Ramblings of a Deltiologist

Thanks to a friend of mine who has recently started collecting postcards, I was out of control at a recent postcard fair because I found myself off-topic as I showed her all the different categories! Most postcard collectors attend the fairs looking for very specific cards, and normally so do I. This is always good for the purse as it helps one control oneself and means you actually get out of the fair with some hours left in the day. I secretly like going off-topic as it is often these finds which make me smile or send me off on some research. My favourite off-topic finds are often the 'real photo' postcards created with special cameras which produced photos onto postcard paper for sending. These postcards usually show family life or record important events and were meant to be shared just like digital photos today. Here are some of my favourites: I wish I could have seen this play based on nursery rhymes. The kid with the beard and the one with the paper bag on his ...

Okay, I think I can say I now have a decent collection of Winnipeg postcards. My collection literally doubled after visiting one local postcard fair as for some reason every seller seemed to have Winnipeg cards! Not all of them were sent, but the ones which were posted are marked 1911, 1912 and 1917, which fits in with their split backs and the tinted photographs. Many are from a series published by Valentine & Sons Publishing Co and these can be identified by the red writing on them.  Here are some snippets from the backs: "Have broken the journey here to see the place. Am enjoying myself immensely." "Arrived here last night to have a look round" "Why don't I hear from you. I hope you are quite well also George. Wrote over 3 months ago. Perhaps the letters have gone astray." "two streets on this side the subway is where we live and the station is not far from there so you would not have far to walk if you did happen to come t...