Laurel Cottage Genealogy
Genealogy Services, Old Photos, Postcards, Trade Cards, Etc.

For Ever And Aye

Posted on February 14th, 2015 by

For Ever And Aye pc1For Ever And Aye pc2

For My Valentine…

“A little bird told me

‘Twas Valentine’s Day,

And gave me this feather

To send you, and say:

‘I’ll love you, my sweetheart,

For ever and aye’ “

A lovely verse for Valentine’s Day – I like the “forever and aye” part, it has such a nice ring to it. “Aye” in this case means always, which is the other significance besides the affirmative “yes” that we are generally more familiar with. And this is a beautiful card, though not in the best of shape with, besides the usual corner wear, a crease in the bottom left corner, and some discoloration and soiling on the back. But the mark on the front right – this looks like it was from an error in the printing process – the colors there are the same as in the feather. I like the blue-green grayish border, and just noticed the pale shadow that the artist included, for the shaft or quill. (These subtle details are important!)

This postcard is the second one that we have posted for these publishers or this publisher/distributor duo. See Publishers Ernest Nister And E. P. Dutton & Co. (Likely E.P. Dutton & Co. was the distributor.)

The writing in pencil from the sender shows:  “To Aunt Tootsey from – Little Paul.”  The card is addressed to:  “Miss Lucy Shockey, Iola, Kansas, 12 1/2 Jackson St.”

Lucy Shockey was found on the 1920 Federal Census for Iola, Allen County, Kansas, at the Jackson street address. She is 18 years old there (and at the time this card was sent), born in Kansas, and sister-in-law to head of household Fred A. Vogel, age 35, born in Kansas, a self-employed manufacturer of cigars. His wife (Lucy’s sister) is Blanche, age 28, born in Colorado; and their daughter, Dorothy Dean Vogel, born in Kansas, is age 1 year, 2 months.

The 1910 census for Iola shows Lucy and Blanche with their parents, H.H. (doing farm work connected with the carpentry industry) and Belle Shockey, and five siblings, Alice E., Clyde, Hattie, Ellen R. and Howard Shockey. (Lucy is Lucy Belle Shockey.)

By the time of the 1930 census for Iola we find that Lucy had married Clyde H. Taylor, a steelworker, age 30, and that they had two children at this time, Evelyn R. and Robert H. Taylor, ages eight and three.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked February 11, 1920 from Dallas?, Texas? Publisher:  Ernest Nister, London. Printed in Bavaria. Number 3532. Distributor:  E.P. Dutton & Co., New York.

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  Definition of Aye. Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aye. (Web accessed February 14, 2015.)

Year: 1920; Census Place: Iola Ward 2, Allen, Kansas; Roll: T625_522; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 10; Image: 233. (Ancestry.com)

“United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2HV-HTM : accessed 14 February 2015), Lucy Belle Shockey in household of H H Shockey, Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 15, sheet 26A, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,444.

“United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QV5W-J7WJ : accessed 14 February 2015), Lucy B Shockey Taylor, Kansas, United States, 05 Oct 1991; from “Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 – Today),” database and images, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing .

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Categories: Feathers, Holidays, Postcards, Postcards Used, Valentine's Day

I Love You True

Posted on February 13th, 2015 by

I Love You True pc1I Love You True pc2

Divided back, unused with writing. Publisher information:  Raphael Tuck & Sons “Young Love” Series of Valentine Post Cards No. 27. Art Publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen. Printed in Saxony. Circa 1914.

Price:  $10.00

“I love you true, you know I do

Oh! Won’t you be my valentine?”

Here’s another charming Valentine postcard, this one from publisher Raphael Tuck & Sons, and another in our Alice Ellison Collection; sent to:  “Henretta from Carl Stranch.”  Though there is no postmark or date, another card of the same design was found online that was postally used, and postmarked in 1914.

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Categories: Children, Holidays, People, Postcards, The Alice Ellison Collection, Valentine's Day

This Tender Task

Posted on February 13th, 2015 by

This Tender Task pc1This Tender Task pc2

Divided back, used postcard. Unsigned, attributed to Ellen H. Clapsaddle. Publisher:  Wolf & Co., New York. Series or number 452. Postmarked February 11, 1924, from Los Angeles, California, Arcade Station.

