Lot #772: One UK Art Postcard - "In the Trossachs" Brian Gerald (Valentine & Sons) - Great Scottish Flood of 1948 - 1937 UK 2d "George VI" Stamp

One 1948 UK Art Postcard, used, showing forest path in mountain valley with the caption "In the Trossachs - Where Twines the Path". This richly coloured postcard, indicates the publisher as "Valentine and Sons, Ltd., Dundee and London. Famous Throughout the World." with a Logo of "V" over two Globes. Card is further described as "Art Colour Postcard. Copyright. From and Original water Colour by Brian Gerald" Stamped with one 1937 Orange United Kingdom Two Penny "King George VI" Postage Revenue Stamp. Postmarked in Aug 1948 in ...TRFRAM ...shire" Addressed to "Mr. G. Lowes, Newcastle-on-Tyne". The message is : "Sat. Starting for Edinburgh this morning. Been wet but O.K. Will see some more flood damage. Love, Jen" The front of this 1948 Valentine’s postcard displays the Artwork "In the Trossachs" by Brian Gerald. The artist Brian Gerald was one of Valentine & Sons' most prolific watercolorists. He specialized in "soft-focus" Scottish landscapes that appealed to the post-war desire for tranquility. The Trossachs, often called "the Highlands in miniature," was the heart of the territory made famous by Sir Walter Scott’s Lady of the Lake. The caption "Where Twines the Path" is a direct literary nod to the romantic nature of the region. Valentine’s "Art Colour" was a high-end lithographic process designed to replicate the translucent, layered quality of watercolors. The "V" over two globes logo signifies their status as a global leader in the industry. However, the back of this 1948 Valentine’s postcard is a remarkable "Social History" document, capturing a specific moment in Scottish environmental and postal history. While the front depicts a romanticized Highland ideal, the back tells a much grittier story of the Great Flood of 1948. The message "Will see some more flood damage" from Jen to Mr. G. Lowes provides an eyewitness account of a major Scottish disaster. In mid-August 1948, South-East Scotland and the Borders were hit by catastrophic rainfall (nearly 6 inches in 24 hours). This caused the Great Flood, which washed away several railway bridges on the East Coast Main Line and flooded thousands of acres. Jen mentions "Starting for Edinburgh this morning" and anticipates seeing "more flood damage." Travelers during this week faced massive rail diversions and witnessed scenes of destroyed roads and bridges—a stark contrast to the gentle (and dry) forest path on the front of the card. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}