Post Card Views of Edinburgh

List of Photographers/Publishers

Post Card Views of

Edinburgh

Yellow background denotes an Edinburgh photographer or publisher.

Green background denotes photographer or publisher from elsewhere.

- WD & Co

- Edinburgh suburbs - Blackford Hill

- WDY & W

- Princes Street

- W H Berlin (=W Hagelberg, Berlin)

Thumbnail Images

W H

Hold to Light Postcards

The company is probably the Berlin firm, Wolff Hagelberg who had an address in London at Burnhill Road.

WH produced a series of cards with very small cut-out windows and moon, intended to beheld up to the light for effect. These are known as HTL (hold to light) cards. The company produced HTL cards of several cities in Britain (and abroad?) including Edinbrugh.

- Edinburgh Castle and Scott Monument (crescent moon)

- John Knox House (crescent moon)

- Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat (crescent moon)

- Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat (full moon)

- National Galleries (crescent moon)

Posted 1903-06.

Hold to Light Postcards

[further comments]

Thank you to Phil WIlson of Aberdeen, who read my brief comments accompanying this card and replied:

W. Hagelberg

"The firm, 'WH' of Berlin was W. Hagelberg

According to one German website they had 'a kind of monopoly' of these types of card immediately before WW1. If you search for the name under Google images it will bring up a few examples of their cards.

As you suspected they made these cards with views of buildings from many countries, but mainly Germany.

Regrettably I've found nothing as yet on the technique used to manufacture the holes on these cards."

Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, Scotland: January 6, 2007

Wolff Hagelberg

[further comments]

Thank you to John Hatfield for providing a lot more information about the Wolff Hagelberg company. A few details from Jon's notes are included below:

Early History

Hagelberg dates back to the early 1860s in the UK market in steel engraving printing. In 1885 a branch office was established in London (closed by the Board of Trade in 1916) and in New York in 1889.

The main product in the late 1880s and 1890s was a line of UK greeting cards, often but not always marked with the company name.

Postcards

As well as producing HTL cards, Hagelberg produced plain postcards, novelty effects, and plain postcards.

The company's array of novelty effects used, including the diecut HTL process (on which the company held the patent, pull-tab transformations and other mechanical effects, sqeakers, printing on silk and on silver, multi-color airbrushing on deep embossing, real hair and other attachments, fancy and fanciful frame designs, etc.

The company did not put identifying marks on its art postcards with the exception of a few HTL cards, a fairly common practice with early German international art publishers.

Art Publishers

A line of German-market art postcards began in 1898 and subsequently was distributed Euro-wide. Hagelberg's line of UK art postcards appears to have begun around 1904.

Hagelberg was comparable to Tuck and Nister as a key international art publisher up to WWI, but the name has remained unknown to U.S. collectors because of the lack of identifying marks.

John Hatfield, January 12, 2008

- W R & S (William Ritchie & Sons Ltd)

Thumbnail Images

W R & S

WR&S appear to have produced many postcards of Edinburgh and elsewhere. Almost all are in their Reliable Series. They have small 'WR&S shield' between the words 'RELIABLE' and 'SERIES.

There are many different styles of back. My collection of about 100 WR&S cards of Edinburgh includes about 30 different styles of back. I have sorted these into broad categories for the table below..

Some of the cards are numbered, others are not. If you can tell me anything about the numbering and dating of WR&S cards, please e-mail me. Thank you.

Meanwhile, here is what I have discovered to date.

Where the number includes a '/' the first part of the number seems to indicate the location:

- 340 for many of the Edinburgh cards

- 587 for Lochgoilhead, Argyleshire, Scotland. Thank you to Mark Morpurgo of the Loch Goil Local History Society for telling me of cards 587/39, 587/40, 587/42, 587/46, 587/49, 587/53, 587/54, 587/115, all from the Lochgoilhead area.

The table below showing some of the postcard numbers, styles of back and dates of posting may also he helpful in dating cards.

WR&S Postcard Numbers

I would be pleased to hear from anybody who has investigated the numbering systems used by WR&S. If you are able to tell me how these numbering systems operated (e.g. can the date of publication be determined from the number?) please e-mail me. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs

Reliable Series

Undivided Backs - Reliable Series ©
-	Edinburgh Castle from Grassmarket	b+w	not posted
-	Edinburgh Castle from Scott Monument	b+w	posted 1903
-	Edinburgh from Calton Hill (embossed: 'With Hearty Christmas Greetings)	b+w	posted 1903
-	Edinburgh Castle + Esplanade	b+w	posted 1903
-	Edinburgh from Castle	b+w	posted 1903
-	Foot of Leith Walk	b+w	not posted
-	Forth Bridge	b+w	posted 1903
-	Forth Bridge (from North Queensferry	b+w	not posted
-	Heriot's Hospital from Greyfriars (watercolour)	colour	not posted
-	Holyrood Palace	b+w	posted 1903
-	John Knox House	b+w	not posted
-	Newhaven Harbour	sepia	posted 1904
-	New Lane, Newhaven	b+w	posted 1903
-	Princes Street	b+w	posted 1903
-	Princes Street looking west	b+w	posted 1903
-	Princes Street (embossed: 'With Hearty Christmas Greetings)	b+w	posted 1903
-	St Giles Cathedral	b+w	posted 1904
-	St Giles Cathedral	b+w	posted 1903
-	St Giles' Cathedral (embossed: 'To Wish You a Happy Christmas from ... )	b+w	posted 1902
-	A Scotch Fishwife	b+w	posted 1902
-	Scott Monument	b+w	posted 1902
-	Scott Monument (embossed: 'To Wish You a Happy Christmas )	b+w	posted 1903
Divided Backs (single line including very small RELIABLE SERIES shield) ©
392	Starbank Park Leith	colour	not posted
1366	Forth Bridge	colour	not posted
1367	Edinburgh from Castle	colour	posted 1904
02286	Scott Monument+ Princes Street, looking E	colour	posted 1907
24456	GPO + Waterloo Place	colour	posted 1904
340/638	Forth Bridge	sepia	posted 1919
607/5	New Lane, Newhaven	colour	posted 1908
702/7	Bass Rock, East Lothian	colour	posted 1909
751/11	Joppa from beach	colour	posted 1918
R1296	Princes Street	colour	posted 1905
R1303	Calton Hill	colour	posted 1905
R1807	The Shore, Leith	colour	posted 1905
R1812	Regimental Pets' Graveyard, Edin. Castle	colour	not posted
R1925	High Street, Musselburgh	colour	posted 1905
R1931	Promenade, Portobello	colour	posted 1906
R2234	Warrender Park Road, Edinbrugh	colour	posted 1906
-	Calton Hill (tartan border)	b+w	not posted
-	Edinburgh Castle and Esplanade Lettering in glitter: "Best Wishes	b+w	not posted
-	Forth Bridge (tartan border)	b+w	not posted
-	Holyrood Palace	b+w	posted 1906
-	Royal Volunteer Review, 1905	b+w	not posted
-	Edinburgh Castle (moonlight)	colour	not posted
-	Arthur' Seat, sheep (Denizens of the City)	colour	not posted
-	Foot of Leith Walk	colour	posted 1908
-	Forth Bridge	colour	posted 1907
-	Hopetoun House, South Queensferry	colour	not posted
-	Newhaven Fishwife	colour	posted 1907
-	Portobello Baths	colour	posted 1905
-	Portobello High Street	colour	posted 1911
-	Princes Street + Edinburgh Castle 'Portrait' card with two rectangular pictures	colour	not posted
-	St Bernard's Well, Stockbridge	colour	posted 1905
-	White Horse Close	colour	not posted
-	Arthur's Seat	sepia	not posted
-	Edinburgh Castle and Esplanade	sepia	posted 1904
-	Princes Street looking east	sepia	posted 1906
Divided Backs (double line) + small shield at top ALSO ON FRONT: Postcard Bureau,106 Princes St. ©
-	Edinburgh from castle	sepia	not posted
	Holyrood Palace	sepia	not posted
-	Princes Street looking east	sepia	posted 1905
Divided Backs (scroll division) + large 'WR&S shield' at top ©
340/134	Scottish National Exhibition 1908, Edin.	colour	posted 1908
340/177	Edinburgh Castle and Castle Esplanade (2 circular photos)	colour	posted 1909
340/178	Holyrood Palace + John Knox House (2 circular photos + Edinburgh coat of arms)	colour	posted 1909
340/180	Princes Street + Forth Bridge (2 circular photos)	colour	posted 1909
340/234	Edinburgh Castle and Esplanade (oval)	sepia	posted 1910?
340/247	Princes Street looking east	b+w	posted 1910
Divided Backs (single line) + large 'WR&S shield' at top ©
330/325	Mound, Castle and Scot Monument	sepia	not posted
340/350	Princes Street Gardens	sepia	posted 1915
340/403	Calton Hill	b+w	not posted
340/460	Calton Hill	sepia	posted 1920
340/513	Edinburgh University	sepia	posted 1923
340/516	Forth Bridge	sepia	posted 1919
340/622	Scott Monument	colour	posted 1928
340/564	Calton Hill	sepia	not posted
340/679	Scott Monument	sepia	not posted
340/532	John Knox House	b+w	posted 1924
340/564	Calton Hill	sepia	not posted
-	Princes Street looking west	colour	posted 1916
-	Princes Street looking east	colour	not posted
Divided Backs (decorative division) + 'WR&S shield' at top
-	Edinburgh Castle (watercolour: IMC))	colour	not posted
-	Heriot's Hospital from Greyfriars, Edinburgh (GBH)	colour	not posted
-	Huntly House, Canongate (watercolour)	colour	not posted
Divided Backs (single line)
340/704	View from Edinburgh Castle	sepia	posted 1949
-	Whitehorse Close, Canongate	sepia	not posted
Divided Backs (single line incl. 'RELIABLE SERIES shield') + shield at top
340/7	Edinburgh from Castle	colour	posted 1908
-	Edinburgh Old Town	sepia	not posted
-	Ross Fountain	sepia	posted 1908
Divided Backs (wavy line)
-	Arboretum Avenue, Stockbridge	b+w	posted 1903
-	Calton Hill	b+w	not posted
-	Edinburgh Castle from Scott Monument	b+w	not posted
-	George Street	b+w	posted 1903
-	Holyrood Palace	b+w	not posted
-	Nelson Monument	b+w	posted 1903
-	North Bridge and Princes Street	b+w	posted 1909
-	Princes Street looking east	b+w	posted 1909
-	Princes Street looking west	b+w	posted 1904
-	Princes Street looking west + gold lettering "Season's Greetings	b+w	posted 1904
-	Water of Leith, Colinton	b+w	posted 1904
-	Calton Hill, Nelson Monument + embossed printing: "Christmas Greetings"	sepia	posted 1911
-	Edinburgh from Calton Hill	sepia	posted 1906
-	Fettes College	sepia	posted 1903
-	George Watson's College	sepia	posted 1907
-	Holyrood Chapel	sepia	posted 1905
-	Leith, Burns Statue	sepia	posted 1903
-	Queen Mary's Bedroom	sepia	posted 1903
-	Princes Street looking east	tinted	written 1905
Divided Backs (wavy line) ALSO ON FRONT: Postcard Bureau,106 Princes St.
-	Scott Monument	b+w	posted 1904
Divided Backs (double line)
-	Dean Cemetery - grave Major-Genl Sir Hector MacDonald	b+w	posted 1903
-	Edinburgh Castle Esplanade - Royal State Procession leaving Edinburgh Castle May 13, 1903.	b+w	posted 1903
-	St Giles Tower, Edinburgh (watercolour: IMC)	colour	not posted
-	Waterloo Place, Royal State Procession, 1903	b+w	posted 1903
-	Waverley Bridge, Royal State Procession, 1903	b+w	posted 1903
Divided Backs (double line) + shield at top
270	Edinburgh Castle, from Grassmarket in 1837	pastel sketch	posted 1905
270	Old Edinburgh, High School Wind in 1837	pastel sketch	not posted
270	Princes Street in 1837	pastel sketch	not posted
4616	The Forth Bridge	colour	posted 1920
Style Not Know (because I've seen the back of this card)
340/15	King's Theatre	colour	?