Price:  $10.00

With Love’s Greeting….

“I have to join two hearts in one,

And wish this tender task were done.”

This looks to be from artist Ellen H. Clapsaddle, though it is unsigned. Cupid would be the unseen onlooker of this scene. This is another in the Alice Ellison Collection and the sender wrote:

“Dear little Geo. We would shure love to see you. How are you all. why don’t your Mother write. Am sending this to grandma as dont know where else to find you. lots of love. Aunt Mae.”

Addressed to:   “Geo. Mugridge Jr., 1730 J St., Sacramento, Calif.”

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Categories: Children, Holidays, People, Postcards, The Alice Ellison Collection, Valentine's Day

William Vick, Photographer

Posted on February 12th, 2015 by

William Vick CDV

William Vick (1833 – 1911) was a photographer for thirty-plus years, primarily at London Road in Ipswich, Suffolk County, England, and later in Hornsey, Middlesex County. Baptized August 25, 1833 in the parish of King’s Stanley, and born in Ebley, Gloucestershire, to Samuel and Mary Vick; his father’s occupation was listed as Millwright at the time of William’s second marriage. The above cropped scan shows the back of a Carte de Visite from probably around the mid to late 1870s to early 1880s. This was slightly darkened in Photoshop to bring out the detail a little better. You can see the lovely swirl pattern of the card backing. See the previous post “Dr. ‘R’ of H.M.S. Penelope”  for full Carte de Visite info.

William Vick was first married to Joyce (maiden name Webb per an Ancestry family tree) around 1858. They had three sons (per same Ancestry tree) Charles William, Henry John and James Walford Vick. The 1861 England census shows William Vick, occupation Schoolmaster, wife Joyce, and one-year old Charles, living in Cainscross, Gloucestershire.

William’s second marriage was to Mary Ann Agar on August 26, 1865, at St. Marylebone church in Middlesex County. Their marriage record shows William as a widower, still working as a schoolmaster, and residing in Cainscross.The bride’s father, Henry Agar, was a hotel keeper at this time. William and Mary Ann had three children, William Henry, Eleanor Mary and Annie M. Vick. William Vick changed careers to Photographer sometime after his second marriage and before the 1871 census was taken.

The 1871 shows William, Photographic Artist, about 38 years old; wife, Mary Ann, about 35, born in Mary le bone, Middlesex; and four-year old Henry William Vick, born in Cainscross, Gloucestershire; and nine-month old Eleanor Mary Vick, born in Ipswich, Suffolk; also with the family is Mary Ann Leyeant, servant, age 24. The address is London Road (corner house, no house number), Ipswich, St. Matthew’s Parish.

An 1874 city directory shows William Vick, Photographer with address listed as Clarkson Street (just north of London Road) but all other various directories found after this (1875 – 1892) show London Road.

The 1881 census shows William, Photographic Artist, and family at the same London Road, corner house address with the additional family member by now, daughter Anne M. Vick, born Ipswich, about 1874. Also with them is household servant, Sarah Ristruck, age 24.

The 1891 lists William as Photographer, wife Mary Ann, and daughters Eleanor, now age 20, and Annie M., about 17 years old. Rather comically, Eleanor’s occupation is listed as “Kinder Garten Student” (what was the name of that Adam Sandler movie? Billy Madison 🙂  ) But we’d assume the census taker meant either kindergarten teacher or a student studying to be a kindergarten teacher.

The 1901 census shows William, Photographer, wife Annie, son William H., age 34, occupation Architect and daughter Eleanor (no occupation given). The family is by now living in Hornsey, Middlesex County, and William Vick is working from home.

The 1911 census for Merton, Surrey County shows William, widower and Retired Photographer, at St. John’s Lodge (Nursing Home.)

William Vick died at age 77, on April 15, 1911 at St. John’s Lodge. It’s always a little sad to come across the death information, after getting to know the person slightly through their records. But, we’ll be on the lookout for more examples of William’s work, at any upcoming (and the ever-so addictive) vintage paper fairs.

Update:  Click here for notes taken from The Ipswich Journal and more information about the photographer’s work.

Sources:   Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, England; Reference Numbers: P190 IN 1/6. Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Baptisms, 1813-1913.

