Saucy Seaside Postcards
A stay at a British holiday resort always involved a look at the postcard racks outside the shops that lined the seafront.
As a young lad the scantily clad women on the cards were eye opening and as a slightly older young lad, the innuendoes were well worth a titter behind the card rack. Of course you didn’t pick one of those to buy, not in front of mum and dad; you chose a nice view of the resort. Then you took it back to where you were staying to write out to send to your friend back home.
If you were feeling kind the message usually was “Having a nice time, wish you were here.” However if you were that way out, and wanted to remind him that he wasn’t on holiday while you were then it would be, “Having a fantastic time. Wish you were here?”
By the time you were into your teens then inevitably you’d be bold enough to pick and send one of the saucy ones.
During the holiday season I’m sure delivering the mail gave the postman a bit of a giggle.
The Benny Hill type humour reflected British humour that was popular in the late fifties, sixties and seventies and seen in the popular “Carry On” series of films.
They usually contained buxom women, hen pecked husbands and “courting” couples, and always the innuendo or double entendre.
The postcard first appeared in the mid nineteenth century.
In “A brief history of the picture postcard” by Judith & Stephen Holder (FRPS) they write
“The creation of the postcard by Dr Emanuel Hermann in Austria on 1 October 1869 set in motion a revolution in the communication of the ordinary message of no especial importance, the private note, the mundane or jolly remark, the ‘wish you were here’ – indeed any short note for which no real ’security’ was required.
Almost all the main developments in the artistic designs of Postcard art originated on the continent, in Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. The two main exceptions which developed in Great Britain were the Comic card and to some extent the Real Photograph cards of social, industrial and village history.”
Jonathan Duffy (BBC News Online) quotes from a book by Collector Tom Phillips.
“They were classless and democratic and the limited space was a blessing to those with poor spelling or without much to say. “
In an essay in 1941, the renowned author George Orwell wrote:
“Who does not know the ‘comics’ of the cheap stationers’ windows, the penny or twopenny coloured post cards with their endless succession of fat women in tight bathing-dresses and their crude drawing and unbearable colours, chiefly hedge-sparrow’s-egg tint and Post Office red?”
“In general, however, they are not witty, but humorous, and it must be said for McGill’s post cards, in particular, that the drawing is often a good deal funnier than the joke beneath it.”
Donald McGill ,was one of several notable illustrators, who among others included Tom Browne, John Hassall, Bruce Bairnsfather and Alfred Lees.
Unfortunately for McGill he was the unlucky one.
In the 1950’s there was a public morals backlash and Watch Committees were set up in seaside resorts. This led to the 81 year old McGill being prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act of 1857, and several of his cards being destroyed.
These are some of them
They seem somewhat tame by today’s standards. It was enough however to cause confusion to the shop owners selling them and to cause several printers to cease trading.
After a couple of years this “do-gooder” attitude subsided and the illustrators and printers were back in business.
How are postcards faring in today’s “techno” climate?
In a recent survey the broadcaster ITV said that the number of postcards sent has dropped by 75 per cent. It showed that 67 per cent of those surveyed used emails or photos while on holiday, to keep in touch with family and friends.
And Donald McGill?
In 1994 the Royal Mail brought out a set of commemorative stamps featuring McGill’s postcards.
More from this author
Amazing Discovery: Answers to the Secrets of Life Uncovered in Postcards
More High Jinks on the High Seas
10 Offbeat, Bizarre and Wacky Facts
Five Mysteries and Surprises in Everyday Domestic Routines
Or for George Orwell’s essay
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User Comments
roberto sardelli
On October 21, 2008 at 10:40 am
brilliant, enjoyed this read, great job. Keep it up
Lindalulu
On October 21, 2008 at 11:10 am
lol….still laughing, great job !
papaleng
On October 21, 2008 at 11:11 am
very cute..
