GWR postcards
Correspondence cards
The Company used several hundred different cards for correspondence purposes, being overprinted with standardised text to acknowledge receipt of a letter for example. These cards fall into distinct groups as below.
Early plain cards
In 1870 the Post Office started selling cards with a pre-printed ½d stamp, the address would be written on the stamp side of the card and the message on the plain back. These cards were the only ones which were allowed to be used and measured 4¾" by slightly less than 3". The Great Western Railway, in common with many other companies at the time, utilised these cards and the blank side of the cards were often printed with a pro-forma message which could be annotated by hand.
1870s
The earliest card in our collection with a pre-printed message was sent from Aberdare on August 21 1876 regarding a total of four wagons stopped at the station pending repair. Three had defective break [sic] gear and the fourth a broken axle guard.
The second card in our collection with a pre-printed message was sent from Reading on February 22 1877 to acknowledge receipt of a letter regarding a claim for 2/6, with the promise that it would receive prompt attention.
This card was sent from Reading Station and is dated Aug 29 1877. It would appear that a defective wagon has been held at Reading Station pending repair by the owner, although precisely what is loose cannot be deciphered (possibly 'guards').
1880s
The slightly later card in our collection is much plainer and bears no pre-printed message or branding other than the same, but larger, ornate company name at the top. Unlike the previous cards, which were obviously printed in the 1870s, there is no indication when this card might have been printed but the hand-written message is dated Feb 4th 1889. Down the left hand side of the correspondence side of the card is the name of the printer FULLFORD, PRINTER, KING'S CROSS, LONDON N.
1897
There is no indication when this card might have been printed but the hand-written message is dated 4-3-1897, however the card itself could have been printed many years previously. Down the left hand side of the correspondence side of the card is the name of the printer FULLFORD, PRINTER, KING'S CROSS, LONDON N.. This card has been pre-printed for use by station parcels departments when informing someone that a parcel has arrived at the station and is awaiting collection.
From September 1894 the Post Office accepted postcards published by others. Such cards had a box printed towards the top right corner of the address side indicating where a stamp should be fixed by the sender. In 1899 a standard size of 5½”x3½”, already in use in other countries, was adopted in Britain.
1903
This card is a later version of the Parcel Department card dated 1897 shown above. It has a stamp attached on the address side which is now plain. The correspondence side of the card is identical to the earlier card with the name of the same printer FULLFORD, PRINTER, KING'S CROSS, N. and reference number (1314) as before. Before the printer's name is printed 100,000-2-1903. indicating that this card is one of a batch of 100,000 printed in February 1903. This particular card was posted in Neath on 12th October 1903.
In 1902 the Post Office changed its rules to allow both a message and address to be written on the back which now had a line drawn down the middle to divide it accordingly.
1909
The serial number on this card, (1522) W.175.7-09-20,000, suggests that it was one of a batch of 20,000 printed by Wyndham & Co of Acton in September 1909. It is not known whether the message advertising various sized boxes would have been printed on them all, or whether it was just one example of many which could have been overprinted onto a blank card. This particular card was posted in Lampeter on 25th March 1911.
Overprinted picture cards
The Great Western Railway made use of a huge variety of picture correspondence cards. Many of these cards were printed by Wyndham & Co. Ltd. of Acton using their own images, but some were based on existing GWR designs. The pro-forma message on all the cards did vary in colour and type face between the different correspondence card series, but the wording remained the same with the exception of the year which was first 190.. and later 191..
Whilst some cards were overprinted with a variety of advertising text, as far as we are aware just two existing series of picture postcards had the left hand portion of the address side overprinted with pro-forma wording for use as correspondence cards. These two series of cards are dealt with before covering those cards which were specially printed solely for use as correspondence cards.
Series 3 - Poster cards
This series of twelve miniature lithograph posters was produced for the GWR in 1905 by Messrs. Andrew Reid & Co. of Newcastle-on-Tyne. These cards were used as correspondence cards with standard wording overprinted on the address side. Examples of these cards are extremely rare so it is not surprising that we have only these two in our collection. More information and images of the complete set of these poster cards can be found by choosing the Series 1-3 option in the drop down list on the right of the secondary menu bar.
