Sepia Saturday - Petticoat Lane, London, c.1909

I picked up this great postcard a couple of months ago but somehow it managed to filter its way downwards in my 'share' pile, so I've only just re-discovered it. It features what I imagine would have been a fairly typical scene at the Petticoat Lane Clothes Auction, in East London, c.1909. For anyone not familiar with Petticoat Lane, it is a traditional clothes market in East London, not far from Brick Lane, which dates back to 1608 and is still running today, making it Britain's oldest surviving market.

Petticoat Lane Clothes Auction, London, c.1909

As uausul, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Vintage postcards of hospitals

Another brief post this week I'm afraid. I have no idea what I do with my time but it just disappears. This week's subect I've chosen to share for Postcard Friendship Friday is vintage postcards of hospitals. Perhaps not an obvious choice, but like an earlier posting I did about Town Halls, there is beauty in these buildings. I had planned to do a bit of research to find out about the history of these magnificient buildings but alas that will have to wait for another day.

Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh

Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, published by Valentine

St. Peter's Hospital, Bristol

As usual, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

 

Theme Thursday - Wheel

This weeks's Theme Thursday is a bit of a cheart for me as I've already posted this picture in a posting I did about the Isle of Man, but it fits this week's theme well.

Laxey Wheel, Isle of Man, c.1905

This water wheel was built in 1854 to pump water from the mineshafts. It also goes by the name of "Lady Isabella", who was the wife of Charles Hope, the island's governor.

As always, 100's of vintage postcards and vintage books and magazines on my web site

Vintage postcards of Blackpool Tower

Searching around for a topic this week I came across several vintage postcards of Blackpool Tower in my collection. As I think I mentioned in a previous posting, Blackpool is only ever somewhere I've visited via my postcard collection, but looking at these postcards again makes me think I am long overdue a visit. The sheer enormity of the 518 foot, 116 year old tower on this first postcard is incredible. Apparently inspired by the Eifel Tower, would it be so wrong of me to say I prefer this one?

 The Tower, Blackpool

 The Children's Corner, Blackpool, c.1920, with the tower in the background

 The Sands, Pier and Promenade, Blackpool, with the tower in the background

Tower, Wheel and Old Promenade, Blackpool, c.1907

As always, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Theme Thursday - Knot

I was initially stumped by this week's Theme Thursday, 'Knot', and at one stage thought I'd have to miss out on this week's posting. Fortunately however, after some scrutiny of my vintage greeting cards I found these couple of vintage Christmas cards which seem to fit the theme. They are both published by Raphael Tuck probably around the early 1900's, and both feature a cord or ribbon binding, tied together with a knot.

As always, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Vintage postcards of South Africa

I came across my first vintage postcards of South Africa a few weeks ago and they've gradually worked their way up the list to share. The cards themselves are beautiful, but one of the real bonuses for me was reading a bit into the history. I studied the Scramble For Africa for A-level history getting on for nearly 30 years ago and have forgotten a lot in that time, so it was interesting to delve back into that subject again.

 

The Raadzaal, Bloemfontein, c.1905

The postcard reads, "Hope to find you both well. I am very busy. Hoping to write a long letter next month." 

Back of the Raadzaal postcard, showing a red 1d Edward VII Transvaal stamp.

 

 

Church Square, Pretoria, c.1904

The postcard reads, "The land of honey". 

Back of the Pretoria postcard, showing a red 1d Edward VII Orange River Colony stamp. Orange River Colony was new to me, but a bit of research showed it to be a short-lived British colony, 1900 - 1910, which later became the Orange Free State Province within South Africa.

As always, 100's of vintage postcards can be found on my vintage postcards web site

Theme Thursday - Making the Feathers Fly

For this week's Theme Thursday with the theme of 'Game', this postcard from my vintage postcard collection came immediately to mind. A slightly unorthodox game of badmington but not that dissimilar to any racket sport played with my kids.

Making the Feathers Fly, by the artist Racey Helps, published by The Medici Society

More vintage postcards on my vintage postcards web site

Vintage postcard - Forget-Me-Not

Another single entry postcard today, but this one was so 'special' I thought it deserved its own blog entry. Given the presence of the Union Jack and the heart-wrenchingly sad poem, I assume it was intended to be given or sent from (or to) someone going off to war. The postcard is postally unused so unfortunately there's no indication of date, although I would assume it's World War II. The postcard is in pretty good condition so I'm assuming that it was given from someone departing, or if it was taken into battle then it was treasured and kept safe. There is however not written greeting on the back so perhaps it was bought and never given ... I guess the possibilities are endless.

The poem reads ...

I hope you'll not forget me

I always think of you

And remember all the happy times

We've often had we two

I want so much to see you

I miss you such a lot

But I'll be content if you promise that you'll

Forget Me Not

Vintage postcards of actresses

My vintage postcard blog for today includes a handful of actress postcards that I came across recently. I must admit that I'd not heard of any of these actresses before I found the postcards, but a little research suggests they were well known in their day.

 

 Miss Marie Studholme (b. 1872, d.1930)

Performed several roles in musical comedies, in London and the rest of the country.

Miss Ada Homer

I've not been very succesful in finding out much about this actress other than she appeared in 'Lady of the Lake'

 

 

Miss Maud Jeffries (b.1969, d.1946)

Appeared in several William Shakespeare plays including Twelth Night

As always, 100's more vintage postcards can be found on my web site

Theme Thursday - Fence

 A very short Theme Thursday entry this week as I've been crazily busy at work. Going through my various photographs, cards, postcards and magazines (at admittedly fairly high speed) these were the only ones which really seemed to fit the subject, but to be homest they are nowhere near as good as most of the other entries I've seen. Hopefully next week will find me with more time and creative energy.

 

Windsor Great Park, Long Walk

Windsor, Long Walk and Statue

As always, 100's more vintage postcards can be found on my vintage postcards web site

Sepia Saturday - How Could I be Happy With Either

Unfortunately this week has been manic at work and I've not found anywhere enough time to dedicate to my blogs, so rather than the usual three, four or five pictures, I've just opted for one this week. I picked up this card recently in a batch of other vintage postcards, and it wasn't until I was sorting through them that I really looked at this one in more detail. The title of the postcard is "How Happy Could I Be With Either" and the written greeting reads, "Does this apply to you? I shouldn't wonder". The postcard has an undivided back and was published by Raphael Tuck, c.1903.

As I think I've mentioned before, I'm not a huge fan of comic postcards, but thought this one was quite subtle and unusual. I particularly like the written greeting from Lil to a young man, of Swindon. I can't help thinking though that the man in the postcard just looks exhausted and would probably prefer to be down on his allotment.

As usual, 100's more vintage postcards can be found on my web site