Castle Series

Divided Backs (short line)
	Princes Street looking west	colour	not posted

Intaglio Series

Divided Backs (double line) ALSO ON FRONT: Postcard Bureau,106 Princes St.
-	Edinburgh Castle and Esplanade	sepia	not posted
-	St Giles Cathedral	sepia	posted 1903
	Scott Monument.	sepia	not posted

Waterette Series

Divided Backs (short line)
	Calton Hill	colour	1904

Unnamed Series

Divided Backs (double line)
	St Giles Tower	colour painting	not posted
Divided Backs (dotted line)
	Princes Street looking west 'Hold this card up to the light	colour	posted 1904

Please click here for further details of W R & S publications

- W & T

I know of only 2 cards in this series. The first two below are in the collection of Malcolm Cant. I was told about the third by Barb Becker, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada in January 2007.

Mayfield Series

- Blacket Avenue, Edinburgh Posted 1908

- Mayfield Terrace, Edinburgh Posted 1909

- Minto Street, looking north, Edinburgh (No 340/70) Posted 1907

- Waddell, Corstorphine

- Convalescent House at Murrayfield (sepia)

- Rest and be Thankful, Corstorphine (black + white)

Both cards posted 1912

- Walker, John & Co London

[no named series]

- Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Geographical Series

This series combined a map of Edinburgh, Leith and Mid Lothian engraved by Bartholemew with a small view of Edinburgh

- Princes Street

- Holyrood Palace

- No. 120: Map: Central Edinburgh - Photo: Scott Monument

- No. 121: Map: ? - Photo: Princes Street

- No. 122: Map: ? - Photo: Holyrood Palace

- No. 123: Map: Edinburgh & East Neuk of Fife - Photo: Edinburgh Castle + Galleries

- No. 124: Map: Central Scotland - Photo: Calton Hill

- No. 125: Map: Edinburgh to the Forth Bridge - Photo: Forth Bridge

Thank you to Julian Atkinson, for giving me details of postcards 121 and 122, to help me to complete the list above.

Bell's Series