Fred Gothard (1882-1971) was born in Holmfirth, Yorkshire, and became a bank clerk in nearby Huddersfield,. He later moved to Cheshire, ending up as a bank manager in Manchester. He started producing office doodle style postcards in 1908 (earliest known date July 1908) which were signed "Spatz", although a few also include the signature "F G". These carried numbers starting at 5000 and were published by Thomas Hind, who kept a bookshop and stationers at 31 John William Street, Huddersfield between about 1899 and 1909. The Spatz cards were published in the "Spatz post card " series or the "Regent" series and most uses a crown as logo - suggesting that a link to the Crown Publishing Co needed to be investigated.. Thomas Hind also published a large number of local view cards, and none I have seen on ebay had a distinctive logo, series name or number.
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No 5022 |
All is not beer that's bitter O! I have passed a miserable night, so full of ugly sights and ghostly dreams (Shakespeare) |
"SPATZ" POST CARDS. From original Drawings & Sketches by Spatz. Published by Thomas Hind. Huddersfield. No 5022 posted 21 & 22 August 1908 Signed Spatz |
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No 5028 |
O winds that blow from the mouth breathe on my glistening beer |
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My Word if you're not off. No 5023 Posted 19 Sep 1908 Signed Spatz & FG |
I may look "quiet" but I'm making an awful reacket. No 5040 |
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Look here Waiter. There a piece of wood in this sausage - Now I don't mind eating the dog, but I'm blowed if I'll eat the blooming kennel. No 5041 |
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Hard Lines I had just won the 10 miles walking match when I was disqualified My nose was running No 5045 26 August 1908 |
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The Seaside Sultan. It's an awful blow when he's got to go back to work No 5052
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"SPATZ" POST CARDS. From original Drawings & Sketches by Spatz. Published by Thomas Hind. Huddersfield. No 5057 |
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How'd you like to spoon with me? |
The "Regent "Series, From original Drawings & Sketches by Spatz Published by Thomas Hind, Huddersfield. No 5024 Signed F G |
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'Tis beauty that doth oft make woman proud (Shakespeare) What rot!! Fancy me proud.
No 5000 |
SPATZ POST CARDS. From original Drawing by Spatz. Published by Thomas Hind, Huddersfield. Copyright Signed SPATZ Posted 1913 |
When we fly Exceeding the Speed Limit
No 6043
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The Mack family started in Bristol but in about 1908 they moved to King Henry's Road, Primrose Hill, London, and it would seem that many of their cards were printed by J. Salmon. During the First World War "F G" produced many card, mainly with "E. Mack" as publisher but printed by J. Salmon. He also did some cards for Tuck & Sons.
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Physical Jerks The Jerker - "What will you give me if I straighten that back within a week The Rookie - " A bottle of hair restorer" |
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The Inquisitive One - "Have you been wounded Sir?" The Other One - "No mi lady I was cleaning the canary's cage out an' the little beggar flew at me," |
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"You'll have had some narrow escapes from death" "Rather! - I once fell out of a pram when I was a kid" |
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Copyright. W E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, N W 3 |
Copyright Printed and Published by J. Salmon, Sevenoaks, England - E. Mack, King Henry's Rd, Hamstead, London |
Copyright E. Mack, King Henry's Rd, Hamstead, London |
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First World War Postcards by "F G" |
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Good Owd Tykes! Int' trenches Lad - Keep the heead daan an' the pecker up. Original Sketch by "F G" No Publisher
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Time - Reveille. Na then come oht of it - This ain't a bloomin' mortuary! Copyright. E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, London |
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"Yes Sir, I put the barometer on his chest , and it said 'VERY DRY' so I gave hime a pint of beer, an' he went to sleep." Copyright Printed and Published by J. Salmon, Sevenoaks, England |
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A Naval Disaster. "Torpedoed him in his engine room - did yer? Well if I get hold a' yer - Ye'll need a new propeller" Copyright. E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, London Posted 9 June 1919 |
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"Number One! why dont you hold your rifle in your proper hand?" "I've got a splinter in my hand, Sir!" "Been scratching your head I suppose!" Copyright. E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, London |
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"An Armistice has been arranged ..." Copyright. E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, London Posted 19 March 1918
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What are we stopping for, Billie? "The bloomin' motor 's got so hot we can't start again till it cools off a bit" Copyright. E. Mack, King Henry's Road, Hamstead, London Posted 30 March 1917
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The Devil sends the wind to blow The Pretty Girls' skirts high But Heaven is Just And send the dust To blind the bad man's eye by "F G" J Salmon posted 1922 |
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The Germans are going to cop it. Father's off to the Front an' he's taken his belt with him. by "F G" Celeque Series, Photochrome Co Ltd Posted 1918 |
Assessment
"Karaktus" was producing comic cards with a crown logo in St Albans by October 1908, while "Spatz" was producing comic cards with a crown logo by July 1908. As long as there is any uncertainty as to the identity of "Karaktus" it was worth comparing the two.
This preliminary examination has found many points which suggest that we have two completely independent artists:
General Style: The simplicity of the Spatz cards look very much like the office doodle of a good amateur, while the "simplicity" of the Karactus cards look far more deliberate.
Human Figures. Those by Spatz are correctly proportioned while in most of the Karactus cards the striking effect arises because the size of the head is disproportionately large - but is drawn in a way that does not make the image grotesque.
Hair Colour: The Spatz cards I have seen mostly show people with ginger hair - and written accounts suggest this was a common feature. There is nothing to match this in the Karaktus cards.
Humour style: Very different - and the whole approach to using text is different.
The use of a crown as a logo is not uncommon - and the two crowns are different
There are no obvious common points (apart from the use of a crown), such as a common publisher.
I therefore conclude that there is no reason to think Spatz and Karaktus are the same person or there is any connection with the Crown Publishing Co., St Albans..
Sources:
Pack up your Troubles: How humorous postcards helped to win World War I. by James Taylor
Picture Postcards and their Publishers by Anthony Byatt
Ancestry
Ebay
