If this Thursday it must be postcards, 596

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pier and Bay from East Cliff, Bournemouth (England), ca 1920s

 

This “real photograph” black & white unused postcard features the Pier and Bay of Bournemouth, Dorset, England as seen from the East Cliff.  By examining the automobiles with a magnifying glass, the card has been dated to the 1920s.  The identifier, CM 189, can be seen at the left of the title at the bottom of the picture.  On the reverse along the left edge is written:  “Sun Ray Series” H.T.B.  The card has a divided back and was printed in England.  I found it in a jumble of cards in a box at a local antique mall. 

 

The name Bournemouth reflects its geographic location at the mouth of a small river.  It was first mentioned by the name in 1406 when a large fish, 18 feet or 5.5 meters long, washed up there.  A portion of the fish was collected by a canon from Christchurch Priory and taken as a tithe. 

 

Bournemouth is a coastal town that has become a regional center for leisure, entertainment, culture and recreation.  Lewis Tregonwell founded the town in 1810 with the idea of turning the deserted heath land into a health resort.  In 1841 Bournemouth appears in Augustus Granville’s book, “The Spas of England.”  The publishing of the book resulted in increasing tourism for those seeking medicinal use of seawater and pine-scented air, that helped the town to grow and develop.  Today it is a popular destination for tourists, has notable Victorian architecture, beaches and nightlife.  It attracts over 5 million visitors a year.

 

Until the railway arrived in 1870 the most convenient way to visit the town was by sea.  Hence the need for a pier. With the local parish council reluctant to find the money for construction, an attempt to raise the necessary funds to privately build such a pier began in 1847 but only succeeded in generating enough money to build a small temporary wooden jetty that was eventually replaced by the newer pier seen in upper middle of the photo on the card.  The lack of public funds delayed the completion of the pier seen in the photo until 1880.  

 

During World War II, a raid by German fighter bombers in May 1943 resulted in heavy damage to the town.  The seafront incurred damage when it was fortified against invasion.  The cast iron lampposts and benches were melted down for munitions as was much of the superstructure  from both Bournemouth and Boscombe piers before they could be breached and to prevent possible use by enemy ships.  The large amounts of barbed wire, anti-tank obstacles, and mines that had been added for defense during the war took two years to remove after the war ended.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 595

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frome, Somerset, England, ca 1942

 

This unused “Photo Brown” postcard published by Valentine & Sons Ltd. Dundee and London, has multiple views of Frome.  This type of multi-view card is still popular today.  Looking closely at the picture identified as Market Place, upper right corner, one can see vehicles that appear to date from the 1920s.  However, it is possible to date this card as a World War II card published no earlier than 1942 because it has a quote from British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill on the reverse.  Several British postcards issued during the war years had various quotes by Churchill.  This quote:  “Let us all strive without failing in faith or in duty.” Was from a speech delivered in 1940.  Cards bearing Churchill quotes began to be distributed in 1942. 

 

The card has the number G2325 at the lower right corner on the front.  Each inset is identified beginning at the top left:  Adderwell; center:  Nunney Castle and Parish Church; upper right:  Market Place; lower right:  St John the Baptist church Via Crucis – Way of the Cross; lower left:  Willow Vale. 

 

High Altar, St John the Baptist Church, Frome, England

 

This second unused postcard has the handwritten title “St John Baptist, Frome – The High Altar” at the lower left and R.S. Ashby. Frome, at the lower right on the front of the card.  It features a black & white picture of the beautiful and magnificently decorated high altar in the church.  No publisher or distributor or other information is found on either side of the postcard. 

 

Frome is a town in eastern Somerset, England about 13 miles south of Bath.  The town was built on high ground near the Mendip Hills and centers on the River Frome.  People have lived communally here since ancient days.  The Romans built a road just south of Frome that connected what is now Salisbury, Southhampton and Hamworthy near Poole.  It is thought that this was to facilitate export trade of silver and lead from the mines in the Mendips.  A huge cache of over 50,000 Roman coins found in a in a jar in a field near Frome in 2010 were excavated by archaeologists and some are on display in the British Museum. 

