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"Truck
Loads of Landladies"
AMUSING PICTURE POSTCARD CASE
CLAIM BY A SHIPLEY FIRM
At Leicester County Court yesterday an
amusing case regarding the sale of postcards was heard.
The plaintiffs were Messrs. Shaw and
Leathley Ltd., manufacturing stationers, Shipley, and
the defendant, Henry Garner, newsagent and stationer.
Leicester. Plaintiffs sued for £56 18s. 2d. for goods
supplied, and defendant counter-claimed for £113 15s for
breach of contract or warrenty.
Mr Wright, who appeared for plaintiff,
said the claim was for the supply of humorous cards, not
at all works of art, including ones with the following
titles:-"It's nice to be a father," "May your troubles
be little ones," "The fear that our population is
decreasing is now at an end," "put me amongst the
girls," Are you the little bird the little bird that
tells my wife everything?" and "Following the tram lines
home." After delivery complaint was made that the cards
were not up to sample.
Charles Russell, lithographer, Leeds,
was called to give expert evidence, and said that for
the price, 7s 6d and 8s. 6d. per thousand. the cards
were of good quality.
Mr. Dodd (for the defence)
cross-examined witness as to a number of the cards. In
reference to one entitled "My landlady is one of the
best," he asked, "Has the landlady lost her face?"
Witness: The face is very flat.
Mr. Dodd (to an attendant); Bring in
another box of landladies. (Laughter.)
Mr. Wright; Plenty of them. There are
two truckloads outside. (Renewed laughter.)
Walter Shaw, formerly manager of the
plaintiff company, said the cards supplied were fully up
to sample. In a humorous card the subject was absolutely
the main consideration, and not quality. Take one, "How
Bridget served the potatoes undressed." That card had
run into an edition of 100,000 copies, and always sold,
no mater how inferior the card.
Mr. Dodd (looking the card): And
that's what Mr. Shaw calls a joke!
Mr. Shaw: Well, it's not my joke. It
was taken from “Punch”! (Laughter.)
Evidence was given for the defence
that the majority of the cards were returned.
Judgment was reserved.
Shipley Times and Express - Friday
20 November 1908
PICTURE POSTCARD DISPUTE.
His Honour delivered judgment in the
case of S•aw And Leathley, Ltd. manufacturing stationers
and printers, Bridge Works, Shipley, Yorks, versers
Herry Garner, 18, London-rood. Leicester, which was a
claim for picture postcards supplied.
It was quite inipossile. his Honour
said, for him to go through the enormous number of
postcards, the quality of which was in dispute. It was
evidently a case for an expert, and he thought he had
found a good referee in the load manager of Messrs. W.
H. Smith and Sons. He had submitted questions to him as
be would have done to a jury. The first question was
whether the consignment of cards, consisting of 26
subjects. was of a merchantable quality up to the
standard that might have been prequired[??] to be
in the contemplation of the parties in view of certain
stated facts. The decision pas that the cards were of
inferior workmanship, and not of a merchantable value.
Tits other questions submitted by his Honour were
answered to the following effect : Nineteen subjects out
of the twenty-six were badly printed, and totally
unsaleable. Six of the subject« were saleable, but
inferior to the required standard. One subject only was
up to the required standard. His Honour gave judgment
for defendant.
There was a counter-claim by
defendants for breach of contract, and his Honour
allowed a nominal verdict for 40s. damages.
Leicester Daily Post -
Wednesday 20 January 1909
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Some of
the cards mentioned in the court case |
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My Landlady is the Best
Garner {logo heading)
No 155
[This may well be one of the cards - as the
landlady's face is not clear,]
|
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If you must have troubles may they be
little ones
HGL logo back
|
 |
|
[This is definitely a
badly printed card with the colour printing
misaligned.] |
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How Bridget served
the potatoes undressed
[Several version of this
card seen, all with different backs, but
none directly linked to Garner.] |
 |
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Following the tram
lines home
No publisher
[Later card with a [PC
II} No 729 back - so this may not be
the Garner
version] |
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Song Titles Illustrated
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