Lot #837: Vintage 1930s UK Postcard - "Hampton Court Palace - Clock House Gateway" - "Swaingravure by John Swain and Son"

Vintage 1930s UK Postcard, unused. Shows Hampton Court Palace with caption "Hampton Court Palace - Clock House Gateway" Photo labelled "B9" and "H.M. Office of Works" . Reverse indicates "Swaingravure by John Swain and Son" and indicates "Printed in England." No Stamp. Never postally used. No message. The Publisher, John Swain and Son, were legendary London-based photo-engravers known for their technical precision in art reproduction. Their "Swaingravure" technique was the firm's proprietary Photogravure process. It is characterized by an exceptionally rich, velvety tonal range and the absence of a visible "dot" pattern. This technique was chosen by the Office of Works because it captured the intricate textures of Tudor brickwork and weathered stone with museum-grade accuracy. The labeling "H.M. Office of Works" indicates this was an "Official Guide" postcard, likely sold within the palace grounds. The "B5" code is an archival reference used to catalog the specific vantage point within the government's vast photographic record of Crown property. Hampton Court was built by Cardinal Wolsey between 1514 and 1522. The subject of this card is the Clock House Gateway (Anne Boleyn’s Gateway), which serves as the threshold between the Base Court and the Clock Court. The "Clock House" is named for the magnificent astronomical clock installed in 1540 for King Henry VIII. It was a marvel of Tudor "high-tech," designed to show the time, day, month, signs of the zodiac, and even the phases of the moon and high tide at London Bridge. This "Swaingravure" (High-Detail Photogravure) postcard was issued by John Swain and Son, London in the Interwar era (c. 1920s–1930s) Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}