Southern Ireland
To the Upper Thames
Click or tap to see a larger image
Poster correspondence card back
Fishguard Route Series
The four standard GWR Fishguard Route Series cards were used from about 1909 with overprinted backs, possibly in a bid to further promote the Fishguard to Ireland services. One such card in our collection is the Turbine Steamer shown here. These correspondence cards had a reference number printed in the top left corner of the address side, this example being W/177/5/09. indicating that it was printed in 1909 by Wyndhams.
Fishguard Route to Ireland -Turbine Steamer
From the GWR Fishguard Route series
Click or tap to see a larger image
Turbine Steamer correspondence card back
Picture cards - 1904 onwards
The first picture correspondence cards appeared in 1904. This small series of cards depicted various resorts served by the GWR, each carrying a three-quarter size image surrounded by a decorative frame with a description headed by the company crest of two shields together with the wording GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY on the right. These cards rarely appear for sale but we have been able to add this representative example to our collection.
Weymouth
Click or tap to see a larger image
1904 correspondence card back
A vast series of correspondence cards utilising standard Wyndham cardsClick or tap to scroll through a gallery of some of these standard cards came into use from about 1912. These often had a blue outlined square near the top left corner of the address side containing the words In reply quote this reference. Next to this, all those that we have seen also had printed(P1525 P.), the significance of this is unknown. The address side of the cards were printed in red with the pro-forma correspondence wording overprinted in blue.
There were two slight variations of these cards which seem to have been issued concurrently. One series had a white border around the picture within which the image title and the reference number (for example 3907 The "Wyndham" Series.) was printed, in either red or black. The other had the words The "WYNDHAM" Series printed in red diagonally in the top left corner on the address side, and the image title together with its reference number (for example W8122) in white cursive script on the front.
St. Martin's Road, St. Helier
4668 The "Wyndham" Series
Click or tap to see a larger image
The "Wyndham" Series correspondence card back
Lee
W2128 The "Wyndham" Series
Click or tap to see a larger image
The "Wyndham" Series correspondence card back
version 1
Click or tap to see a larger image
The "Wyndham" Series correspondence card back
version 2
One further set of cards was printed in 1913, 1914 and 1914, according to the reference numbers on the back, with the illustration on the front being printed in green, brown or grey. Regardless of the colour used for the monochrome image on the front, the address sides were always printed in green and had the double shield company crest between the words Post and Card. Many of these correspondence cards had a reference number printed in the top left corner of the address side, this example being (1525 P.) W/100/9/14. indicating that it was printed in 1914 by Wyndhams. Titles on the picture side of the cards were written in either black or white together with the letters G.W.R. which were in the bottom right hand corner.
The Beach, Minehead G.W.R.
Click or tap to see a larger image
1913 correspondence card back
Despite the huge numbers of pictorial correspondence cards used they remain uncommon and much sought after by collectors. Presumably their rarity stems from the fact that they were used to convey a message which meant, once read, the card was disposed of rather than being treated as a collectable item.
Later plain cards
It is not known when pictorial correspondence cards stopped being used by the GWR, but it is likely that old stock was still being used up many years after production had ceased. It is possible that the railway grouping in 1923 ushered in a more cost effective and standardised plain design which could be overprinted with whatever pro-forma message was required.
1932
Our first example carries the reference number (1525) at the top right corner of the correspondence side and another number at the bottom left which suggests it was printed as part of a large batch of 75,000 cards in early 1932. The card measures 5½" x 3½" and carries no branding other than the company name at the top. The stamp used has been perforated with the letters GWR
An example of such a stamp, this marking is termed 'perfin' (PERForated INitials). For many years, postage stamps would be accepted for payment of small bills and could also be cashed at a Post Office which naturally led to the risk of stamps being stolen. Perforating stamps was seen as a way of both deterring theft and of identifying the source of a stamp. Authorisation for such marking was given on 13th March 1868 and whilst still being allowed it had largely fallen out of use by the late 1950s.
