Postcards.
Picture postcards began appearing in the latter part of 1894, and for several years only “court” size, 3½ inches by 4½ inches were allowed. At this time the cards had a picture side with room for a message, and the other side had the word “postcard” on it, and could only be used for the stamp and the address. In November 1899 the limit on the size of card was raised to 5½ inches by 3½ inches. These early cards are known as vignettes as the picture does not occupy all the space. In 1902 the address side was divided into two and the left side could be used for a message. Following this, the picture could now occupy the whole space.
Details of when cards were published are meagre, and often non-existent, so the dating of cards of different publishers and series is usually done using the date stamps on cards that have been through the post. The earliest recorded cards of the islands, according to the Picture Postcard Annual, are Jersey 15th July 1895; Guernsey 25th April 1898; and Sark 21st July 1899. So far no cards, dated before 1900, have been found for any of the other islands.
Postcards proved very popular and the twentieth century heralded in the Golden Age of Postcards, a period of nearly two decades extending from 1900-1918. Thousands of cards with Channel Island views were produced by a large number of national publishing firms many of which
Details of when cards were published are meagre, and often non-existent, so the dating of cards of different publishers and series is usually done using the date stamps on cards that have been through the post. The earliest recorded cards of the islands, according to the Picture Postcard Annual, are Jersey 15th July 1895; Guernsey 25th April 1898; and Sark 21st July 1899. So far no cards, dated before 1900, have been found for any of the other islands.
Postcards proved very popular and the twentieth century heralded in the Golden Age of Postcards, a period of nearly two decades extending from 1900-1918. Thousands of cards with Channel Island views were produced by a large number of national publishing firms many of which
disappeared after a few years, while others lasted well beyond the Golden Age and a few continue to produce cards today. Amongst the firms which produced significant numbers of cards were: Photochrom Co. Ltd., Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd., J Welch & Sons (JWS), E. Wrench Ltd., Valentine & Sons Ltd., Wyndham & Co., E.T.W. Dennnis & Sons Ltd., F. Hartmann, Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd. (Woodbury series), Pictorial Stationery Co. Ltd. (Peacock series), Woolstone Brothers (Milton series), E.A. Schwerdtfeger & Company (EAS), Judges Ltd., J Salmon Ltd., and Levy & Sons (LL). Later publishing firms such as R.A. (Postcards) Limited, Photoprecision and B.B. London have also produced a number of cards of the islands.
Many local photographers also produced cards during the 20th century, recording the events which have taken place, and the changes, in the islands over the years. Prominent among these in the Bailiwick of Guernsey were; F. W Guerin who was born in Guernsey. He produced at least 400 cards of Guernsey and Sark between 1904 and 1909; T. A Bramley moved to Guernsey in1910 and lived there for the rest of his life. His postcards, numbering probably at least a thousand different scenes, span all the islands and date from 1907 until about 1930; T. D Westness who moved to Alderney in 1894. He produced about a hundred different cards of Alderney. T.A. & N. Grut, father and son, were also born in Guernsey. Their postcards, covering all the islands, date from the beginning of the 20th Century until the early 1970’s. While Thomas produced some one hundred cards; Norman’s output is probably close to a thousand. W & E Bailey, father and daughter lived in Alderney, having moved there from Somerset in 1936. They returned there in 1938, but during those few years they produced several hundred cards of the Bailiwick. Recently it has been discovered they also produced some Jersey cards. The Guernsey Press Co. has published several hundred cards of the different islands. Other local photographers who produced cards include T. B, Banks, F.E. Tozer, J.P. De Cartaret, J. Hansom, N Le Cheminant, W.R. Gaudion, E. Cheesewright, G. Tupper, A. Heatley, W. Woodwards, and C. R. Le Cocq.
In Jersey the early 1900’s a number of local photographers who were shopkeepers published cards. Most prolific of these was Albert Smith. Over 1000 real photo and printed cards, many of which were numbered, were produced. The firm that bore his name continued to produce cards into the 1930’s. F Foot also published and printed real photo (RP) cards and is best known for his Pitt series of nearly 100 real photos.
A set of over 100 RP cards with the initials WED is also to be found. As yet no one has definitely identified this publisher, but the cards, most of which have images not replicated by other publishers, were produced between 1905 and 1911. Two tobacconists also produced a number of cards. Sometime after 1905 H G Allix published a series of nearly 200 printed monochrome numbered cards, almost certainly from prints produced by a Frenchman Mons J Bienaimé. Some of the same numbers have two different images and coloured cards were produced later. Around the same time George Barré published some 200+ cards. A lot of the images are repeated in various sets. Some cards bear his name; others with the same images appear as ‘Beresford Library Series’, GB, and with no name. During the 1920-1930’s W de Guerin published some 150 RP cards. In the 1930’s R F Wills published 100 plus RP cards and A G le Moer of St Martin’s produced some 300 numbered cards. He began in the 1930’s but after World War 2 he retook the majority of his images, some twice, taken from roughly the same spot, and gave them the same number. Other local photographers who produced Jersey cards include C H Cristin, E Dale, the Empire Postcard Co, and P Godfray.
Picture postcards of the islands continue to be published and over the years the size restrictions have been relaxed. The modern cards are larger, and are more colourful.
In Jersey the early 1900’s a number of local photographers who were shopkeepers published cards. Most prolific of these was Albert Smith. Over 1000 real photo and printed cards, many of which were numbered, were produced. The firm that bore his name continued to produce cards into the 1930’s. F Foot also published and printed real photo (RP) cards and is best known for his Pitt series of nearly 100 real photos.
A set of over 100 RP cards with the initials WED is also to be found. As yet no one has definitely identified this publisher, but the cards, most of which have images not replicated by other publishers, were produced between 1905 and 1911. Two tobacconists also produced a number of cards. Sometime after 1905 H G Allix published a series of nearly 200 printed monochrome numbered cards, almost certainly from prints produced by a Frenchman Mons J Bienaimé. Some of the same numbers have two different images and coloured cards were produced later. Around the same time George Barré published some 200+ cards. A lot of the images are repeated in various sets. Some cards bear his name; others with the same images appear as ‘Beresford Library Series’, GB, and with no name. During the 1920-1930’s W de Guerin published some 150 RP cards. In the 1930’s R F Wills published 100 plus RP cards and A G le Moer of St Martin’s produced some 300 numbered cards. He began in the 1930’s but after World War 2 he retook the majority of his images, some twice, taken from roughly the same spot, and gave them the same number. Other local photographers who produced Jersey cards include C H Cristin, E Dale, the Empire Postcard Co, and P Godfray.
Picture postcards of the islands continue to be published and over the years the size restrictions have been relaxed. The modern cards are larger, and are more colourful.
The Guernsey and Jersey cards were published by St Dunstan's Photo Engraving Company, which was bought in 1897 by the rapidly expanding Photochrom Company, with its head office in London, and its printing works at Tunbridge Wells.
The Sark card was published by the Pictorial Stationery Co. which was formed in 1897, and in 1900 registered the 'Peacock' trademark. The company declined in 1908 and was finally wound up in 1914.
The Sark card was published by the Pictorial Stationery Co. which was formed in 1897, and in 1900 registered the 'Peacock' trademark. The company declined in 1908 and was finally wound up in 1914.
The earliest known and recorded picture postcards for Guernsey, Jersey and Sark. They are court cards.
Jersey
15th July 1895
15th July 1895
Guernsey
25th April 1898
25th April 1898
Sark
21st July 1899
21st July 1899