Soviet era propaganda postcards

Who wouldn't be thrilled to find these postcards in a junk shop. But be assured, it wasn't sold at 'junk' price!

Here are a few cards - either original from the era  or reproduction - that I have assembled over the years. I just love them. 

Junk shop find: vintage Aussie postcards

 Unearthed during a rummage in a Hahndorf old wares shop. These old cards fascinate me. What postcard treasures have you found in old "junk shops"?

Vintage Airline Issue

One of my pet subjects for postcards is vintage and contemporary airline issue postcards. Increasingly rare these days as airlines cut back on everything not core to flying planes and maximising revenue. Enjoy these anachronistic artforms. I will add to this post occasionally, so call back to see what else I've found.

Vintage South Pacific Postcards

Spending time indoors during COVID has given me the chance to rediscover the many hundreds of postcards my family have accumulated over the decades.

This small set of vintage cards were bought during our cruise aboard P&O's Himalaya in early 1972 to Noumea, Fiji and Auckland. My first cruise and the only time I travelled overseas with my father. It's fun to look back on these times. 

Postcards in the time of #COVID19

In these depressing times of Coronavirus isolation, the art of postcard writing comes to the fore. My creative friends have found non-destination and inspirational cards that are perfect for these times.
Thank you to my thoughtful pals and colleagues for sending these smile (and giggle) inducing missives.

A mystery sender played on my love of motorcycle riding.

Tiana reminded me of my woeful love life :)

and this beautiful art card from Lee. Few know of my love for birds.

Hamburg-Amerika Line - Vintage

To celebrate fixing my pro scanner, here are some recent arrivals from Sabine Loch from the Hamburg-Amerika vintage series - a favourite of mine. (click any to see larger)

A postcard 'barn find'. Century-old postcard album salvaged.

Rummaging through old boxes of stamps, photos and stuff at my mum's, I came across this old postcard album. Story goes that my uncle salvaged it from a house about to be demolished next to his wrecking yard on Port Road at Kilkenny. This would have been in the 1960s. There was also a cigarette card album.

Still in reasonable condition, more than 100 years later

 I'd forgotten all about this treasure which contains 200 cards in an album branded "Wrench". Some of the cards are written, others are blank, but are dated 1904-1909. It seems they were sent by a relative who spent a considerable time in England back to family in South Australia. Here are just a few highlights.

RPD Gneisenau (dated May 14, 1909)
it seems the sender sailed aboard this vessel and the card is
postmarked Southampton, four days later.
Gneisenau was a Nord-deutscher Lloyd Imperial Mail steamer
sailing between Australia and Bremen 1907

'London's new motor cab'
This looks like a Renault of about 1907 vintage

London - Omnibus
Apparently Hackney Downs Station, Dalston Lane, Hackney, London. 1905

London - Regent St

Japanese Admiral Togo
(A series of cards celebrating the Japanese victory over Russia in the 1904-5 war)

The musical 'All Blacks' - from Maori Land
The Black Family Musicians came out of Invercargill and in those early days of 1897 the group consisted of Mr and Mrs Black, three daughters (Misses Nellie, Elsie, and Doris) and a son (Master Bertie). Source: partofpastnzhistory.blogspot.com.au

More Fascinating Postcard Finds

Rummaging in antique shops can turn up some wonderful cards.

Here are a few I selected from piles of vintage ship cards while on a shore excursion in Napier NZ.

HMS Hood

HMS Repluse

SS Orcades

RMS Berengaria

TSS Aquitania

P&O Iberia

Ranpura

Dominion Castle

SS Orford

These are the ones I had to leave behind :(

Napier NZ, the art deco city

click to see more cards

Napier NZ - the original town was destroyed by earthquake in 1931 and the rebuilt in the art deco style. Many buildings remain and the city is making full use of its unique assets. More: Napier NZ.

Fascinating Postcard Finds

Enjoyed rummaging through some old postcards in the bric-a-brac shops in the Blue Mountains today.

What was just as much fun was learning the history of each card when I got home and Googled.

See the Flickr album notes to learn my discoveries.

US vintage aviation

Fabulous selection of vintage military aviation postcards from Jeannette. Thrilled.

Vintage Dieppe waterfront

Maritime train departs the waterfront at Dieppe

This magnificent card arrived from Mike. Ticks all my boxes on one card. Thank you so much.

Hamburg America Line - Cuba -Mexico

I just love the way Germany issues matching stamps. Trust the Germans! Danke sehr Sabine.

Vintage Transicards - UK Vehicles

Picked up these old UK transport cards from a second hand shop somewhere. Classics. Does anyone know the history behind the Transicard series? Printed mainly in the 1970s from what can gather.

Museum of Communism, Prague

My daughter is following in the family tradition and heading off on her own adventures. She picked these up for me in Prague at the Museum of Communism. God love her.

Queen of the Ocean - Titanic

This gold medal card received from Ande who visited Belfast and thought of me.

Vintage DC-8 - United Airlines

United Airlines was one of the first airlines to use the new Douglas DC-8 jet airliner in 1959. Thank you Jeannette