1941
We have two very different cards, both printed in 1941. This first example carries the reference number (1526) at the top right corner of the correspondence side and another number at the bottom left which suggests it was printed as part of a batch of 80,000 cards in 1941. This card would have been used to acknowledge receipt of a payment to the Great Western Railway, perhaps in return for goods or services. A receipt must be provided where one is requested and from 1st January 1892 receipts for two pounds or more were subject to stamp duty of one penny in accordance with the 1891 Stamp Act, this was increased to twopence on 1st September 1920. This was a form of taxation levied on many documents which included playing cards and cheques for example. Issuers of a receipt would sign or stamp across a normal postage stamp to validate the receipt and show the tax had been paid (by buying the stamp). Stamp duty on receipts ceased to be required in the UK from the late 1960s.
1941
Our second example carries the reference number (2276) at the top right corner of the correspondence side and the batch number at the top left suggests it was printed as part of a batch of 10,000 cards in 1941. This card would have been sent to the sender of goods or a parcel that was not addressed well enough to be delivered. It indicates that a charge may be made for holding the goods until they can be delivered. The address side carries the wording In case of non-delivery to be returned to ......, and the company name.
1946
This example carries the reference number (1522) at the top right corner of the correspondence side. Another number appears at the bottom left which suggests it was printed as part of a batch of 50,000 cards in October 1946. As with the earlier cards it measures 5½" x 3½", but the correspondence side is printed in portait orientation and left blank for a hand written message. We suspect that these cards were issued in tear off blocks rather than individually. It carries no branding other than the company name at the top.
1946
This second example of a receipt card is much smaller than that from 1941, being only 4" x 2½" in size. It does however carry the same reference nunber (1526) at the top right corner, and the content and layout are the same save for the year prefix which has been changed to '194'. The batch number at the bottom left suggests it was printed as part of a batch of 20,000 cards in October 1946.
Registration Office cards
The Registration Office was responsible for keeping a register of GWR shareholders. It was based at the head offices in Paddington, but was one of twelve departments temporarily relocated to a purpose built site at Aldermaston in Berkshire from early 1940. Before correspondence cards were introduced use would have been made of pro-forma letters. We have an example of such a letter
Click or tap link for a larger image dated 22nd February 1883 in our collection. It records the transfer of Rent Charge Stock (the pre-printed 'Consolidated' being crossed out), the registrar is noted as being John Crier.
It is thought that those cards depicting GWR hotels may also have been made available, with plain backs, to hotel guests. We have however only seen examples which were produced for use by the GWR Registration Office.
First series - late 1920s to early 1930s
We have seen four examples of cards featuring pencil sketches by Claude H.Buckle. One particular image is titled HEREFORD - On the Great Western Railway. Centre for the Wye Valley., W.Heditch being the registrar named on this card. Another shows the MANOR HOUSE HOTEL - A select hotel on the edge of Dartmoor., the registrar named on this card is A.C.Barnes. The third to be seen is titledFISHGUARD BAY HOTEL, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire - Ideally situated, overlooking Fishguard Harbour. Golf, Tennis, River and Deep Sea Fishing., again with the registrar being A.C.Barnes. The fourth card in this series illustrates the TREGENNA CASTLE HOTEL, St.Ives, Cornwall - A most comfortable Hotel in 100 acre grounds. Mild and equable climate, 9 hole Putting Course. These may have been from a larger series of similar cards, but so far we have only had sight of those mentioned.
Second series - mid 1930s
A series of three cards was produced from about 1936 carrying pencil sketches of Tregenna Castle Hotel, Fishguard Bay Hotel and the Manor House Hotel, all by the artist Charles H.J.Mayo. Our example notes the registrar as being S.G.Voles, but there may have been others. Charles Mayo was a member of the publicity staff, having joined the department from the traffic side in 1931. He was to produce much work for posters and other publicity material for the GWR.
Registration Office card
Fishguard Bay Hotel - Goodwick, Pemb.
Click or tap to see a larger image
Registration Office card back
The stamp used on our example showing the Fishguard Bay Hotel has been perforated with the letters GWR, this marking is termed 'perfin' (PERForated INitials). For many years, postage stamps would be accepted for payment of small bills and could also be cashed at a Post Office which naturally led to the risk of stamps being stolen. Perforating stamps was seen as a way of both deterring theft and of identifying the source of a stamp. Authorisation for such marking was given on 13th March 1868 and whilst still being allowed it had fallen out of use by the mid to late 1900s.