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Class: RG 9; Piece: 1771; Folio: 47; Page: 16; GSU roll: 542865. (Ancestry.com)

Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1921. London Metropolitan Archives, London. London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Marylebone, Register of marriages, P89/MRY1, Item 238. (Ancestry.com)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Class: RG10; Piece: 1750; Folio: 5; Page: 1; GSU roll: 830780. (Ancestry.com)

White’s Professional and Commercial Advertising Directory, 1874. p. 135. (Ancestry.com. UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.)

The Post Office Directory of Suffolk, 1875. p. 854. (Ancestry.com. UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Class: RG11; Piece: 1868; Folio: 77; Page: 1; GSU roll: 1341451. (Ancestry.com)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Class: RG12; Piece: 1466; Folio: 67; Page: 1; GSU roll: 6096576. (Ancestry.com)

White’s Index of Places, 1892. p. 483. (Ancestry.com. UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Class: RG13; Piece: 1245; Folio: 24; Page: 40. (Ancestry.com)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1911. Class: RG14; Piece: 3453; Schedule Number: 54. (Ancestry.com)

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966. (Ancestry.com)

William Vick (1833 – 1911). Early-Photographers. Web accessed April 5, 2015. [http://www.early-photographers.org.uk/Studio%20-%20Vick.html]

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Categories: Photographers

Doctor “R” Of H.M.S. Penelope

Posted on February 10th, 2015 by

Dr R HMS Penelope cdv1Dr R HMS Penelope cdv2

Carte de Visite. Circa 1869 – 1880. Photographer:  William Vick, London Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, Great Britain.

Price:  $20.00       Size:  About 2 and 1/2 x 4 and 1/8″

See the update below for the name of the sitter…..thanks to one of our readers.

This is a Carte de Visite showing a photo of a gentleman posing for a formal portrait:  A pensive pose, with a book in his right hand and chin lightly resting on his left; seated next to, and with elbow resting on a small end table. His name appears on the back but is difficult to decipher:  The first word clearly looks like “Dr.” with the last name starting with “R.” Underneath the name is written  “H.M.S. ‘Penelope.’ ”
(The back of the card was darkened a little in the scanning process, to better show the wording.)

There were nine ships of the British Royal Navy bearing the name Penelope. This particular vessel was the fifth of nine; an armoured courvette (small warship) or ironclad that was launched in 1867 and broken up in 1912. An ironclad was a steam-propelled warship that was protected by iron or steel plates. This Penelope was the last ironclad to be commissioned in the Royal Navy.

HMS Penelope

Though the identity of the man in the photo was not found, that of photographer, William Vick of London Road, Ipswich was. He appears with his wife and children in the 1871 and 1891 England Census, and in directory listings ranging from 1874 – 1892. The 1874 directory shows Clarkson St., Ipswich, but starting in 1875 he is listed on London Road; the same address that appears on the back of this Carte de Visite. A more detailed post about the photographer will go up after this one.

UPDATE:  The subject of the photo is most likely the Reverend Doctor Bartholomew Ring, LL.D. (1825-1903). See the very informative comment from a reader, who has also replied with more information on the photographer.

Sources:  Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Class: RG10; Piece: 1750; Folio: 5; Page: 1; GSU roll: 830780. (Ancestry.com)

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Class: RG12; Piece: 1466; Folio: 67; Page: 1; GSU roll: 6096576. (Ancestry.com)

HMS Penelope. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Penelope. (accessed February 10, 2015).

HMS Penelope (1867). n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Penelope_%281867%29. (accessed February 10, 2015).

White’s Professional and Commercial Advertising Directory, 1874. p. 135. (Ancestry.com. UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.)

The Post Office Directory of Suffolk, 1875. p. 854. (Ancestry.com. UK, City and County Directories, 1766-1946.)

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Categories: Boats and Ships, Carte-de-Visite, Men, People

Hyde Park, Marble Arch

Posted on February 8th, 2015 by

Hyde Park Marble Arch pc1Hyde Park Marble Arch pc2

Divided back, unused postcard. Printed in England. Publisher information:  Raphael Tuck & Sons’ “Oilette”  [Regd.] Art publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen. “Hyde Park” Series II. Postcard 7224. Circa 1906.

