The happy father

Even in the dark times of war there is a glimpse of hope and light. A happy soldier on leave holds his baby. The drawing on the postcard was made in 1917 by Luchard. I haven’t been able to find anything out about the artist.

The Angelus

This is one of a set of postcards depicting the life of a family in their garden full of roses. If only all families could lead such a pleasant life…

Three sisters

A very special card all of the way from Russia in 1906. This card reminds me so much of myself with my sisters. I’m the one pretending to be interested in the grass growing on the left hand side.

Dom’s young man used to live in Russia so he came in useful in translating and research. The red cross is the symbol used by the Saint Evgueni Community, St Petersbourg who published the card. And others too. Here are a few of them.

If you visit the website, click on the images and you will enjoy the cards larger than life.

Who is this man?

A family group taken on the beach at Biarritz in April 1914. Who is the man? His face seems familiar to me. Any ideas?

Click on the image to see a better view.

The black cat

We went to another auction last week and bought some new stock which we are really pleased with. I’m already starting to pick up the story of another family who moved around France because the man of the house was a bank manager.

I was charmed by this handmade card. I imagine that the little girl was staying with her grandparents when she received this card from her favourite Uncle! The stamp is real, but he’s painted a false postmark over it.

Auntie Elsie and Rosie

I received this card in the post this morning, it was from my sister – a lovely surprise! ‘Auntie Elsie’ sent it to her naughty niece, Rosie in 1922, she wrote:

“ I am right down ashamed of you if this is the way you are carrying on”

I phoned my sister up later and we wondered what Rosie could have done to deserve such harsh words from her aunt who continued in the very next sentence;

“ Glad you are having nice weather”.

Aother town, another auction

At the weekend we went to another auction in a different town. It was nice to play the tourist and enjoy the weather at the same time. I’m beginning to recognise some of the people now, mainly dealers in coins, I’m glad to say! The auctioneers are beginning to know who we are too...

This is a card from one of the lots we bought. The artist was A Schlomka, I haven’t been able to find out more, except for another postcard online dated around 1911. I was touched by this one because as a mother of three children and having two sisters and a brother myself, I know that co-operation between siblings is rare.