Sepia Saturday 215 - vintage postcards of Glasgow

I've been lacking in time and creativity lately so was pleased that this week's Sepia Saturday theme provided me with a straightforward prompt ... Glasgow. Here is a selection of vintage postcards, and if anyone is wondering where my time is being spent lately, check out my In Search of Space blog.

Vintage postcard of Glasgow Cathedral, c.1900's 

Vintage postcard of the University, Glasgow, c.1903

Vintage postcard of the Art Galleries, Glasgow

Vintage postcard Glasgow

Vintage postcard of the University, Glasgow

100's of vintage postcards on my web site

    

Theme Thursday: Square

I'm a bit late again this week for Theme Thursday as I've been working away this week. I like the 'square' theme and have found something that fits the theme in 2 ways.

Vintage postcard of Leicester Square, London, c.1905

and on the back of the postcard ... a 1905 Alfreton squared Circle postmark

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

    

Great Yarmouth Pavilion and Bandstand

Today I thought I'd share a vintage postcard of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, c.1906. I think in the past I blogged about bandstands and pavilions, and these are great examples of them, both of which still seem to be standing and in active use today.

Great Yarmouth, Wellington Gardens and Pavilion, c.1906

As well as the great view on the front of the postcard, it also has a squared circle postmark from Melton Constable one. I assumed Melton Constable must have been a fairly small place as I'd never heard of it before. A bit of research showed that it had a population of just 518 in 2001 but at its heyday in 1911 had a population of 1,157. Once the junction of 4 railway lines, which is how the village grew, it now has no railway at all and even the station has been recently demolished. On a more positive note however, I have just read that it may be re-opened as part of the Norfolk Orbital railway, which would be great news indeed.

Melton Constable squared circle postmark

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

Vintage postcards of Lighthouses

Today's vintage postcard blog theme is lighthouses. These have always held a curious fascination for me and have a slight air of mysticism about them, probably fuelled by their use in TV and film thrillers, mysteries and other shows. I particularly remember an episode of The Avengers, of the Tara King era, featuring a lighthouse that was used to incapacitate people. Anyway, enough reminiscing about one of may favourite cult TV series, and on to the postcards.

Teignmouth, Devon, New Lighthouse, c.1905, with Teignmouth squared circle postmark, published by Frith

Corbiere Lighthouse, Jersey, published by E.T.W.Dennis

New Brighton Lighthouse, Cheshire, c.1906, published by Frith

Girdleness Lighthouse, Aberdeen, by artist Brian Gerald, published by Valentine

Beachy Head and Lighthouse, Sussex

As always, postcards like these and hundreds of others can be found on my vintage postcards web site

Vintage postcard of Anstey's Cove, Torquay, Devon, c.1903

Today's vintage postcard is a beautiful example from 1903. It's a vignette style postcard of Anstey's Cove, Torquay, Devon.

The greeting on the front of the postcard reads "It is lovely here today and I hope the weather has at last become more settled". Good to see the brit's fascination with the weather existed even 100 years ago, and that given this postcard was sent in August it's interesting to see they had perhaps been having a disappointing summer until that point ... sound familiar?

The undivided back of the postcard is also a real bonus, showing a clear 1903 Paignton duplex B69 postmark. The card was sent from Paignton to Aberavon, South Wales on August 19th 1903.

Vintage Raphael Tuck postcard - A Rough Night At Cromer

When I first found this card, I assumed it was in the Raphael Tuck "Rough Seas" series so was slightly surprised when I turned it over and found it was actually in the "view" series. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful vintage postcard, and one of my favourite styles by probably my favourite publisher.

It dates back to 1903 and has a partial Malvern duplex postmark. The postcard was sent from Malvern to Aberavon, Port Talbot and the greeting reads"What are the Wild Waves saying", which I'm sure I've seen as the title of another Tuck postcard.

Vintage Postcards - postmarks and cancellations

Having had an interested in stamps as a child, and an interest in vintage postcards today, I was unaware that there was such an interest regarding postmarks or cancellations. Again this is a field I am very new to but it's got me more than a little interested. I've found a handful of vintage postcards with squared circle postmarks, which seem to have quite a market.

<- 1905 Birmingham squared circle postmark on a vintage postcard

I've also come across a few duplex postmarks on vintage postcards, the odd cachet, single ring cancellations, postage due cancellations and examination marks. From what I've read up on, there even seem to be subcategories and specialist areas within these categories. I still collect vintage postcard for what's on the front of the card, but the reverse side is now beginning to hold an increased interest for me.

vintage postcard showing a duplex cancellation ->

Feel free to visit my vintage postcard web pages and have a browse around ... and maybe even buy something!