Glynis Smy
On October 21, 2008 at 11:44 am
I can remember living in an Essex seaside resort and on Sunday the cards were covered up
thanks for the memories
Eric Mendoza
On October 21, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Those are hilarious.
goodselfme
On October 21, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Funny!
Lost in Arizona
On October 21, 2008 at 2:48 pm
After the time I’ve been having, I needed a good laugh. Good grief, I’m still laughing so hard I’m crying. Thanks for the lift me up C, I really needed it..lol.
nobert soloria bermosa
On October 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm
these are funny man,thanks for the good laugh,you just brighten my day,and i’m sure a lot more wil do
Chris Stonecipher
On October 21, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Holy Cow! This is halarious! I am emailing this link to my family and friends. I am still laughing.
JK Kristie
On October 21, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Cute and funny! Thanks for sharing.
Fossa
On October 21, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Funny as Heck! Awesome Article
Lauren Axelrod
On October 21, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Totally hilarious
Oscar Trejo Jr
On October 21, 2008 at 8:40 pm
lol… I have to admit… This is funny as hell, LMAO!
Good job with the article.. I’m recommending this link to my friends!
RJ Evans
On October 22, 2008 at 1:40 am
This brings back great memories of a childhood spent near or next to many wet and windy beaches in the UK. The smell of fish and chips, the rot of teeth on souvenir rock, the grousy landladies… ah what wonderful memories these have evoked!
s hayes
On October 22, 2008 at 2:27 am
Excellent article – Great fun
thestickman
On October 22, 2008 at 6:22 am
Nice
geri
On October 23, 2008 at 5:43 pm
lol thanks had such a good laugh
Geri
Kevin
On October 24, 2008 at 9:24 am
These are great. Well done!
Joe Poniatowski
On October 24, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hah – these were amusing, thanks.
SeventhSibling
On October 25, 2008 at 7:47 am
I can just imagine the giggles and laughs from the card display stand. Must have been a happy place to work seeing customers’ smiling faces after viewing these cards. Thanks for pulling them together to share with us.
James DeVere
On October 29, 2008 at 1:55 am
Very bawdy. I remember the cards at Brighton, England. Brings back supurb memories.
Best Wishes, James
Poetic Enigma
On November 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm
these were definately amusing, this is a terrific article,
well written!
BC Doan
On November 28, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Very funny, and I enjoy it!
graham
On January 1, 2009 at 9:20 pm
great stuff
Marco Gennilli
On January 3, 2009 at 10:44 am
British Humour at its best! Brings back memories of seaside trips to Blackpool and Rhyl in the early seventies!
Marco Gennilli
http://www.medics4u.com
PR Mace
On January 27, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Loved it, thanks for the laught.
thestickman
On February 23, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Oh these are still funny!
-thestickman
C Jordan
On March 11, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Thanks all for your comments. Also special thanks to Detomah, owner and designer at http://www.totalformat.com for allowing this to be posted on his forum.
Deepayan
On March 15, 2009 at 3:39 pm
funny postcards
Peter Gander
On March 20, 2009 at 6:54 am
Hi, Interesting article, thanks. I am trying (almost) single-handedly to revive the Saucy Seaside Postcard myself – have a gander at petergander.blogspot.com Cheers, Peter
Rod Ferrandino
On April 15, 2009 at 9:22 am
Clever selection; I remember this style of work from Esquire magazine, and much of what Playboy used to publish, back in the day.
Amys Bloomers
On April 17, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi I have a website http://www.amysbloomers.co.uk.
I bought the software, as I find it very easy to order a personalised greetings card.
It came with loads of images.
I am trying to turn the site into a double entendre, tongue in cheek humour site.
I am in discussion with the owner of some saucy seaside images so I can place them on my site and people can then turn the old style saucy seaside postcards into greetings cards.
If anybody has any ideas to help or knows of any artists who may be interested in re sketching ths humour it woud be greatly appreciated.
you can find my email details at http://www.amysbloomers.co.uk
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