Stamps from Great Britain

I sorted out the domestic (U.S.A.) stamps from the foreign ones.  The foreign ones were then sorted by country.

One of the largest piles was for England, or rather Great Britain.  So it would seem we have a lot of different stamps for Great Britain.  But no, Great Britain, at least in the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s, had one simple design for their stamps: the current monarch.  So basically there are only 3 different designs over 50 years

The oldest stamps we have are of King Edward VII, from 1902 -- Scott numbers 127 and 128.

Then comes King George V, from 1912.  Scott numbers 159, 160, 161.

He was King until 1936, when his son took over as Edward VIII, so a new stamp then.  Scott 230.

But then he abdicated, and his brother took over as King George VI so by 1937, we have a new set of stamps, Scott 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 246, 248.  These only vary by the amount of the stamp, and the color.

I'm not sure if 238, for example, just faded with age, or was somehow two slightly different colors.

The design of the higher denomination stamps (246, 248) was somewhat different.

And the Scott catalog says the color for 241 should be "gray grn", which I think means either "gray" or "green", but ours is a light blue.

These same stamps were sometimes used in the British colonies.  For example, we have two that were apparently used in Bahrain, and they just over-printed the standard stamps with the name of the country and the amount.

After King George died, Queen Elizabeth II took over, and we finally get new postage stamps in 1952.  Again, it's the same design, varying only for the amount and color.  Actually there were two designs.  Scott 292, 293, 294, 295 are one design, and Scott 296, 297, 298 are a slight variant.

Apparently there was a bit more variety, for a 1953 stamp for the coronation, Scott 315, and in 1958, a special stamp for the Commonwealth Games., Scott 338.

In theory, these are stamps for Great Britain, but I guess they are mainly for England.  In 1958, Scotland issued some of its own -- the same portrait of the Queen -- Scott numbers 1 and 3.

and so did Wales, Scott number 1.

The largest piles of these are the 2.5p stamps of both George and Elizabeth, and the 3p stamp of Elizabeth, there are probably over 20 of those.

A Litho-Print by Grandma Moses

In addition to all the other strange stuff mixed in with this big bag of stamps, is a print of two paintings by Grandma Moses.

This is one card, 5 inches tall by 14 inches, with two paintings printed side by side.

The left painting is "Grandma goes to the big city" apparently the original was painted in 1948.

The right painting is "Country Fair"; original painted in 1950.

Both say "Grandma Moses Properties, Inc., N.Y.C. (on the left), the title of the painting (in the center), and "Litho in U.S.A." (on the right).

Two more contemporaneous cards

The newest post cards in the batch from my Grandparents are from 1958 and 1962.

Front: 817 The Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp.'s Factory and Dock, Akron, Ohio
Front, lower left corner: Photo by Stivas Studio
Front, lower right corner: 64053

On the back, on the left side, it says "Pub. by the Central News Company, Akron, Ohio" and down the middle, between the message and the address "'Tichnor Quality Views" Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Made only by Tichnor Bros. Inc., Boston, Mass." which was also on the post card of the "Air View of Portland Oregon".

The card is postmarked  "1958 Oregon Shakespeare Festival July 28 -- Sept 4" but also "Jul 25 1958 Eugene Oreg."

Addressed to: William A Peterson, 248 3rd St, Ashland, Oregon

Message on Back:

Friday

Dear Billy -- Things are very quiet here at home with the girls + you boys gone.  We have been just resting up.  Dad is putting the plywood on the ceiling of Grandma's house.  We picked some blackberries + I made more jam.  Think we have enough blackberry jam now.  Am looking forward to making applesauce now.  We went + played minature golf + had a good time.  I didn't play very well but Dad made a couple "hole in one's." You boys would have enjoyed it, maybe we can get Dad to go again sometime.  Love Mama, Daddy, Susy,  John + Mike

We didn't give John the presents -- will hold them for the 28th since you forgot them Sunday.


Notes:  It was common for us boys (Bill and Jim) to go down to our Grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Avery in Ashland) for a week or two in the summer.  Apparently Sue and John stayed home with Mom and Dad this year.  John's birthday is July 28.  "Mike" would be our cousin, the son of Dad's brother Skip and his wife Cleo.  Why he would be at our house, I don't know -- maybe Skip and Cleo went on vacation and left Mike with us.  This looks like Dad's handwriting (printing) rather than Mom's, but Mom almost always wrote cursive, so maybe she printed like this (?)  Or Dad wrote it from Mom's point of view.

