I'm excited to share one of the most colourful pieces in my collection: an illustrated map postcard of West Wales! This card, published by Judges Postcards Ltd., Hastings, England, is a perfect example of mid-century tourist art, designed not just to send a greeting, but to sell the romance and history of a destination.
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| West Wales Map |
The Front: A Whistle-Stop Tour of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire
The map covers the counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, stretching from Cardigan Bay in the north to Swansea and the Gower in the south.
Iconography: The map is packed with charming, detailed illustrations of key attractions:
Castles: The region’s deep history is highlighted with numerous castles: Kidwelly, Laugharne, Pembroke, Carew, Cilgerran, and Paxton's Tower. These are depicted with colourful flags flying high, ready for visitors.
The Welsh Dragon: The famous Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) dominates the upper right, symbolizing the nation's pride.
Culture: A figure in traditional Welsh dress stands prominently in the center of the map, representing local culture.
Coastal Focus: The importance of the sea is shown with illustrations of Milford Haven, St. Davids Cathedral, and a passenger steamer sailing toward Rosslare.
The Roads: The main roads are marked in thick red lines, giving the map a clear, easy-to-follow layout that speaks to the rise of car travel for holidays in the post-war era.
The Context: The Rise of the Holiday Route
Although the back of the card is unused, the style strongly suggests a print date in the 1960s or 1970s. This period saw a boom in UK domestic tourism, and this map postcard served several functions:
Souvenir: It acts as a comprehensive memento of a driving tour or holiday in the region.
Marketing: It visually markets the area, quickly showing off the abundance of things to see, from the rugged coast to the historical sites.
Educational: It simplifies the geography, making the rich history of West Wales accessible to the average tourist.
This postcard is a bright, nostalgic reminder of how we used to explore, relying on brightly coloured maps and the promise of ancient castles around every bend in the road. It’s a small, perfect piece of Welsh tourism history!
