A Rainy Day in the Highlands: Postcard from Callander

This postcard is a wonderful find, pairing a beautiful early 20th-century painting with a detailed, personal message that truly transports you to a wet, wild day in Scotland.

Highland Sheep

The Image: Highland Sheep

The front of the card features a serene painting titled "HIGHLAND SHEEP," likely an oil or watercolour reproduction:

• Scene: The image shows a group of sheep gathered on a rocky, heather-covered hillside. The vibrant pink and purple heather contrasts beautifully with the pale wool of the sheep and the misty, blue-grey mountains that fade into the background.

• Atmosphere: The low lighting and hazy mountains evoke the typical dramatic, atmospheric weather of the Scottish Highlands. The painting is signed with initials, possibly "J.W.P" or similar, adding a touch of artistic intrigue.

• Publisher: The card is an "APOLOGY AND CONGRATULATORY VALENTINE." This, combined with the "VALENTINE'S POST CARD" header and the image of a globe and heart reading "LOVE THROUGHOUT," suggests it was printed as a multi-purpose greeting card, sent here as a general letter.

The Message: "The wettest parts of Scotland"

The postcard was sent from Perthshire, Scotland, and addressed to Mrs. Welham in Surbiton, Surrey, England.

The postmark is clearly dated 27 MAR 1916, placing the message right in the middle of World War I and the reign of King George V.

The sender, writing to "Dear Mother," provides a vivid account of their travels:

"Dear Mother. We are now at Cullomlar and I think that the Trossachs are one of the wettest parts of Scotland. It rained all day last night and up to 5pm today. The locks were extremely rough and troughs round even a whole beer keg have fallen in the road. Apologies and sorry latter on the other side. Awaiting culture of the people and children. Love. D"

Key Takeaways from the Message:

• Location: The sender mentions being at Cullomlar (likely referring to Callander, near The Trossachs National Park, famous for its lochs like Loch Katrine).

• Weather: The emphasis on the rain is striking—"It rained all day last night and up to 5pm today." This reinforces the card's atmospheric image.

• War-Time Travel: Despite the dark cloud of WWI hanging over the country, people were clearly still travelling and sending detailed updates home.

• The Stamps: The two stamps are particularly interesting: a King George V 1d (Penny) stamp and a 3d Revenue stamp, used for postal purposes at the time, offering an accurate date marker.

This postcard is a phenomenal piece of history, linking the beauty of the Highlands with a personal moment from over a century ago.

A Hearty Greeting: Happy Birthday from Two Edwardian Pups

 Today, social media is flooded with cute animal photos, but over a century ago, if you wanted a delightful image of a dog to send good cheer, you used a postcard like this one! This card from my collection is a fantastic example of the popular use of animal portraits in early 20th-century greetings.

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Edwardian Puppys

The Front: Best Wishes, from Man's Best Friend

This postcard is titled "Best Wishes" and features a charming duo of dogs resting on what looks like a heath or hillside, framed by heather and grass.

• A Real Photograph: The card is a Real Photograph (marked on the back), which gives the image a sharp clarity and depth of tone often missing from printed illustrations. It captures the texture of the dogs' coats and the rugged setting beautifully.

• The Breeds: On the left is a Cairn Terrier or similar small, shaggy terrier, known for its alert expression. On the right is a gorgeous English Springer Spaniel, a classic gundog breed, looking placidly at the camera.

• The Verse: A decorative text panel on the right contains a flowery, traditional birthday poem:

  "This bears a hearty Greeting, A message, just to say, I wish you many glad returns, On this your Natal Day."

The Message: A Simple Token of Love

The reverse is simple, direct, and full of affection, signed by "Muriel."

"Best Wishes, from your loving friend Muriel"

Below the short message, there are several rows of large, X's, representing kisses. This tradition of drawing X's for kisses was, and still is, a common and heartfelt way to sign off a personal letter or postcard. The message is simple, but the sentiment—a loving birthday wish sent with a charming, high-quality photo—is pure Edwardian warmth.

This postcard, likely dating from the 1910s, reminds us that while communication methods change, the desire to send a token of love and good wishes for a special day, often delivered by a charming animal mascot, remains timeless.