 

At one time Frome was one of the largest towns in Somerset.  In the late 1400s and early to mid 1500s the manufacture of woolen cloth was the principal industry.  Later other associated crafts, such as wool dyeing; fellmongering, the removal of animal hair to make leather out of hides; spinning, and weaving, employed almost half the heads of households.  The industrial revolution brought mechanization, needed less skilled workers, and caused a downturn in trade ending in the closure of many mills since lighter cloth could be produced cheaper elsewhere.  Industry diversified into metal working and printing, although these have also declined.  Many of the buildings are listed as historical.  “In 2014 it was named by The Times as the “sixth coolest town” in Britain.” (Wikipedia.org).  Frome has also been listed as among the 15 best places for weekend breaks from London.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_John_the_Baptist,_Frome

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 594

 

 

 

 

 

 

1910 Valentine [reproduction]

 

Valentine's Day is coming up next Tuesday.  These three Valentine postcards shared this week are reproductions of original Victorian postcards from 1910 and 1911.  They were printed by Laughing Elephant, a small local printing shop that specializes in reproducing Victorian cards, books, and art prints. 

 

When this card was issued in 1910 it was only 6 years after the Wright Brothers first flight at Kitty Hawk.  That makes the airplane depicted, without the cupid, hearts and flowers (of course), a state of the art, most modern plane of that time period.  Even though the poem suggests that the plane is flying as a super high rate of speed, planes of this era probably went 60 mph or less. In comparison, commercial passenger airliners today fly between 500 and 600 mph. 

 

 

 

 

Ca 1911 Valentine [reproduction]

 

This second Valentine also has an airplane theme.  Information on the reverse gives the date as approximately 1911.  Perhaps a newer model than the plane shown on the top card?  No illustrator’s name is credited, although the initials G. H. can be seen at the lower right corner on the front of the card.  There were several artist-illustrators who used G.H. as a signature during the early 1900s.

 

The third card, seen below, has an illustration by Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle.  She was a prolific postcard and greeting card illustrator.  A few of her postcard illustrations have previously appeared as Thursday postcards.  Some of her artwork was used for advertising, calendars, paper fans, porcelain goods, and on trading cards.  She is credited with over 3,000 souvenir postcard designs. 

 

 

 

Valentine card with design by Ellen Clapsaddle, ca 1910

[reproduction]

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://laughingelephant.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 593

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oberhessische Trachten, [Upper Hesse – Germany], Nr 5, Der Hochzelitzug, ca 1960s

 

I like folk costumes and find it interesting to see the similarities between the northern European countries.  The unused color photo postcard above shared this week shows the women wearing the traditional long-skirted dirndl that is worn, with slight differences, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  The picture is of a wedding procession with the bride and groom following the women.  The bride is wearing an elaborate bridal crown.  The card is numbered 5 and was a product of Wilh. Stumpf of Treysa, Germany.

 

The second unused color photo card, seen below, shows two young women also wearing the long-skirted dirndl.  This costume is identified as “Im Sonntagsstaat” or “in their Sunday best.”  The card is numbered 8 and is also a product of Wilh. Stumpf.

 

 

 

Oberhessische Trachten, Nr. 8, Im Sonntagsstaat, ca 1960s

 

Traditional dirndls vary in design between regions and villages.  The details can indicate the place the woman comes from and sometimes even her social standing.  Everyday dirndls are rural domestic costumes intended for everyday use.  They can be made from colored linen and sometimes have leather bodices.  Dirndls worn for special occasions use designs and materials, embroidery, and jewelry specific to the region.  For example, note the cutout designs on the aprons and the minor differences in the colors, sleeves and hemlines.  The traditional dirndls often also have a fancy collar and fabric pieces that cross over the breast making the costume more in keeping with Catholic ideas of modest attire. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

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