This postcard is postmarked Oct 8 1962 from the Space Needle at the Seattle World's Fair and was sent while we were at the World's Fair.  Note the address is just a name and city, no street address, and yet it was (apparently) delivered.

The front of the card has a picture with the Space Needle (so clearly meant for the World's Fair), but the caption on the back is just:

Seattle's Skyline at Night.  This view from Queen Anne Hill shows the brilliant beauty of the Queen City after nightfall.  C-615  Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis

which does not mention the World's Fair (or the Space Needle) explicitly.  It would seem Mr. Ellis was expecting this post card to last well after the World's Fair was over.

Address:  Mr. and Mrs. Chas avery, Ashland, Oregon

Message on back:
Mon.
Dear Folks

well we are at the fair.  Saturday was a record day in people here. Love Mary, Lyle, and kids

The kids are in the children's Science area.  It rains everytime  we stand in line.

Sat the road was at a creep from Tacoma to Seattle

Post Card from Paris

We have part of an old postcard from Paris.  It appears that someone just wanted to keep the stamps, so they tore it in half.

The stamps are a 15f  Marianne from 1955 (Scott 753) plus a "Coat of Arms" stamp for Aunis (Scott 738) from 1954.  The postmark is 1955.  The first line looks like "18 H" which would be 6PM, and then "15 - 6" which would be June 15.

The other side of the postcard is more interesting.

We can edit it to a more rectangular form either long

or tall

Now, where is it?  Unfortunately, if the post card said, it was on the part that was torn off.

Having been to Paris, it would seem to be one of the large parks or gardens.  Possibly the Jardin des Tuileries or Jardins des Champs-Elysees with the Petit Palais.  But the Petit Palais is the wrong shape for the building in the background.

The building in the background would be the Pantheon (from an e-bay sale of an old post card).

which would mean that the park is the Jardin du Luxembourg  (from Wikipedia).

And sure enough we can find similar pictures, like this one from Flickr by Laney Bird:

There are more similar (contemporary) ones, but they seem to be copyrighted stock photos, such as this by Getty Images:

or this from Alamy:

Our image is only black and white, and probably from around 1950.  We know it is earlier than 1955 but I don't know how to tell how much earlier.

Roy Luther 1957

1957 was a busy year for Roy Luther and his family.  Actually, it was more that 1957 was a busy year for the friends of Roy Luther, who were sending him postcards from all over Europe.  Why did they end up with my Grandmother?  I don't know.  Who was Roy Luther?  I don't know.

We know that he and his family lived at 1747 W. Lincoln Street in Anaheim, California.  That's where all the postcards were addressed to.  The address still exists, according to Google Maps, but it's now an industrial park.  Google says it is PowderCoat Services, and KDM Machine, Inc. now.

First, from 1956 actually, according to the post mark 10 VIII 1956, which would be 10 August 1956, a post card from Rome:

Howd Folks,
A long way from home, and we are having very hot weather, had cold + Rain in England Belgium + Germany and only hope our return up to Paris will be better -- Best regards Jay.


This card is postmarked 5 Apr 1957 from Bideford Devon, which is a city  in England.  A 2 shilling stamp of a very young Queen Elizabeth, who became queen in 1952.

Hi Roy!
Have seen some Square + Compass signs but I have not found a real Old one yet when I do, I'll tell you the year.
Having a good trip so far.   Sam L.


The Square + Compass is both (a) a sign of Freemasonry, and (b) apparently a chain of pubs. 

Not sure which is being referred to.


This next card is from Herceg Novi, which is in Montenegro which would have been Yugoslavia at the time.  It is postmarked 22 VI 57 from Zelenika (again in Montenegro/Yugoslavia, 5 kilometers apart) which would be 22 June 1957.  The post card looks to be an actual photograph with writing (and stamps) on the back.

Dear Roy, Marion, Carol, and Sharon,
How are you? We are fine.  The trip was nice.  We had a wonderful time on the Queen Elizabeth.  The Queen had a pool, library, nursery, main lounge, bar, theatre and dinining room.  We are enjoying ourselves over here.  Bob + Rose


This next post card is just an airplane, but the stamps and postmark are from Cuba.  Oct 2 1957.  Castro had not yet made his move; he is just starting to harass the government with guerrilla tactics.

