A foggy day at Tower Bridge?

Date sent: 27 FEBRUARY 1900

Sender: N/A

Recipient: Mr André Strohl, 27 bis Allées de Chartres, Bourdeaux, France

Transcription: Ces effets de couleur n’existent pas, car il y a toujours du brouillard.

However dire the weather when they visited, this anonymous French tourist certainly chose a charming picture postcard to voice their complaint. Tower Bridge rises majestically above the Thames amidst a selection of working river boats – steam tug, traditional rowed barge and fully rigged sailing ships in the distance. However, the artist has not included sufficient detail to pinpoint exactly which side of the bridge is shown, having turned impressionist for the surrounding area. Or is the fog indeed blanketing the City, and the correspondent merely recording what they saw?

A painting of tower bridge and rowboat

Part of the charm of the card is its size. These smaller cards, known as court or correspondence cards were popular before the picture postcard craze erupted. Hotels and clubs held stocks of them with accompanying envelopes for their guests’ convenience. Initially, they did not qualify for the halfpenny Postcard Rate introduced in 1894, but following public complaints, a solution was arrived at. Like its larger picture postcard cousin, the address and stamp occupy one side, the message and picture the other. It wasn’t until 1902 that message and address moved in together. Despite its size, it manages to accommodate the cancellation stamp indicating it is going outside London, London postmark and Bordeaux arrival stamp. Postcard with a message in french and postage stamps

While the disgruntled sender preserves their anonymity, it is tempting to wonder if MrAndré Strohl might have any connection to the French physiologist born in Poitiers in March 1887? As a 12-year-old had he moved to Bourdeaux and succumbed to the postcard album rage?

Postcards gallery

A postcard with a view of the White Tower over the wall of teh tower of london and with several trees visible.

A colourful painting of tower bridge and rowboat above the transcription.

A drawing of the White Tower in colour, with ravens flying above it and trees surrounding it.

A view of the White Tower from across the river with a row of canons i nteh foreground and several boats on the river.

A postcard painting of a sailboat and steamboat infront of the Tower in colour

Postcard with a museum display of armour in black and white, showing many mannequins of men and horses clad in armour

The inside of Beauchamp tower, with three alcoves with each having a chair.

Tower guard under a stone arch in black and white with the title London: A Yeoman Jailor. He stands with his hands behind his back and carries no weapon.

Tower of london with tree in forground alongside several dozen canons. Titled White Tower, Tower of London.

A grainy photo showing a dispaly of the crown jewels in black and white, alongside several other ornate tankards and other crockery with the mention Regalia, Tower of London

Nine Beefeaters at attention in the tower courtyard while some members of the public look on, all presented in colour. The beefeaters have their ceremonial red uniform and carry polearms.

Inner courtyard of the tower in colour, with a fountain, several houses and two trees surrounding a patch of grass.

A group of six Yeomen standing ina circle in black and white, with large polarms and ceremonial uniform. They are standing on a cobbled street with houses in the background.

Tower bridge postcard, showing arounda dozen row boats n front of tower brdige in colour, and several larger ships in the background.

Tower bridge postcard, showing arounda dozen row boats n front of tower brdige in black and white, and several larger ships in the background.

Panoramic view of london and tower bridge from the front of a pstcard. Titled London from the monument, rooftops, church spires and the river thames are all seen from a high vantage point in colour.

A framed postcard with the title Tower of London, showingthe white tower behind the tower wall with trees in front of it in colour. All in an oval frame.

A postcard with a Uniformed Beefeater standing to attention in front of some stairs. There is a hand written message at the bottom of the card.

A sphotograph through a stone arch showing a dispaly of armour in sepia on a postcard.

Sepia postcard showin the tower of london as part of a city view from the south bank.

A row of armuored manaquines in faux parade in a old looking room

A postcard of Twoer Bridge showing the Londond skyline. It has started to crack from age.

The White Tower and surrounding buildings on a postcard in a oval frame

A view of a crowded Streen overlooing the Twoer of London

A row of Cannons with tourists and a Yeoman warder behind them

A group of Yeoman warders have their photo taken

Tower of London marked postcard showing the tower ground and tower bridge in the background

View of the towers grounds on a postcard

Sepia image of the Tower of London and tower brdige with text The Tower and Twoer Bridge, London

A view of the white tower surrounded by trees from accross the river

A painting of a castle gateway with a guard adn young woman. The gateway to the bloody tower

Bridget Clifford

Bridget Clifford is former Keeper of Tower Armouries for the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London.

A foggy day at Tower Bridge?

Postcards gallery

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