The First G.B Picture Postcards
The first commercial British picture postcards were published by E.T.W. Dennis of Scarborough.
Privately published picture postcards, using half penny adhesive stamps for inland postage , were permitted from September 1st 1894. E.T.W.Dennis was the first into this field.
Three postally used examples of this Dennis published card of Scarborough North Bay are known, one dated Sept 15th 1894 (formerly in J.H.D.Smith collection and then at auction) and the other P/U on Sept 18th 1894. Two other unused North Bay examples are known ,one from the Frank Staff collection (auctioned by Mesengers/Cavendish,21st July 1995). The other unused card is in the collection of Mike Clark.
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In Oct 2007 a postally used North Bay card was sold on E-Bay, P/U August 1895
Keen to buy further cards of this type
It is important to note that this E.T.W.D picture postcard was designed to be sent as a postcard and designated as such on the address side (shown here), This was not a plain back correspondence card , designed to be sent under cover in an envelope (without the "Post Card" designation)
The initial September 1894 regulations said that private postcards had to be of the "Old Official Size", which was an oblong shape as shown here. Court size cards were only permitted from January 1895. (This court size was anticipated by some publishers , with cards issued in December 1894.)
Keen to buy further cards of this type
One
example of a Whitby card, in the same style, is known, hand
dated June 1895..The "E.J.D" who signs the card was probably Emily
Jane Dennis the wife of E.T.W.D .. There exists another
early artist drawn Whitby
card, printed by Dennis, but in a totally different style
Other examples much sought, either to buy or photocopy appreciated
Left click picture to enlarge South Bay
Brian Lund has one unused card of the South Bay, Scarborough. (Picture from a photocopy). The earliest postal usage found so far for South Bay is 1897.
Other examples sought, North Bay or South Bay etc to buy or photocopy appreciated