Lot #749: Two Vintage Birthday Postcards - 1924 "Blue Bird" on "Blue Bells" - "Happiness" ( J. Beagles and Co., London, E.C. )

This lot features two Vintage Birthday Postcards: (1) First, one 1924 Vintage Birthday Topical Postcard, used, showing a bluebird on a bluebell flower with the message "Birthday Greetings!". This coloured postcard does not indicate a publisher, and is not stamped or postmarked, but bears the message "To Charlie, Mother. June 29, 1924." By 1924, the Bluebird had become an incredibly popular motif in North American greeting cards, symbolizing joy and prosperity. In the 1920s, the "Language of Flowers" was still influential; the bluebell was often associated with constancy and gratitude, making it a perfect choice for a message from a mother to her son. (2) Second, one undated UK Greeting Card Postcard, used, showing a needlepoint floral scene with the message "Happiness", and a twelve-line poem. This black and white postcard indicates "Printed in England by J. Beagles and Co., Printers and Publishers, London, E.C." No Stamp. No Postmark. But Pencil Message: "To Ern. With Love. From Blanche. Hope You Like This One." The needlepoint (or "embroidery") scene was likely a high-quality photograph of an actual stitched piece. This was a common way to celebrate the labor-intensive beauty of home crafts in a mass-produced format. J. Beagles often used sentimental or "homely" verse to accompany these domestic scenes. These poems typically focused on themes of steadfastness, quiet joy, and the comforts of home—qualities the word "Happiness" was meant to evoke. As with the Beagles 1938 "Black Cat" postcard offered in Lot #744, J. Beagles & Co. produced this card in the London E.C. (East Central) district. This Black and White version highlights the texture of the "stitching" in the needlepoint. Without the distraction of color, the shadows and raised fibers of the floral design would be quite prominent. The message phrase "Hope You Like This One" strongly suggests that either Blanche or "Ern" (likely Ernest) was an active postcard collector. During the peak of the postcard craze, friends and lovers would trade cards specifically for their unique subjects or publisher series. Blanche was clearly on the lookout for a "Beagles" card that Ern didn't already have. Further, the use of pencil was common for cards intended to be placed into a scrapbooking album, as pencil doesn't bleed through the cardstock over time like some early inks. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}