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The first cards appeared about October 1908, and
those relating to the 1909 pop songs must have come later, but
possibly none were printed after 1909. It appears that they were
distributed nationally - and so far I have seen only one card posted
in Hertfordshire.
|
|
Series 0
No Series Name or publisher
Cards numbered 1000-1007 |
|
Petticoat Lane
Signed "F S"
1000 |
|
Breach of Promise Series
Never break an engagement off with a girl
who has brothers!
They may want an explanation!
Signed "F S"
1007 |
|
These had a simple
back "This space may be used for communication" and
were printed in Saxony. There is nno publisher or series
details given. The lower numbers (1000-1005) may have been
printed as a single set of six mascellaneous comic cards -
although one may have been reused in the problematic
Every Picture tells a Story set. However the
Breach of Promise Series
was a regular set of six cards. Earliest
known posting August 1908 but too few examples to be very
sure.. |
|
Series
1 |
|
These card all carry the above distinctively
worded instruction and for this reason were almost certainly
printed by
Delittle, Fenwick & Co, of York, who also
later published a number of "F S" cards for a variety of
publishers (see
1d
postage applies). Earliest posted late June 1908
with further postings in July, August and September.
Many of the cards appear with either the 1008
or 1009 number but appear to be printed from the same
engraved plate. Some also appear with out the The
Crown Series or a number on the back. Some cards
are signed but where this happens the signatures are in
different positions on the 1008 and 1009 versions of the
cards - with the signature on the 1009 card being printed in
a different ink to the other lettering. Many of the cards
have been allocated into one of the following series:
In addition a significant number were later
republished by the
"Green Back" publisher. |
|
"Crown Series" Cards
numbered 1008 |
|
To the Young Lady that sings
Signed F S
|
[Shop
and Office Workers]
To a pushing young clerk
Remember it is far easier to
push a pen than push a perambulator
Signed "F S"
|
[Kilts]
A Windy Day in Bonnie Scotland!
Unsigned
|
|
"Crown Series" Cards
numbered 1009 |
|
[Kilts]
A Heiland Mary and a Heiland Little Mary
Signed "F S" |
All the world loves a lover
Signed F S
|
Hints on Dress
A Walking Skirt should be Short!
The most comfortable skirt for walking in
is a ballet dress
Signed "F S" |
|
"Crown"
Postcards - Karaktus |
|
 |
|
Scotland! With all thy faults, I love thy
still
No. 9
(known posted 9 January 1909 in Kettering)
|
The highly distinctive comic cards
illustrated here were published by The Crown Publishing Co.,
St Albans, and were sold nationally in 1908/9. They are
numbered from 1 to 30 (the highest number I have so far
identified). Earliest posted October 1908.
There was no later series.
|
Money talks! but alas I'm speechless
No. 11 |
|
The early bird catches the worm ...
No. 5
(known posted 27 September 1909 in Birmingham) |
|
Yes! Father puts in a lot of overtime
No 25 (Known posted
September 1909 in Gaywood) |
|
|
"Crown" Postcards - Series
2
|
|
 |
|
Never marry a girl unless you have
tickled her fancy
No
1025 |
All Right Behind, Bill
No 1026 |
Man came first - and woman after
him!
No 1034 |
| None of these
cards are signed - but the similarities in both the style
and the subject matter suggest they were almost certainly been by
"F S". The cards so far identified have individual numbers in the range
1026 to 1040 - suggesting a follow on from the previous
series. numbers. The Company address is given at St Albans.
Earliest known posting February 1909. A number were later
republished by the
"Green Back" publisher, along with other known "F S"
cards, some cards, such as No 1025, appearing in the later
set
Advice
ot men i love. In addition a redrawn version of
No 1037 was signed by
Dauber
(Fred Spurgin). |
His right hand doesn't know what his
left hand is doing
No 1037 |
|
"Crown" Postcards - Series
3 |
|
When a Man is married his wife does this for him
No 1043 |
There are many things a man has to close his eyes
to, but this is not one of them!
No 1044 |
If anything like this belongs to you, cover it over with the
pillow!
No 1051 |
|
Again these are unsigned - with identified numbers in the
range 1043 to 1056. The Company address is given as St
Albans. Earliest posted August 1910. so far there is no
evidence that any of these cards were reprinted.
The border is unusual for an "F S" card but holly borders
were used in the
1906 "F S" Xmas series and the later
1910 Lace-edged cards
were signed by Fred Spurgin |
His First Apple and Her First Pair!
No 1056 |
