Edinburgh University, School of Literature, Language and Cultures, Celtic and Scottish Studies

2nd Year Lecture  -  March 3 2014

Ethnographic Photography and Postcards in Scotland

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This talk was subsequently given to Colinton Literary Society on February 4, 2015 under the title

Old Photographs and Postcards of Scotland

For further details on any of the topics below, please see these pages:    Ethnographic Photography      Ethnographic Postcards

1

PHOTOGRAPHY

Early History

Page 1

2

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cameras and  Photos

Page 2

3

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographic Societies

Page 3

4

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional
Photographers

Page 4

5

POSTCARDS

Early History

Page 5

6

POSTCARDS

Postcard Use

Page 6

7

POSTCARDS

Publishers

Page 7

8

POSTCARDS

Views of Scotland

Page 8

Ethnographic Photography and Postcards in Scotland

Page 6

POSTCARDS

Postcard Use

Messages

written on

Postcards

• Postcards were popular in the early 20th century.  There were many postcard collectors, and the cheap postage rates encouraged their use. 

• Frequent collections and deliveries of letters and postcards at regular intervals throughout the day encouraged their use in much the same way as emails and text messages might be used today.

• Here are 10 examples of messages written on postcards in the early 1900s. 

MESSAGE
1.

"Beloved Bro & Sister in Him, our Life and Blessed Hope.

Just read a glowing epistle from our dearly loved Sister, Miss Young, and she says Bro Murdie is so bright.  Hallelujah!   ... "

ADDRESS

Bro Murdie

"The Light of the World"

     MATT  5-14

The Manse

North Sunderland

Northumberland

MESSAGE
2.

"Hope this will please you. I am sure you could not wish for anything more beautiful."

MESSAGE
3.

"These are the most awful black looking things but I suppose your collection will admit it."

MESSAGE
4.

ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD: 

"How would George like to go to this school?"

ON THE BACK OF THE CARD: 

"I forgot to tell you in my letter to write and say how many yds of cloth you want and what colour.  I think you should try navy blue.  Annie has got a nice blue out of the Co-op. ..."

MESSAGE
5.

"I am still in bed but am mending as well as can be expected.  I have had a very narrow escape, or rather a Devine deliverance from a tragic death.

I got well kicked by the horse on the left leg and the lorry wheel took out a piece of the calf on the right leg and laid bare the bone.

God stopped the wheel suddenly.  I dare not use the right leg and am kept in bed.  Love to you and the girls."

MESSAGE
6.

"Dear Mrs C  -  We, Pa and I, have been out a motor ride today.  We went nearly to Mid Calder.  It was dreadfully cold but we enjoyed it.

Pa is buying a new one tomorrow and we're testing it.  It's frightfully cold here today."

MESSAGE
7.

"Miss Johnston will not be in Edinburgh tonight.  You will hear from her later."

MESSAGE
8.

"Ye ken wha frae."

MESSAGE
9.

"Nothing"

MESSAGE
10.

"K Kt to K2"

"Ferry boat at Granton.  Horses being loaded up for manoeuvres.  Went to Tantallon Castle yesterday."

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Jerome Postcards

Studios throughout Britain

A variety of fashions and backdrops

Jerome  -  Fashions 1

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Joyce Gallois

Jerome  -  Fashions 2

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Jerome  -   Fashions 3

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Jerome  -   Fashions 4

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Claude Low

Postcards

Low  -  Transport 1

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Low  -  Transport 2

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Low  -  Transport 3

©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

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