Note that it is addressed to "The Luther Girls" and then, like a crossword, the
girls' names are run down .  From the last post card, we know Carol and Marion. But the other name (which should be Sharon) looks like "Dutch".

Flying to Havana, Cuba for a day's trip.  Beautiful weather with soap suds clouds.  It rained real rain for an hour yesterday.  Turned the last corner on our way home.  Paulene

A bit closer to home, this post card is post marked from Windsor, Nova Scotia (Canada), on 7 X 1957, or 7 October 1957. Another stamp (4c) of Queen Elizabeth.

Windsor Nova Scotia B. C. Fall has turned the leaves and the hills sure a riot of Beautiful color. weather perfect. Heading for Maine in a couple of days.  The Hunts.


Back at home, the Luthers decide to take a short trip of their own and send their own post card.  This card goes to Mr. + Mrs. Chas. Avery, 248 Third Street, Ashland, Oregon (please forward).  It is postmarked Sep 10 1960 from Avalon, Calif which is on Santa Catalina Island, south of Los Angeles (and Anaheim).

Dear Folks,
Arrived here at 12:20 today, will leave at 4:15 pm tomorrow by Air Pl;ane.  The girls are in swimming now.  The Luthers

Another Luftpostleichbrief 1953

We came across another Luftpostleichtbrief
letter.

This one is from Hamburg, postmarked
05.5.53 -- May 5, 1953.   Addressed to

Mr. + Mrs. Roy Luther
   10861 E. Lincoln Ave.
      Anaheim Calif. U.S.A.

The actual letter is all handwritten.

Hi Luthers --                   May 2, 1953
     Just a few lines to let you know that
we arrived save and sound in der fadderland
der land of Zourkraut und Vinnies. had a nice
trip 23 hrs. flying time from L.A. to Hannover
a little better time than the Ercoupe makes
today an Ercoupe was flying around over
the fair made me kinda homesick. it is
the only civilian plane I have seen in Germany
The countryside is like a fairy tale land
here complete with apple blossoms Lilacs
and old wooden windmills I am going to
have some nice color pictures when I get
back.  The larger cities like Hannover still
have lots of rubble and burned out buildings
from the terrific bombing raids, they must
have taken a terrible shellacking.  The
transportation problem is something for the
average German because gas is 65c per gal
so the street are cluttered with bicycles +
scooters + motorcycles of every description the
women are all butt sprung from peddling
over the cobblestones or hanging on for dear
life behind some jerk on a motorcycle who is
going like the devil was breathing down his
collar.  Mr. Voigts nephew got us an ambitious
roller skate (it aspires to be a car) to get around
in it is a German made Borg Ward and goes
like a turpentined cat.  I do hope you are taking
good care of my kids while I am here and giving
them an extra hug for me.  Somebody
evidently seems to think these fraulines are
pretty good because theres a hell of a lot of
baby buggies filled up over here.  I havent
seen any yet that would start me pawing
the dirt.  My German is improving to the
point that some of it is understandable I
guess the German I learned is Bavarian
so I'll have to try it out on the yodelers when I
get down there Well more later So long
                                              Al

The "Ercoupe" was a small airplane.

  
Borgward was a German car maker.  It started in 1921.  It's hard to know which model Al is talking about.  There were several models, starting in 1949:

One assumes that he wasn't using one of the earlier 1931 models, although it does fit his description better  "an ambitious roller skate".

Luftpostleichtbrief 1953

Why do I have this?  I have no idea.  It was in a bag of stamps and letters from my grandmother.  What is it?

It is an airmail letter.  Mailed from Germany and addressed to:

Mr. + Mrs. Walt Daniels
3805 Whitaker
Fullerton Calif.
U.S.A

The postmark is from Bremen, which is a city in Germany.  Bremen is not far from Hamburg, in the North West of Germany, close to the borders with The Netherlands (Holland) and Denmark.  The postmark says 25.5.53 which would be May 25, 1953.

This is very thin paper, specifically made for air-mail letters (to be very light weight).  First you unfold it one way

and then another way to reveal the letter on the inside

The letter is dated May 24 1953, Bremen German, which is consistent with the post mark.

