GILSLAND POSTCARDS

The earliest postcards were designed to be addressed on one side and the message written on the other. In 1902 the Post Office changed its rules and permitted the division of the back into two spaces for the address and a message, as they are today. The other side could be entirely devoted to a picture, stimulating the picture-postcard craze of the pre-WW1 years. Picture postcards were in use before 1902, but space was generally left beside the picture for a message. Collectors refer to these early cards as "undivided back".

Early Card of Gilsland Spa

Date posted: 23 July 1902

Stamp: Halfpenny KEVII dark green

Postmark: Gilsland

NGR: NY63756770

Publisher: G.W.W.

My ref. 223

The original site of the sulphurous spring was a popular subject for postcards until its abandonment, probably due to frequent landslides. The Temperance Movement was prominent at this time, hence the pointed reference to "non-intoxicant".

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Early Card of Orchard House

Date posted: 13 September 1902

Stamp: Halfpenny KEVII dark green

Postmark: Newcastle

NGR: NY63216684

Publisher:

Ref. No.: 062

Orchard House was a popular place to stay, on later postcards it is called Orchard House Hotel. The newspaper-style halftone (made of dots) image is of poor quality compared to the collotypes available at the time (as above) and it is printed on soft card. Definitely an economy postcard.

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Early Letter

Date posted: 12 August 1862

Stamp: Penny red

Postmark: Edinburgh

NGR:

Publisher:

My ref. 192

Until the later 1860s, the place-name "Gilsland" meant only the Spa Hotel and its associated buildings.