Postmarked Stockwell (in London), dated 10 March 1906 and timed at 12:15 pm.
Battersea Park was created in 1846 on land from Battersea Fields and Battersea Common and it is still in use today, nearly 200 acres in the heart of London. During both the First and Second World Wars, it was laid out in allotments.
It's the message that I find most interesting here. It reads:
SaturdaymorningDear Ethel
I received your card this morning. I have to go out this afternoon, and don't think I can get back in time to get to yours by 5. So you go on and I will go on as soon as I get back. So expect to get to Elsie's about 7 o'clock.
with love from Maud
In haste.
Obviously very few people had telephones in those days and relied on the postal services for fast communications. It still seems to me remarkable that a card could be posted at mid-day on a Saturday (or any other day of the week, for that matter) and be expected to arrive in time to make arrangements for that afternoon. The days of second deliveries are long gone in the UK, and even if they weren't, you could never depend on a card arriving the next day let alone the same day.
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Message is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy Bangkok Through My Eyes!
You Got A Posty
I've seen that on old US cards as well. The messages on some of the cards my great-grandfather received a hundred years ago indicate that the sender expected delivery within 24 hours, despite having to travel 30 miles or more on farm country dirt roads.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how they delivered things so fast back then--they must have had more postal workers.
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting! I wish the post office was that reliable today!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing isn't it. When I watch my old British movies I can't believe they are sending a messagae and the recipeint will recieve it in such short order. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteI love that. People weren't any more patient back in the day, I guess. We probably got offended by the post office, instead of our internet provider :)
ReplyDeleteI learn something new everyday. I had no idea the multiple daily deliveries were ever done.
ReplyDelete2-a-day mail deliveries stopped nearly 60 years ago here. The cost of a letter is now 44 cents. It was 3 cents when they had twice-daily deliveries. Something doesn't seem quite "write" here. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the picture on the postcard.
stunning postcard!
ReplyDeleteLondon is a dream in my life, i do hope someday i can visit there!
happy PFF
marina :)