Hi Daniels --

 Well today is one month since I left LA. So thought Id better drop you a few lines to let you know that the Roosians havent snagged me yet.  We have been north to the Danish border and at Lubeck we were just across the river from them  So far haven't seen any Roosians.  We have been laid up here at Bremen a week.  Voight got a bladder infection and was sick in bed.  OK now.  We are heading south tomorrow going down to Stuttgart and then down to Switzerland.  Have taken lots of pictures so when I get back we'll have a show (no Mickey Mouse and no popcorn)  They dont know what popcorn is over here.  I am asking Pat to send over a couple of cans of unpopped corn for a demonstration.  The German countryside is real pretty, its like a fairy tale land complete with thatch rooft cottages and windmills.  I never seen any wind-mills in Holland but there are quite a few here.  All of the cities have big parks and lakes and they really go in for flowers.  They have one park here in Bremen called the Rhododendron Park and it is in full bloom, really is pretty, got some good pictures.

Haven't seen any youngberries over here. kinda miss that patch in back of your place Hope there some left when I get back. Want you out there early in the morning stoning the birds out Raus mister

Got a letter from Roy + Marion.  Glad to hear Marion is better.  Said there was a hell of a wreck on the corner.  Traffic conditions arent too good here the streets are crawling with bicycles + motorcycles.  At least the pedestrians have a healthy respect for cars. they have open season on em here + no bag limit the only restriction is you cant chase up on the side-walk after them.  Boy you should see em head for the timber when they see a car coming and if you honk the horn even the babies jump out of their buggies and race their mothers to safety, sure is a funny sight with their diapers flapping in the breeze. I know right now that you are not beleiving that so I might as well close anyway I am running out of space  More later  Al

Later Postcards, thru 1950

We have a set of cards that have no date.  Grandpa Ray was in the hospital a lot, and we have the following "get-well card"

The flags have 48 stars -- 6 rows of 8.  That would mean it was from 1912 (after Arizona) to 1949 (before Alaska).  The inside of the card has a "military" them, but there is nothing else to identify it except a "Made in U.S.A." in the lower left corner of the back.

Verse: If you'll heed these Get Well Wishes
           That are daily multiplying,
           You will shortly be "at liberty"
           With all your health flags flying!

A simple piece of heavy stock paper, the back says, in pencil, "From Lorraine".

Verse, on front:
        
         A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year
         I light my candle in my window
         To shed its prayerful light,
         And send you Christmas wishes,
         For a New Year that is bright.





And after Christmas, a Valentine's Day card.

Verse, on front:
        Greetings On St. Valentine's Day
        If I should send a card to your
        Each time I'm thinking hard of you,
        I'd spend my money all for stamps
        You dear delightful Vamp of Vamps!


 Some connect the first use of vamp with the role of "The Vampire" in the 1915 movie "A Fool There Was".  Merriam-Webster's web site say 1911.  Photoplay Magazine called Theda Bara "the vamp of vamps" in their January 1918 issue.

Post cards were a favorite for advertisers.  The front of this card is apparently a gilt-edged advertisement for "No. 9 Lover's Lane, Saint Jo. - by Eugene Field" according to the top line with the following verse on the bottom:

In the Union Bank of London
Are Forty pounds or more,
Which I'm like to spend, ere the month shall end
in an antiquarian store.


Almost a limerick.


The back, however, has an advertisement for "Woman's World" Largest Circulation in the World Greatest reading value in the World.  Send 25c for full years subscripton and this set of 12 Post Cards, sent free and postpaid at once.  Woman's World, Dept. K. P.  Chicago.

A search on the web says the inset picture of a man is "Eugene Field", a poet and the card on the web was mailed in 1909.  A similar card, but with "Eugene Field" written across the picture of the poet, is listed as being from 1912.  The poem is apparently called "Lovers Lane, St. Jo", written in 1889 referring to a country lane in St. Joseph, Missouri.  There is a web site about Lovers Lane, St. Jo. with scans of all 12 of the post cards the back of the card refers to.

The Golden Gate Bridge is built from San Francisco north across the inlet from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay.  The inlet, itself, is called "Golden Gate".  This card is from before the bridge was built from 1933 to 1937.  The caption on the front says "San Francisco, Cal. Fort Point & Golden Gate", with a "No, 23." in the lower left corner.

The back is full of a Description of Scene, a paragraph about the Golden Gate, and then an advertisement for

A FREE BOOK.

