A 1920s Francis Frith Postcard of Dartmeet, Devon

 There is an undeniable magic to holding a piece of history in the palm of your hand. Vintage postcards offer a unique window into the landscapes and visual culture of bygone eras. In my collection, I recently spent time examining a postcard produced by one of the most famous names in topographical publishing: Francis Frith & Co.

This particular card captures the breathtaking scenery of Dartmeet in Devon, a famous beauty spot on Dartmoor where the East Dart and West Dart rivers merge. By examining the physical details of the card, the publisher’s numbering system, and the elements captured within the frame, we can piece together a complete narrative of this historic image.

The Scene: Dartmeet’s Iconic Landscape

The front of the postcard displays a wide, sweeping elevated view looking down across the valley at Dartmeet.

• The River and Bridges: Nestled down in the valley amidst dense trees, you can spot the characteristic two-arched road bridge spanning the river. To its left sits the ancient clapper bridge—a historic granite slab bridge that has crossed the river for centuries.

• The Settlement: Perched along the hillside road above the river are the traditional stone cottages, including the Badgers Holt building (a historic tea venue frequented by generations of Dartmoor travellers).

• The Valley & Hillsides: The rugged, open moorland framing the foreground slopes down into the lushly wooded riverbank, contrasting against the neatly patterned agricultural fields rolling across the background hills.

• Vehicles and Visitors: A close look along the narrow road leading to the bridge reveals small early-20th-century motor vehicles parked along the verges—early evidence of the modern tourist boom that reshaped quiet Dartmoor hamlets.

The typography across the bottom left corner reads simply in a flowing, white script: Dartmeet.

Technical Details & Dating the Card

Determining the exact age of an unposted, unwritten vintage postcard can often feel like detective work. Fortunately, Francis Frith & Co. maintained a rigorous numerical tracking system for their glass-plate photographic negatives, which provides key insights for dating their releases.

Attribute	Details / Finding
Publisher	F. Frith & Co., Ltd., Reigate
Series	Frith's Series
Negative Reference No.	78513 (printed vertically on the left reverse margin)
Estimated Image Date	Circa 1925
Print Medium	Sepia-toned printed photograph
Postcard Back Type	Divided Back ("This Space may be used for Communication")

How the Date is Determined

Francis Frith & Co. assigned sequential reference numbers to their master negatives as their photographers travelled the British Isles taking new views.

1. Negative Master Sequence: Archives of the Frith numbering system show that negative No. 76667 was logged in 1925, while No. 79014 marks the start of 1926.

2. Assigning the Year: The serial number on this postcard, 78513, falls squarely between those two benchmarks. This indicates that the original photograph was captured by a Frith studio photographer during the spring or summer season of 1925.

3. Publication Period: The typography on the reverse—featuring the elegant "Post Card" lettering, "FRITH'S SERIES", and the classic divided back with a dedicated stamp box ("Affix Stamp Here")—matches the standard production style used by the Reigate printing works throughout the mid-1920s.

Physical Condition & Production Markings

The reverse side of the card remains unposted and clean, serving as a preserved specimen of 1920s commercial print production:

• Left Margin Text: Running vertically along the left edge, the text reads: F. Frith & Co., Ltd., Reigate. No. 78513.

• Stamp Box: A simple single-line rectangle with the instruction Affix Stamp Here, accompanied by PRINTED IN ENGLAND just beneath the lower right corner.

• Collector Marks: Pencil notation at the bottom right corner (DEVON) added by a previous collector or dealer for filing purposes.

Historical Context: Dartmeet in the 1920s

During the interwar period of the 1920s, Dartmoor was undergoing a major transition. The expansion of private motor vehicle ownership and regional charabanc (coaching) tours made remote areas like Dartmeet far more accessible to day-trippers from coastal resort towns such as Torquay, Paignton, and Plymouth.

Francis Frith & Co. capitalized on this travel boom, updating their catalogue with fresh, picturesque views of popular natural destinations. This postcard captures Dartmeet right at the moment it was establishing itself as one of the definitive scenic stops for Devon holidaymakers—a picturesque corner of rural England preserved forever in rich sepia tones.