‘The Stamp House’ was a well-known building (a pub actually) in North Bersted, near Bognor. The ‘Rising Sun’ pub’s owner, Richard Sharpe, collected postage stamps, and this was to form the basis of his future fame. As the years progressed, his stamp collection grew, and he began decorating a few picture frames with his spare stamps. Then, in 1882, a customer bet Mr Sharpe he … Continue reading ‘The Stamp House’
If any style of picture postcards epitomised their worldwide appeal and transmission, it was those of ocean liners. Catering for rich travellers, hopeful emigrants and globetrotting business people, they arrived on the scene in a big way, just as the picture postcard was establishing its world media domination (otherwise known as the ‘Golden Age’). Postcards of liners were published in huge quantities during the 20th … Continue reading The World-wide Connection
Although the picture postcard didn’t become widely popular until the final decade of the 19th century, events and personalities from earlier times still frequently appear on them. So it’s no surprise that devotees of the prolific and iconic Charles Dickens, the 19th century novelist, can build up a huge collection of images based on his life and work. In Edwardian days, postcard publishers couldn’t wait … Continue reading What the Dickens!