Most chronic diseases are either caused by or complicated by
catarrh.  Everybody should know of Dr. Hartman's famous rem-
edy for catarrh -- Pe-ru-na. Send for Dr. Hartman's latest book
on catarrhal diseases.  Sent free by The Pe-ru-na Drug Manufact-
uring Company, Columbus, Ohio.

Catarrh, as defined by Wikipedia, is a build-up of mucus in the throat.  The New York Times warned about it in the March 3, 1865 issue.  Dr. Samuel Hartman started selling Peruna in 1885 and by 1903 was claiming that half of human illnesses are caused by catarrh, which Peruna would cure.  In 1906, Peruna was denouced as being 28% alcohol and a fraud, with calls to outlaw "quack cures", like Peruna.  Goodness!


But our main interest here is in the Golden Gate.

This card is undated because, again, it seems to have been sent by military mail from Bernie (Ollie's son) during World War II.  The front says "40:- Golden Gate Bridge From Fort Mason. San Francisco, California." 

On the back, it describes the scene:
The Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco to Marin County is the World's largest single span bridge.  The main structure is 8,940 feet long.  The towers above water are 746 feet high.  The main span is 4200 feet long.  There are two ten-foot sidewalks and six lanes for vehicular traffic: total width 90 feet.  Total length including approaches is seven miles.  Cost $35,000,000.

The back shows it as being from Scenic View Card Co., 667 Mission St., San Francisco, Cal., Nature Tone Views. with a logo of a bear over S.V.C Co in the lower left corner.

 They seem to include the card number (43685) in the space reserved for the stamp in the upper right corner:

The card is addressed to Mr.s Ollie Peterson, RT 2 Box 490, Ashland, Ore.

The message on the back says:

Dear, Mom,
Well just a few lines to let you know I'm O.K. + hope you are to  I'm in San Frisco for a little I don't know how long I got to see George + Alice + went and seen Glynn for about 25 min. just in case you want to know I'm not a messman or cook.  I'm an O.S. on deck. well I guess you getter not write cause I don't know how long I'll be hear. will write when I can. "all my Love" "Your Son" Bernie.

Bernie came back from the war, and eventually settled in Sacramento, California.

Another post card of the bridge:

This post card shows "Bridging the Golden Gate, San Francisco, Calif. in distance" with a "104" in the upper right corner and "(c) Stanley A. Piltz" in the bottom left corner.  The bottom right corner says "5B-H61".




The back shows it was postmarked "12:30 PM Apr 27 1948" at Oakland, Calif. T.O. S. P. Depot  and mailed to:

Mrs. Ollie Peterson, R 2 Box 490, Ashland, Oregon.

This is the "Pictorial Wonderland" Art Tone Series, 104 from Stanley A. Piltz Company, San Francisco, Calif. with the message:

Hello Sis, Well I am still taking it easy.  I think I am pretty well rested though and would like to get back to work.  I got a card from Jena a few days ago.  She said they were sure having bad weather.  Sure glad to hear Mother Williams was doing so good and that Gordon had got some work.  haven't heard from Harriet for several days but she said she was better  Will close for now Geo.


People seemed to like pictures of bridges.

This post card is from "Brubaker Aerial Surveys" (lower right) with a 32 in the upper right, and a caption on the front of "Air View of Portland, Oregon, Showing Battleship "Oregon," Business District, 5 Main Bridges and East Side in Background.

The back, on the left, says it is Angelus Commercial Studio, Portland, Oregon, and down the middle -- between the "This space for writing messages" and "Post Card" it says  'Tichnor Quality Views" Reg. U.S. Pat.Off. Made Only by Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass., with the number 74164 in the lower left corner.

The Message on the Back is:

Dear Ollie
I came to Vancouver with Ruth + Albert Mon. They were coming home from Frisco.  We visited the ship yards yesterday.  Saw some being finished.  Will see the Fleet from the Pacific at Portland Sat.  Will come home next week.  Love -- Arletha.

Addressed to:  Ollie Peterson, R.2 Box 490, Ashland, Oreg.

Postmarked from Vancouver, Wash. Oct24 3 PM 1945.

The surrender of Japan was on August 15, so the war was over.  Still it seems unlikely that much would have happened to bring the Fleet home by October 1945.  Wikipedia refers to "Operation Magic Carpet" to repatriate the military out of the Pacific as starting in October 1945 and concluding, in the Pacific, by September 1946.