|
|
Messages
written on
Postcards |
-
Postcards played an important part in peoples' lives in
the early 20th century, quite apart from the pleasure they gained from
collecting them and exchanging them.
-
In some places there might have been up to perhaps a
dozen collections a day from post boxes, and perhaps six deliveries a day
to houses, beginning early in the morning. So it was possible
to send a message about events the next day, or later the same day, with
confidence that it would arrive in time.
-
Here are some examples of messages written on postcards.
The first card was posted from Coldingham in SE Scotland in 1921.
Most of the others were posted 1903-05, many from in or
around Edinburgh. These are the topics.
-
1. A Religious Message
-
2. Not so Religious
-
3. Postcard Collecting - 1
-
4. Postcard Collecting - 2
-
5. Postcard Collecting - 3
-
6. In the Crowd
-
7. University and Shopping
-
8. An Accident
-
9. Motoring and the Weather
-
10. Not trusting the Post
-
11. Trusting the Post
-
12. Short Message - 1
-
13. Short Message - 2
-
14. Short Message - 3
-
15. Chess Move
-
16. Coded Message - 1
-
17. Coded Message - 2
-
18. Coded Message - 3
-
19. Coded Message - 4
|
1.
A Religious Message

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Coldingham, Berwickshire: Dec 4, 1921
|
MESSAGE
"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
|
2.
Not So Religious

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: Sep 22, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"Will has been
here many a time."
"It's quite true I have whiles frequented the kirk."
"I ken the mannie fine guid - forgie me for leein'."
|
3.
Postcard Collecting
Here is the first of three cards showing
postcard collectors' responses to the postcards that they found.

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: April 29, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"Hope this will
please you. I am sure you could not wish for anything more beautiful."
|
4.
Postcard Collecting
Here is the second of three cards showing
postcard collectors' responses to the postcards that they found.

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Durham: September 14, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"This is an ideal
PC. Don't you think so?"
|
5.
Postcard Collecting
Here is the third of three cards showing
postcard collectors' responses to the postcards that they found.

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: March 1, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"These are the
most awful black looking things but I suppose your collection will admit
it."
|
6.
In the Crowd
This postcard was posted just 12 days after the photograph
of the Royal Review was taken in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: September 30, 1905
|
MESSAGE
"Dear Sister - Do you think you would be
able to find Maggie and myself here? Let me know if you can."
|
7.
University and Shopping

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Paisley: July 8, 1904
|
MESSAGE
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. ..."
|
8.
An Accident
The
writer certainly made good use of the available space on the front of this
card.

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Portobello: February 20, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"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."
|
9.
Motoring and the Weather
A
message from the early days of motoring - winter, near
Edinburgh

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Portobello: February 20, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"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."
|
10.
Not Trusting the Post
A
postcard in Valentine's Moonlight Series
The title, almost hidden in the sky is 'Princes Street, Edinburgh'

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Glasgow: September 15, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"Dear Blanche - I wrote you a letter of
ten pages and posted it the same day as we arrived. I am sorry that
you did not get it as I took great pains to write the events of every day
from leaving London to Glasgow."
|
11.
Trusting the Post
This postcard was postmarked 8pm. Delivery the same day was
anticipated.
Can
anybody help me to interpret the message on the front of this card?

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: May 12, 1904. Posted at 8pm.
|
MESSAGE
"Miss Johnston will not be in Edinburgh
tonight. You will hear from her later."
|
12.
Short Message - 1

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: February 19, 1903.
|
MESSAGE
"Ye ken wha frae."
|
13.
Short Message - 2

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: September 1903
|
MESSAGE
"From one you don't know."
|
14.
Short Message - 3
The
shortest message yet!

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Broughty Ferry: May 4, 1905
15.
Chess Move
The
back of the postcard begins with a chess move - 'King's Knight
to King 2'
I've
included both sides of this card because I found it to be interesting.

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: July 14, 1905

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: July 14, 1905
|
MESSAGE
"K Kt to K2"
"Ferry boat at Granton. Horses being loaded up
for manoeuvres. Went to Tantallon Castle yesterday."
|
16.
Coded Message - 1
Message written backwards.
This message can be read by looking at it through a mirror.

©
Please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh: March 12,1903
|
MESSAGE
"Dear Bertha - Is this new calligraphy as
sublime and beautiful as the picture? Thanking you in anticipation.
"Me". "
|
17.
Coded Message - 2
This is a Rosicrucian Code. I found the key in a book of codes for
children

©
Please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh, November 5, 1904
|
MESSAGE
"Liz. If you are not going anywhere this
afternoon and care to come out I could see you at
say two
20 Walmer Road end of your
street only if you feel like it.
Tom. WP of course."
|
Update
Thank you to Elna Hietikko, Finland, "a fan of codes", for providing the
correction and missing words which I've now added (in red)
to the message above. - Peter
Stubbs, 22 January 2017 |
|
18
Coded Message - 3
The
code on this card looks superficially similar to that on the card above.
But I've
not been able to translate it. Can anybody help?
***
This card
was posted from Portsmouth, but the view is of Edinburgh.

©
Please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Portsmouth: March 31, 1911

©
Please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Portsmouth: March 31, 1911
|
MESSAGE
*** Thank
you to John Hadden who wrote:
"The text (complete with spelling
mistake) is:
|
Dear May
Just a line in answer to your letter & card recieved
today. I'm sorry I can't come up for the weekend bt will write later.
Love from Jim
|
It is a slightly modified
Pigpen cipher."
John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 19,
2010
|
19.
Coded Message - 4
Message in Shorthand'

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh, October 23, 1903

©
Please
contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk
Posted: Edinburgh, October 23, 1903
|
MESSAGE
"Dear Maggie, Be sure and remember
Saturday night 6.45 WP or not. With best love
RRS"
|
|
Further Details
1.
Ray Rob
New Zealand
|
|
Postcard No. 15
above was posted on July 14, 1905.
Thank you to
Ray Rob for telling me about the person that this postcard
was sent to.
Ray wrote: |
|
Miss Robinson
©
©
"This postcard was addressed to
Miss Robinson
20 French Gate
Doncaster.
According to the 1891 and 1901 censuses, she
seems to have been Miss Constance T Robinson. In 1901, she was a
15-year-old school teacher."
Ray Rob, New
Zealand: January 29, 2011 |
|
Further Details
2.
Ray Rob
New Zealand
|
|
Postcard No. 14
above was posted on May 4, 1903.
Thank you to
Ray Rob for telling me about the person that this postcard
was sent to.
Ray wrote: |
|
Miss Morris
©
"This postcard was addressed to
Miss Morris
47 E High Street
Forfar
The 1901 Scotland Census records that Euphemia
D. Morris was born about 1886 at St. Fort , Fifeshire.
At the time of the census , she was a 15
year-old Pupil Teacher, living with her adoptive parents at 47 E
High Street , Forfar.
Ray Rob, New
Zealand: January 31, 2011 |
|
Further Details
3.
Ray Rob
New Zealand
|
|
In the message that I added
below Postcard 17 above, I referred to 'Walker Road'.
Ray wrote: |
|
Coded Message - 2
©
" I wonder if the street name in the message
should read Walmer Road, rather than Walker Road." Ray Rob, New
Zealand: February 5, 2011 |
|
Walmer Road
Ray is correct. I've
updated the message on this page to show the correct street name.
I was amused to see that the bit I got wrong was one of the two small
parts of the message that was not written in code!
Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 5, 2011 |
Please also see comments below Postcard 17 above.
|