Kit's Paper and Postcards

Hiya friends! I’m very excited to start posting my smallest, but most collection-y collection yet. I spent a good while travelling around Wales as I wanted to see the castles, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a real variety of postcards. Though most castles are under the care of Cadw, unfortunately most are too small or too ruined to have visitor centers, so I did not get a card for everything.

Anyway. This is a sculpture in Cardiff Castle. It seemed almost alive. It looks as if it’s made of wood in this photo, but I think it’s brass. How strange.

Information on the back:

Cardiff Castle: a Roman charioteer, sculpted by Frank Abraham. Printed by Larkfield Postcards, Brighouse, West Yorkshire.

Kit

On my travels, I briefly stopped in Bath to visit the Victoria Art Gallery as I had heard there was an interesting exhibition on. This postcard depicts one of Eduard Bersudsky’s wonderful machines, which is part of a whole travelling circus! I don’t want to spoil too much, but it was a magical twenty-minute show called Sharmanka. Worth catching it, wherever it goes.

Information on the back:

Sharmanka: Eduard Bersudsky’s Orient Express at the Bath Victoria Art Gallery, Somerset, England.  

Kit

I’m not the best at puns. After London I visited one of my favourite places, the Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman. I haven’t been in here many, many years. There is a caravan park not two minutes from the church, and a long, rocky beach. They’ve since converted a nearby phone booth in to a tiny book stall too, where you can pay about 50p for a good read.

I found these postcards in a plastic box stored under the roof. If you’re an honest person, you can put 50p in a box in the wall and take a card. If you’re not, you can steal one. Which one am I? Whatever 25p makes you! Just kidding. I have plenty of photos of the church, but it’s even nicer to know that this postcard came from within the place itself.

Information on the back:

The Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman, Revelstoke, Noss Mayo, Devon. Sold in support of The Churches Conservation Trust. Not sure who photographed this, apologies!

I made many a museum-stop on my little holiday. This one is from the British Museum. I love illuminated manuscripts but sadly I can’t even afford a page let alone a book. I’m hoping to collect a lot more manuscripts postcard prints in the future. Do you like this scene? It feels very busy! Not sure I would enjoy such a day if people were hurt.

Information on the back:

‘Jousts of Ingleuerch’ in Froissart’s Chronicle, postcard from the British Museum: Printed in England by Henry Stone & Son (Printers) Ltd., Banbury.

Kit

My sister has a hat like this. Picked this picture up in the National Gallery in London. I didn’t see the painting that this postcard came from because the gallery is bloomin’ huge. The colours in this are just fantastic, one of my favourites.

Information on the back:

‘A detail from the Virgin and Child with Saints Anthony Abbot and George’, circa 1435-41. By Pisanello, circa 1394-1455. Printed in Britain, sold to support the National Gallery London.

Kit.

Picked this one up in Innsbruck. It’s a painting of the Golden Roof or ‘Goldenes Dachl’ by Franz Schwetz. The structure itself is some five-hundred years old! Unsurprisingly, you can find it in Innsbruck, Austria. I was very underwhelmed by it all as it was bordered by a very modern-looking building. I bought the postcard so that I could imagine it as it would have been.

(As you will find out, I have a penchant for architecture cards!)

Information on the back:

I’m sure you can guess that I don’t speak German either. Again, I have tried to arrange the accrediting information in the correct way. Apparently this was self-published or self-printed (‘Eiganverlag’) in Innsbruck, Austria. What I presume is the address reads: ‘Fischerstrasse 42,’ and printed (‘Druck’): WUB, Innsbruck.’

Kit

Another Italian treasure. This postcard is a photograph of a tapestry I saw in the Palazzo Borromeo, which sits on Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore. There is such depth to this piece, and so many wonderful creatures! It is somewhat faded but the blue threads are glorious in person. I had to take a little piece of this away with me.

I made up my own story to go alongside it. What do you think is happening in this image?

Information on the back:

All of the credits are in Italian, which I unfortunately do not speak very well. I have however tried to arrange the information in the correct manner. The piece is named ‘Arazzo del Secolo XVI,’ in the room ‘Sala dei Gobelins.’ It can be found in Palazzo Borromeo, on Isola Bella, which is part of the Borromean Islands.  It is both credited and printed ‘Fotostampa REGGIORI – Laveno M. (Varese). Apologies if I have any of that wrong.

Kit

Hello to all of my visitors! Let’s start off with a bang. I picked up this very unusual card in a small gallery in Barga, Italy. It’s much larger than your usual postcard, and this one had a glossy print. Interestingly, the town has a very strong Scottish connection. I’ve linked an article below if you are intrigued.

https://www.thelocal.it/20180803/welcome-to-barga-the-most-scottish-town-in-tuscanyhttps://www.thelocal.it/20180803/welcome-to-barga-the-most-scottish-town-in-tuscany

Information on the back:

Unfortunately the back was left completely blank, save for the dividing line. I seem to remember that the gallery was not far away from the restaurant named Il Giornale di Barga however.

Kit

Hello friends, and welcome to the start of my collection. I’ve been saving up for a little adventure for many years now, through Italy to Austria to Northern Wales. I did it all backwards! (It was cheaper). On the way, I amassed a lot of postcards, and I haven’t stopped since! So I’m beginning this blog before it all gets away from me and I have too many postcards.

Typically I just pick up things that look nice, but occasionally I’ll include interesting information and linked articles. I hope you find something you like.

Hello there!

If you’re new, which I am too, this is my blog about all things paper, postcards and other ephemera. I love to collect bits and pieces! Please join me as I document my collections and new additions, there are sure to be some fascinating things. If you wish to send me some of your own, you can find my contact details above. I will endeavour to reply to your comments.

Thank you,

Kit