A Window into the Past: The "Photo-Brown" Charm of Nefyn

 There is a specific kind of magic found in the tactile nature of vintage ephemera. As a collector, few things are as satisfying as unfolding a Valentine’s Letter Card. These weren't just postcards; they were miniature, foldable galleries of a traveller’s journey. Today, we’re looking at a beautiful "British Production" from my collection: a 6 View Letter Card of Nevin (now more commonly spelled in the Welsh, Nefyn), nestled on the stunning Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales.

Produced in a rich, sepia-toned "Photo-Brown," this set captures a moment when Nefyn was asserting itself as a premier destination for those seeking rugged beauty, sea air, and the burgeoning social prestige of the golf links.

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The Aesthetic of "Photo-Brown"

Before we dive into the locations, let’s talk about the medium. The "Photo-Brown" process used here was a popular choice for Valentine & Sons, the famous Dundee-based printing giant. By using a monochromatic sepia palette rather than full colour or standard black-and-white, the publisher achieved a sense of warmth and "heritage" even when the photos were contemporary.

The letter card itself is an ingenious design. For the price of a halfpenny stamp (if left unsealed), a visitor could send six distinct views and a short message home. If they had more to say—perhaps about a particularly challenging bunker on the golf course—they could seal it up for a penny-halfpenny.

Exploring the Six Views

The images selected for this card provide a comprehensive "tourist's eye view" of Nefyn and its sister village, Morfa Nefyn.

1. The Two Bays, Nevin: This sweeping aerial-style shot shows the unique geography of the area, where the town sits perched between the Great and Little Bays. You can see the dense clusters of stone houses and the organized strips of farmland stretching toward the sea.

2. Golf Links, Nevin: Perched on the dramatic headland of Porthdinllaen, this course is world-famous today. Here, we see it in its earlier years. The figures on the green, dressed in what appears to be traditional early 20th-century sporting attire, emphasize the area’s transition from a fishing hub to a leisure destination.

1. Nevin Bay & Rivals: This view looks eastward toward the dominant peaks of Yr Eifl (The Rivals). The jagged silhouettes of these mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the soft curve of the coastline.

2. Nevin Beach: A classic seaside study. The tide is out, revealing a vast expanse of sand dotted with holidaymakers. You can just make out the small bathing huts or structures at the foot of the cliffs, a staple of the British seaside experience.

1. Nevin From Across the Bay: This view highlights the verticality of the village. The houses of Morfa Nefyn seem to cling to the cliffside, with winding paths leading down to the water's edge.

2. Cliff Walk, Morfa Nevin: My personal favourite. It captures the rugged, overgrown path toward Porthdinllaen. It invites the viewer to imagine the wind whipping off the Irish Sea and the scent of gorse in the air.

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Dating the Collection: A Philatelic Clue

One of the most frequent questions I get is: "How do you know when it was made?" Without a postmark, we have to become detectives.

The most significant clue lies on the back of the envelope: "Postage 1½d.—If stuck down and used as letter."

In the United Kingdom, the inland letter rate rose from 1d to 1½d in June 1920. It remained at this price until 1922, briefly dropped, and then fluctuated throughout the interwar period. However, the specific combination of the "Photo-Brown" branding and the typography suggests a publishing date in the mid-to-late 1920s. The serial numbers on the images (ranging from 84000 to 210000) also align with Valentine & Sons’ cataloguing system from the post-WWI era.

There is a settled, peaceful quality to these images that captures the "Long Garden Party" atmosphere of the 1920s, before the Great Depression and the subsequent modernization of the 1930s changed the face of domestic tourism.

Why Nefyn Still Matters

Looking at these images today, what is most striking is how much has not changed. While the cars on the roads are different and the "bathing machines" are gone, the silhouette of The Rivals remains unchanged. The Ty Coch Inn (likely visible as a small speck in the Porthdinllaen views) still serves pints to weary walkers.

This letter card is more than just cardstock and ink; it’s a time capsule of Welsh coastal life. It represents a period when the Llŷn Peninsula was a hidden gem, accessible by rattling trains and early motorcars, offering a "Photo-Brown" escape from the industrial smoke of the cities.

The Post Office at Blubberhouses: A Glimpse into Rural Yorkshire History

 In an age when we communicate instantly via email and text, there's a certain romantic charm in looking back at the humble, foundational infrastructure of communication: the rural Post Office. This lovely sepia postcard from my collection features the former Post Office at Blubberhouses in the Yorkshire Dales.

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The Post Office, Blubberhouses

The Scene: Blubberhouses, Yorkshire

The photo captures a substantial stone cottage, typical of the Yorkshire vernacular architecture, which once served as the village post office.

• Architectural Clues: The building has thick stone walls, a slate roof, and two prominent chimney stacks. The windows are small, and the overall impression is one of solid, centuries-old utility.

• The Post Office Sign: Clearly visible on the right-hand side is a projecting sign that reads, "POST OFFICE." Below this, another sign advertises "STATIONERY & SWEETS"—a classic combination for a small village shop that served as a vital community hub.

• A Place to Rest: In the foreground, a simple wooden bench rests against a dry-stone wall, shaded by a large tree. This wasn't just a place to send a letter, but a social spot where people gathered and rested.

• The Name: The village name itself—Blubberhouses—is a point of interest. Located near the Washburn Valley and Fewston Reservoir, the name is likely derived from the Old Norse word for bubbling or gushing water, referring to a spring or peat bog, not, as sometimes joked, to blubbering.

A History of Connectivity

While the postcard itself is undated, the sepia tone and the style suggest it was produced in the early 20th century, likely between 1900 and 1920. This was the golden age of postcards, where the Post Office was the vital link connecting remote communities like Blubberhouses to the rest of the world.

A rural post office like this was the village nerve centre:

• It was where letters and parcels arrived.

• It was the place to draw a pension or collect a telegram.

• It offered small essentials like stationery and, crucially, sweets for the children.

This postcard is more than a scenic view; it's a quiet tribute to the rural life and the dependable, community-focused service provided by the Post Office before the motorcar and telephone completely reshaped the Dales. Although the Blubberhouses Post Office may have changed use since this photo was taken, the enduring charm of the building and the landscape remains.