Availability status:  SOLD

“The Marble Arch was originally erected by George IV. at the entrance to Buckingham Palace, but was removed to Hyde Park in 1851, and now serves as the principal entrance to the Park from Oxford Street. Near to the Marble Arch, where now is Connaught Place, formerly stood Tyburn Tree, the place of public execution prior to 1783.”

In continuing with a mini Great Britain theme, here’s a Tuck’s postcard, artist unknown. The bottom right of the card shows the image of their “Oilette” trademark. The estimated date is 1906, per a dated card showing up online on eBid at the time this was posted.

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Categories: Postcards, Postcards Unused

E.T.W. Dennis & Sons, Ltd.

Posted on February 8th, 2015 by

ETW Dennis logo closeupETW Dennis Logo circa 1908

This logo circa 1906 – 1910?  See our York Minster post for the front side.

This is an example of the newer version of the ” ‘Dainty’ Series” logo showing figure holding lantern, by publisher E.T.W. Dennis & Sons, Ltd. We’ll have to look for a postcard to buy, scan and put up here that will do the earlier version justice. But for now here’s a link to click on from the website Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City, a great site which we’ve had occasion to mention on previous posts. Just scroll down on the page to find the publisher entry in the spotlight here.

Between the two logos, there’s the obvious addition of the scroll work and company name in the later version. But though there are major similarities in the little scene with the two figures, the faces of the two appear to be different. I think the one we have shows a little girl, and the other shows a grown man.

Edward Thomas West Dennis (1847 – 1923) was a Quaker who owned the Mercury weekly newspaper in Scarborough, England. His company produced the first postcard in England in 1894. The firm’s “Dainty Series” ran from about 1902 – 1910. In April 1905 the firm became a Limited Company (Ltd.) Click here for an excellent compilation of biographical details on Dennis. And see the same site’s www.webber-postcard.me.uk  homepage for a rundown of dates and links for Dennis’ early beginnings to modern times, after year 2000 and the company being bought out by the Irish postcard firm of John Hinde.  Also of interest on Webber’s site regarding the “Dainty Series” was a postcard found without either logo. Click here for the example and possible explanation.

One more “Dainty Series” example (with those words in the stampbox) was found on Attic Postcards showing letters “D” and “S” inside a diamond shaped design. This is found on an artist-signed card entitled “Snowdon from Capel Curig.”

Update: Attic Postcards mentioned above unfortunately appears to be no longer available.

Below, another example of a “Dainty” logo that appears on the back of the “Sheffield Wednesday” postcard, from a reader (thanks, John). The Sheffield Wednesday Football Club had used “Ground Owlerton” before the grounds were renamed Hillsborough in 1914, so this Dainty Series logo was in use at least in 1914 and sometime prior.

And another postcard from a reader (thanks, Mara). This card’s publisher logo is the same as the one directly above. A view of High Street, Maidstone, Kent County, England:

Sources:  ETW Dennis. Web accessed February 9, 2015. (http://www.scarborough-heritage.org/resources/Commarch/ETW%20Dennis.pdf)

E.T.W. Dennis of Scarborough. www.webber-postcard.me.uk. Web accessed February 8, 2015. (http://www.webber-postcard.me.uk/Post1900Dennis.htm)

Snowdon, Capel Curig, Wales, Elmer Keene, Dainty Series, Dennis & Sons Postcard. Attic Postcards. Web accessed February 9, 2015. (http://www.atticpostcards.com/images/RH26/034.html)

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Categories: Football (Soccer), Publishing Companies - D, Sports

York Minster, From The City Walls

Posted on February 7th, 2015 by

York Minster From The City Walls Early Morning pc1York Minster From The City Walls Early Morning pc2

This is an artist-signed postcard, not in the best of shape – pen mark on the left sky area – entitled  “York Minster, from the City Walls, Early Morning.”  The signature shows as:  “T. Guy.”  This same postcard view was found on eBay, on a sale that had ended, and a different T. Guy artist-signed card entitled, “Petergate York”  was found on the vintage postcard blog Dakotaboo. (Nice blog and nice postcard. Of the two for the artist’s work, I really like the Petergate one with it’s gorgeous colors.) But nothing else, as of the date of this post, was found for or about this artist. Hmm, yet another mystery!

