Posted from Bristol in 1932 to mark Winnie's birthday.
This pale blue envelope and the card contained within it are a striking example of a small piece of British greetings card history. With a design evocative of the period, the card and envelope were produced by a company called Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, which established in London in 1866.
In brief, Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd became best known for the quality of their art postcards and greetings cards, spanning a period of almost 100 years. They played a part in establishing the custom, and boom, of exchanging decorative cards, the popularity of which was begun by the Victorians. They were granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment by Queen Victoria in 1883. Sadly severe bomb damage to their headquarters during the Blitz in 1940 meant that their archive of original artwork, including the work of many leading decorative artists of the day, was destroyed. The card shown here pre-dates that loss. The company managed to rise from the ashes but not in quite the same vein.
If you'd like to know more about Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd you'll find a comprehensive history and further examples of their cards on the Tuck DB website
HERE. Examples of Tuck's cards are relatively easy to find popping up on Ebay and flea markets costing pennies to several pounds.
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| The envelope interior is lined with a high quality, embossed paper which remains in excellent condition. |
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