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May, Phil

Written by admin on 15 November, 2009 – 10:17 am -

Born in a small town near Leeds in 1864, Phil May was orphaned at the age of only nine.  He did manage to find work but wasn't reliable and eventually ended up begging.  But he obviously had artistic talent and soon found that he could earn money by selling his pictures of the stage celebrities of the day. He moved to London at the age of 14 and spent some time living rough before he was able to find employment as a designer to a theatrical costumier. He also drew posters and cartoons and worked for the St Stephens Review. May moved to Australia in order to improve his health and worked for the Sydney Bulletin producing many many drawings. Moving back to London in 1892 via Rome and Paris, May resumed his career with the St Stephens Review.... more


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Browne, Tom

Written by admin on 14 November, 2009 – 10:03 pm -

Primarily published by Davidson Bros., Tom Browne was a postcard artist of some repute in the early part of the twentieth century. He had very many series published by them in the genres of comedy, advertising and Dutch scenes. Some of his most popular comedic series include Seaside, Spooning, Honeymoon and Uncle Podger. Browne was born on Nottingham in the 1870's - it is unclear exactly when. After leaving school he was soon apprenticed to a local printers and had already begun to demonstrate his talent as a sketch artist. By 1888 he had been published in a comic paper, known as Scraps. Being a sensible sort, Browne followed up this success by completing his apprenticeship whilst moonlighting as a contributor for sketch magazines. In... more


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Bradshaw, Percy V.

Written by admin on 14 November, 2009 – 3:49 pm -

Percy Venners Bradshaw was born in Hackney in 1877. By the age of 15 he was out of school working as a clerk for an advertising company, and studying at Art School in the evening. He also sold his first illustration to The Boys' Own Paper and was transferred within the advertising company to their art department by the age of 18. He soon left their employment to become a freelance artist and was soon selling his work to the likes of Tatler, The Boys' Own Paper and of course postcard manufacturers / publishers. Bradshaw's postcard work is most associated with the Tuck Company and Misch. Bradshaw died at the ripe old age of 87 in 1965 not so very long after relinquishing control of his Press Art School, which he had founded in 1905. ... more


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Wain, Louis

Written by admin on 14 November, 2009 – 2:34 pm -

Louis William Wain was born in Clerkenwell, Central London on 5 August 1860.  His mother was French - hence the name Louis and his father was a textile trader and embroiderer.  Louis was the eldest child of six, and the only male.  Due his having a cleft lip, his parents kept him away from school until he was 10 - even then he spent a great deal of time playing truant from school - wandering around London.  He did, however, spend some time at the West London School of Art where he eventually taught for a while. He soon left this position though, and began to earn through his artistic abilities, by drawing animals and country scenes.  From the age of 20, when his father died he was left to support his mother and sisters.  At the age of... more


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Spurgin, Frederick

Written by admin on 1 November, 2009 – 8:13 pm -

Frederick "Fred" Spurgin 1882-1968 was a postcard illustrator of some repute. He was especially prolific during WWI, producing many patriotic postcards. He also produced many designs featuring children and comic designs too. US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first gla67 romantic couple comic... more


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Clapsaddle, Ellen

Written by admin on 23 August, 2009 – 6:02 pm -

Born Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle on 8 January 1863 in New York State, Ellen Clapsaddle was one of, if not the most prolific postcard and greeting card artist of her era. Her ability to draw was noticed from a very early age and was encouraged accordingly by her parents and teachers. She studied at the Cooper Institute in NY for two years from 1882 before returning home to begin her career of teaching art from home. After the death of her father in 1891 Ellen moved with her mother to live with her Aunt. She lived there for 14 years teaching art and also creating and selling artwork of various descriptions. In 1905 whilst Ellen was working in Germany for the International Art Company her mother died. After returning home in 1906, Ellen was hired... more


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Kirchner, Raphael

Written by admin on 23 August, 2009 – 12:00 pm -

Raphael Kirchner (1876-1917) was an Austrian illustrator whose erotic 'pin up' sketches proved popular during WWI on both sides of the trenches. Born in Vienna in 1876, Kirchner attended the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste in the city. At the turn of the century he moved to Paris where he remained until the outbreak of war in August 1914. At this point Kirchner moved to the United States. Kirchner produced in excess of a thousand postcards during his short life. His "Geisha" series was reprinted four times resulting in a total of 40,000 copies, making it his most popular. Although he was responsible for a wide variety of postcards he was chiefly renowned during the war for his erotic illustrations, probable forerunner to the later phenomenon... more


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McGill, Donald

Written by admin on 23 August, 2009 – 9:55 am -

Donald Fraser Gould McGill, (January 28, 1875 - October 13, 1962) was a graphic artist who became synonymous with a whole genre of ‘saucy’ postcards, which were sold mostly in small stores in British coastal towns. His designs comprised mainly of attractive young women; larger, older women; drunken old men; couples and priests. He was called ‘The king of the saucy postcard’, and nowadays his work is collected and appreciated for its artistic competence, its power of social observation and earthy humour. He lost a foot in a rugby accident at school and having studied at Blackheath Proprietry School, spent the major part of his life at 5 Bennett Park, Blackheath, SE3. Accidental Career He was a naval draughtsman until his career in postcards... more


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Attwell, Mabel Lucie

Written by admin on 22 January, 2009 – 9:51 pm -

Mabel Lucie Attwell (4 June 1879 - 5 November 1964) was a British children's illustrator, best known for her cute, nostalgic drawings of children. She based these drawings on her daughter, Peggy. In addition to postcards, Attwell's work featured on advertisements, posters, books and figurines. She was extremely well thought of by her peers, and J.M. Barrie made a personal request for her to illustrate a gift copy of Peter Pan in 1921. Attwell was the sixth child of butcher, Augustus Attwell, and his wife, Emily-Ann. Although she attended art classes at Regent Street and Heatherley's Art Schools, Attwell demonstrated a non-conformist attitude through her dislike of still-life drawing and classical subjects. She therefore left to develop her... more


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