I am happy ! John "ovalballs" has sent me a great set of five rugby postcards to share with you... I just love these cards... These cards show players and colors of the main Welsh teams ; here are the first two : Cardiff "Come if you can" and Newport "You can take it from me".
John gives us here some explanations, and calls for some
more details :
These are a set of card published around 1904 by the "
Western Mail" and I assume given as free gifts when you purchased the
newspaper. They are draw by J. M. S. who is J. M. Staniforth a popular
cartoonist of the age. He is well know for his series of cards called the
"Colliery Series" which illustrated the conditions in the Welsh
coalmines at the turn of the 18th Century.
I have been trying to collect this set for the last 3
years, I think there format and style as write-away cards is better than
the Tom Brown cards and many of the other comic cards of the era. Up
until last week-end I had only found 3 of the cards but when visiting a
card fair in South London I found the Newport and Wales cards. I have no
idea how many cards are in the set as I can find no reference to them on
the web or in any catalogue. If I find more I will share with you if I
find copies I will buy as to-date I have only ever seen these cards. If
any of your readers know of any more or of any details of the cards
please let me know.
Notes on J. M. Staniforth
This postcard is part of the 'Colliery Series' of postcards
published by the 'Western Mail', c. 1903-5. Six of the seven postcards in
the series featured red and black scenes illustrating the work of the
collier underground, and they are signed by J. M. Staniforth. However,
one blue card, entitled 'A South Wales Colliery', was not signed by
Staniforth. Staniforth was born in Cardiff in 1863 and started publishing
his cartoons in the 'Western Mail' in 1889. His cartoons became an
important feature in the newspaper for several decades to come and
provide an interesting commentary on many aspects of Welsh life during
this period.
A collection
of cartoons depicting the south Wales coal strike of 1898 by J.M.
Staniforth. These cartoons were originally published in the 'Western
Mail' and 'Evening Express' newspapers. Staniforth was born in Cardiff in
1863 and started publishing his cartoons in the 'Western Mail' in 1889. His
cartoons became an important feature in the newspaper for several decades
to come and provide an interesting commentary on many aspects of Welsh
life during this period.
The 1898 coal strike was a turning point in the history of
labour politics and industrial relations in the south Wales coalfield. The
six month stoppage in protest at the operation of the 'sliding scale'
resulted in a victory for the coal owners and defeat for the miners under
the leadership of William Abraham (Mabon). Following the dispute, the
miners rejected his conciliatory style of leadership and in October 1898,
seven trade unions came together to form the South Wales Miners'
Federation (the Fed).
I will post
the remaining three cards tomorrow... here is a teaser...
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