, I have travelled to Europe from this very station on one of the depicted Eurostar trains, so this cards image brought back fond memories of that trip. Secondly, and more unusually, this depicted train station, St Pancras, is the station that is used in the books and films related to the iconic wizard Harry Potter. I have a nice Harry Potter postcard collection, and this would make a very strange addition to that. I also love the look of this old station building and have been to it many times just to look around it and see the fantastic architecture.
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