COLLECTING POSTCARDS and BOTANY

COLLECTING POSTCARDS and BOTANY

Collecting postcards by topic allows the deltiologist to control the appearance of their collection. Often times, the topical collector is interested in other artifacts or paper relating to their topic.

For example those whose interest is in railroads and trains, may also collect tickets, menus and memorabilia from the railways of interest.

I collect many themes, but one of my favourite topicals is the use of flowers as theme or motif representing a celebration.

Let's consider two common ones: the rose and the daisy. The Rose has several meanings, depending on the colour presented. 

 

 

Pink signifies friendship. This card is as likely to be sent from woman to woman, friend or family, perhaps just as a reminder of friendship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

while red indicates passionate love. There is little doubt that a gentleman would have sent this card to his betrothed or hopeful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The common daisy is a reference to Innocence. Often the daisy is accompanied by a beautiful child.

 

 

 

Do you feel or sense these intangibles when you view the attached images?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Meaning of Flowers is associated with Victorian times, when communication was less by words and more symbolic, using gestures to indicate emotion. Several postcard illustrators became famous for their botanical illustration Kate Greenaway actually illustrated The Language of Flowers. 

 

 

Catherine Klein became synonymous with her renderings of fruit and flowers, using them as portrait subjects rather than bearers of messages. Her roses are shown left on a signed card.