From a Wiki entry,  “York Minster is the cathedral in York, England, and one of the largest in it’s kind in Northern Europe.” 

I picked this one up also because of the charming publisher logo on the back. In all the fancy scroll work is a design showing a figure of a girl?, holding a pole with lantern? with one hand and in the other a cup?, and with the words,  ” ‘Dainty’ Series.”  This one’s a little bit later version that the publisher used. The thing is, on the earlier version the figure appears to be a man. I thought at first that it was the same figure, and that just with the detail not as sharp, was mistaking the man for a little girl. Not so sure now, after comparing both. But we’ll put up examples of both in another post on the publisher. The date estimated for this one is starting 1908 because of a 1908 dated card in the same style found online (eBay) but with a lower series or number. But whether the bigger numbers mean later in time is not certain.

See our Laurel Cottage entry on this publisher with further links for more details.

Divided back unused, artist-signed postcard. Printed in England. Publisher:  E.T.W. Dennis & Sons, Ltd., London & Scarborough. Number or series 4059. Circa 1908 – 1910.

Price:  $12.00

Sources:  “Artist drawn, vintage postcards of Suffolk, Sussex and Yorkshire.” Dakotaboo, March 29, 2013. Web accessed February 7, 2015.

York Minster. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Minster. (accessed February 7, 2015).

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Categories: Postcards, Postcards Artist Signed, Postcards Unused

Dovecote, Old Manor, Bucklebury

Posted on February 7th, 2015 by

Dove Cote Old Manor p1Dove Cote Old Manor p2

A dovecote, dovecot or doocot (Scottish) is the term used for the structure built to house pigeons or doves. These are buildings of historical interest and much has been written about them. They are sometimes round, sometimes square or multi-sided, or even beehive shaped, generally containing pigeon holes for the birds to nest in, and are either free-standing or attached to another building, a barn, for instance. The dovecote seen in this photo is likely the square-shaped building on the left with the cupola, rather than it’s immediate neighbor.

The handwriting on the back of this one was a bit tricky to decipher. Other possibilities were tried, but thanks go to my hubby for getting the best guess on that last part which appears to be Bucklebury. The village and civil parish of Bucklebury is located in West Berkshire near Newbury and is now well-known for it’s connection to the Middleton family and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate, and can’t forget to mention Prince George.) There is another area listed on the map as Bucklebury, about 25 miles east of the first-mentioned village, and located near Bracknell. So, exactly where this photo was taken is a mystery. Perhaps someone will recognize what manor home these buildings belong to, if they are (hopefully!) still standing. The estimated date of the photo is from the 1910s – 1920s.

Old photo, sepia tones, white border. Back shows “.Velox” photographic paper. Circa 1910s – 1920s.    Size:  About 4 and 1/2 x 2 and 3/4.”

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  Dovecote. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovecote (accessed February 6, 2015).

Bucklebury. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucklebury (accessed February 7, 2015).

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Categories: Mysteries, Old Photos

Just To Let You Know That We Are Happy

Posted on February 5th, 2015 by

Just To Let You Know That We Are Happy pc1Just To Let You Know That We Are Happy pc2

This is a reproduction as indicated on the back from Hearts & Flowers by Harmony Books, but the sender’s note is very timely for the U.S. Northeastern and Midwestern recent big snows. The sender wrote:

“Dearest Davy – –  How are you doing mon ami? How’s it all coming? Are you making progress? How is the weather in good old sunny California – –  We are blizzarded in – – it’s really bad – – everything comes to a standstill. No planes, no taxis, no subways, no busses, just your feet – – “

For some reason I was assuming the couple pictured here was English, but the card doesn’t appear to have originally been made in England. And even though this is not the original image, it’s still so nice. Their expressions are lovely and…happiness is always good!….Harmony Books was started in 1972, and per a Wiki article,  “an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, itself part of publisher Penguin Random House.”

Reproduction of divided back postcard. Unused with writing. Reproduction circa 1972 – ?

Price:  $1.00

Source:  Harmony Books. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony_Books (Accessed February 5, 2015).

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Categories: Postcards, Postcards Unused With Writing