If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 520

 

 

 

 

 

London, Pagentry

 

This unused postcard with a photograph showing the guards in London, England wearing bearskin hats and another guard standing with sword, was printed in Italy and distributed by Thomas & Benacci Ltd. of London.  At the lower left corner of the reverse is “Lo 32.”  The caption titles the card:  "London, Pagentry."  Thomas & Benacci is a company specializing in souvenirs, such as postcards, magnets, plates, and other items.  This card was one in a large collection shared by friends.

 

A bearskin is a tall fur cap usually part of a ceremonial military uniform.  Cloth caps worn in during the 1600s were sometimes trimmed with fur.  In the 1700s British, French, and Spanish armies began with high fur hats.  The caps weigh 1.5 lbs or 0.68 kg, are 11 inches (280 mm) tall at the front and 16 inches (410 mm) at the rear.  It may sound silly to us today, but originally the tall caps were designed to make the soldiers look taller and bigger and meant to intimidate the opposing forces.  The bearskin caps proved difficult to maintain in good condition and were retired from active service in the 1800s.  They are used today by guardsmen, bands, and pipers.  Canadian black bear fur is used for the standard bearskin while an officer’s cap is made from the Canadian brown bear that has thicker fur.  Officer’s caps are dyed black.  It takes an entire bear skin to made each cap.  When properly maintained the caps last for decades.  Scottish pipers also wear bearskin caps and/or feather bonnets made from Ostrich feathers dyed black.  Several countries use bearskin caps.  In the United States military drum majors are authorized to wear bearskin caps.  In Sweden bearskin is no longer made from real bearskin, nylon is used instead.  

 

The standing guard is holding a ceremonial sword and a helmet topped by white a white tassel.  He is also wearing the traditional red coat and riding boots with spurs.

 

The red coat or scarlet tunic, although not exclusively worn, is still used by the British Army and Royal Marines.  It is mostly used as a full dress and mess dress uniform today.  Yeomen of the Guard and Yeomen Warders, both formed in 1485, have worn uniforms in Tudor red and gold.  The use of a conspicuous color such as red was useful in the days of the musket since the weapon had limited range and accuracy and produced clouds of smoke.  The bright color coat helped distinguish between friend and foe on the battlefield.  Vegetable dyes were used until the 1800s and with time the bright red would become closer to a ruddy-brown and would therefore not standout as much.  Also in formal battles the soldiers were deployed in columns and lines so a single soldier was not likely to become a target by himself.

 

 Thank you to J and K for sharing the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_coat_(military_uniform)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearskin