Hertfordshire Genealogy: Catalogue of F S Cards

The Burlesque Series of photographed comic cards was published from 51-52 Beech Street, London, E.C. It seems to have started by Eustace Watkins after the breakup of Mitchell & Watkins in April 1908 and continued after the formation of the short-lived Watkins & Kracke Ltd in 1909. There may be a break in the series numbers between 200 and 300, and this gap would suggests that the series continued to be produced after Watson and Krake split up.

Copyright copies of some of the cards are held in the National Archives. In each case the copyright holder is described as Eustace Watkins.

Four different backs have been identified, depending on the publisher information given in the left hand margin. In the earliest form, illustrated here, the margin reads:

Burlesque Series No xx

where xx is the card number. Copyright copies of some of the cards are held in the National Archives.

Publisher information and earliest recorded posting varies

(1) No publisher or address

(2) Eustace Watkins, 51-52 Beech St, London E.C [June 1908 ?reprint]

(3) Watkins and Kracke, Ltd., 51-52 Beech St, London E.C. 12 August 1909]

(4) 51-52 Beech St, London E.C. [June 1910]

No	Title	Publisher	Earliest Date Seen
1	Just arrived. Not what they wanted	No Publisher	*Copyright 16 January 1908*
2	I've just arrived		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
4	I was greatly interested		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
5	My word if you are not off		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
6	I am very pressed just now. P.S. Not for time		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
7	Returning. P.S. This place does not agree with me		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
9	I saw this the other day was it you		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
10	Father keeps on doing it		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
11	If you do Charlie I'll scream		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
12	Hold the baby nurse P.S. It's going to rain	No Publisher	*Copyright 16 January 1908* 18 June 1908
14	Returning home. P.S. This place does not suit me		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
15	Mixed Bathing	No Publisher	5 August 1908
16	All Scotch		*Copyright 16 January 1908*
17	When there isn't a girl about you do feel lonely		*Copyright 16 January 1908* 17 May 1908
18	HOW FATHER BROUGHT HIS WAGES HOME - 19/- IN BEER 1/- IN MONEY	No Publisher	18 August 1908
21	THE HUNTING SEASON HAS COMMENCED AT ____ WE AREA LIVELY TIME	No Publisher
22	*WE HAVE NOT HAD A DULL MOMENT SINCE WE ARRIVED AT ____*	No Publisher	1908
23	DOCTOR: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE MADAM TO GET IN SUCH A TERRIBLY EXHAUSTED CONDITION - MISS ANTIQUE: OH! I DON'T KNOW DOCTOR BUT GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS	No Publisher	April 1910
24	*TELL ME PRETTY MAIDEN, ARE THERE ANY MORE AT HOME LIKE YOU*	No Publisher	13 May 1908
25	*I AM LEAVING THIS PLACE*	?
28	SUNDAY MORNING	No Publisher
28	Little drops of whiskey, little drops of beer make you see queer animals if you persevere SUNDAY MORNING	Eustace Watkins	22 June 1908
29	SATURDAY NIGHT	?	22 July 1908
30	TELL ME GENTLE BROTHER YOU DON'T LOOK VERY FRISKY IS IT LITTLE MARY ACHE OR FOUR PEN'OTH O' WHISKY?	No Publisher	7 July 1908
33	HEAR YOUR HAIR REACHES THE GROUND WHEN YOU LET IT DROP	No Publisher	27 July 1911
36	WE ARE HAVING A LIVELY TIME, NOT A DULL MOMENT AND PLENTY OF SPORT.	No Publisher	30 September 1908
38	NOW YOU'RE MARRIED WE WISH YOU JOY	No Publisher	1 June 1908
39	IT WAS A THING HE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE - NEVER LOOK THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ALWAYS THROUGH THE DOOR	No Publisher	26 September 1908
43	I can't get to the bottom of it	No Publisher	*Copyright 21 April 1908*
44	[Woman in bed]		*Copyright 21 April 1908*
45	[Two children and woman holding up her arms]		*Copyright 21 April 1908*
46	Is this true I hear of you?	No Publisher	19 October 1908
46	Is this true I hear of you?	Eustace Watkins	1915
47	I hear the change is doing you good	No Publisher	*Copyright 21 April 1908* 19 July 1908
47	I hear the change is doing you good at ___	Eustace Watkins	18 September 1908
48	Come down here P.S. The surroundings are beautiful		*Copyright 21 April 1908*
50	[Man carrying a woman]		*Copyright 21 April 1908*
52	I believe you old chap. P.S. But there are thousands that wouldn't.	No Publisher	*Copyright 21 April 1908*
53	And this is what I'' do to you	No Publisher	14 August 1908
56	I hear you're shy, but willing to try	No Publisher
57	My word, if I catch you bending.	No Publisher	3 August 1908
57	We have undone those things we ought not to have undone	Eustace Watkins	13 August 1909
58	He: Which is the way to your bedroom, fair maid? She: Through the church, sir
59	Be sure you're right, then go ahead!	No Publisher	24 July 1909
60	Now mind you keep on walking	No Publisher
61	We are all behind again	No Publisher	31 October 1908
62	But I thought it was your face you wanted taking	No Publisher
64	Now Please look pleasant	[Watkins]
65	Oh Jack you are a handy man	No Publisher
65	They love me 'cause I'm blind	No Publisher	30 January 1909
66	Pleasant Reflections	No Publisher
67	Are you sure no one is looking	No Publisher
68	This is not fishing	No Publisher
69	Let your ambition be high	No Publisher
	Is your wife a suffragette
75	What will you do if you have triplets?	No Publisher
79	I do the little jobs at home	No Publisher	24 August 1908
80	My Life as a Lady	Eustace Watkins	17 March 1909
82	You do want a shave, old chap	No Publisher	1908
83	Arrived home 3 a. m. jiggered	No Publisher	30 July 1908
84	But you can't do without a girl.	No Publisher	28 September 1908
85	Your manners are like your boots - they need a polish	No Publisher	1 December 1908
86	I hear you made this fashionable at _____	No Publisher
86	I hear you made this fashionable at _____	Eustace Watkins	30 September 1909
88	Sleep, Gentle Sleep Now you're married we wish you joy	No Publisher
88?	When I say I like _____ I embrace everything	No Publisher	26 September 1908
90	Poor little buy blue-eyed & Fair He knows not trouble, toil or care He little dreams one day he'll were His Dadda's pants that need repair.	No Publisher	24 March 1909
91	There is nothing he wouldn't do for me, if I let him	Eustace Watkins	8 September 1909
92	Should we have lady taxi-drivers	Eustace Watkins	11 & 14 November 1908
93	When the gentle breezes blow	Eustace Watkins	19 September 1910
94	Excuse me sir - that's my nurse	Eustace Watkins	October 1908
95	Oh Jack you are a handy man	Eustace Watkins	1908
96	They all love Jack	Eustace Watkins	15 September 1910
98	Mid the poppies and the corn	Eustace Watkins	5 March 1909
99	Off for the Honeymoon	Eustace Watkins
101	*Give us a bit of your kilt laddie*	Eustace Watkins	1 October 1908
105	*Love is blind*	Eustace Watkins	24 October 1908
107	I could keep on at this all day - but my wife won't let me	Eustace Watkins
108	My new situation suits me. Quite a soft job, altho' I have my arms pretty full	Eustace Watkins	5 January 1909
110	Has your Missus ever caught you like this?	Eustace Watkins
112	I trust I don't intrude	[Watkins]	1909
114	Jock: Don't look down or you will fall, Lady: Where shall I look then?	Eustace Watkins	14 October 1908
114		Watkins and Kracke
118	Doctor: When I feel run down I tske my wife away for the week. Patient: Very well Doctor, when will it suit your wife.	Eustace Watkins	9 September 1909
119	Now is this an accident or force of habit	Eustace Watkins	7 September 1909
121	Never mind, Old Chap. It's a glorious death.	Eustace Watkins	4 March 1909
122	It's quite plain to everyone	Eustace Watkins	26 August 1910
125	There are moments when you want to be alone	Eustace Watkins
127	It's quarter day, so I'm going away	Eustace Watkins	20 January 1909
128	I would I were a little bolder	Eustace Watkins	12 December 1909
129	One more drink, and then I am coming home	Eustace Watkins	21 January 1909
131	These little things are sent to try us	Eustace Watkins	26 May 1909
132	Duty calls me far away But this is where I'm going to stay	Eustace Watkins
134	We will know each other better when the Missis goes away	Eustace Watkins	15 March 1909
135	I suppose yoy thought no one saw yo at ____	Eustace Watkins	26 May 1909
136	I'll catch you such a smack in a minute	Eustace Watkins	19 April 1910
137	The sins of society at ___	Eustace Watkins
139	I hear you are enjoying yourself	Eustace Watkins	5 April 1909
140	I hear you are taking the water cure at _____	[Watkins]
141	This is the style at ______	Eustace Watkins
143	I hear you are under police protection	Eustace Watkins	14 September 1909
145	Amateur Photographers making good headway	Eustace Watkins	15 November 1909
146	My wife is lying at death's door - Come at once, Doctor, and pull her through	Eustace Watkins
147	Here endeth the first lesson	Eustace Watkins	29 March 1909
149	Can this be love	[Watkins]
150	It's all right in the summertime	Eustace Watkins	September 1909
151	So sorry to here you were upset	Eustace Watkins	17 April 1909
152	Duty calls me far away but this is where I'm going to stay	Eustace Watkins	4 August 1909
152	Duty calls me far away but this is where I'm going to stay	Watkins & Kracke
154	We are on the rocks	Eustace Watkins	7 November 1917
156	I caught this fishing at _____	Eustace Watkins	6 August 1909
157	Why don't you come and paddle at ____	Eustace Watkins
159	I am on the rocks at _____	Eustace Watkins	2 August 1909
160	IF I HAD A COW THAT GAVE SUCH MILK ... ...	Watkins & Kracke	12 August 1909
161	Beauty and the Beast	Watkins & Kracke
163	In spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love	Watkins & Kracke	1910
165	Taking things easy at ____	Watkins & Kracke	31 August 1909
168	Will you meet me by moonlight at ____	Watkins & Kracke	3 January 1910
170	In the arms of the law at ___	Watkins & Kracke
174	Is this part of a postman's duty?	Watkins & Kracke
177	That's what's the Cook told the Policeman	[Watkins]
180	You are a territorial terror [Policeman]	Watkins & Kracke	15 October 1909
181	Is this part of a policeman's duty	Watkins & Kracke
189	You can't always trust a policeman	Watkins & Kracke
191	What will the harvest be?	Watkins & Kracke	6 September 1909
192	Will you love me in December as you did at _____	Watkins & Kracke
193	Now beware of "widders" They are awful kidders	Watkins & Kracke
197	I wonder if the man I am thinking of is thinking of me	Watkins & Kracke	November 1910
199	Like the ivy I'll cling to you	Watkins & Kracke
206	The pleasures of cycling Mending punctures	Watkins & Kracke
325	Keep on doing it Sandy	51-52 Beech St, Barbican	September 1910
326	I'd like to go halves in that	51-52 Beech St, Barbican	August 191?
328 ?	Could you love me if I loved you?	51-52 Beech St, Barbican	June 1910
332	What is one among so many	51-52 Beech St, Barbican
334	All I want is a girl	51-52 Beech St, Barbican