Bridgwater Festival of Cards attracts worldwide interest

Some of the postcards on sale depict Bridgwater in days gone by

Dealers from around the world are due to attend a celebration of postcards in Somerset.

The Festival of Cards event at Junction 24, Bridgwater, runs on February 29 and March 1, with 64 of the UK's largest postcard traders setting up shop.

Show organiser Clive Baker said: "We have a waiting list of people who would love to be involved, if we had space for them."

Postcard collecting was a popular hobby in the 1900s and 1910s.

Dave Davis, chairman of the Postcard Traders Association said: "Postcards were a huge means of communication in an age before use of the telephone was widespread and photographs were uncommon in newspapers.

"It cost an old halfpenny for a stamp and the card would be delivered the same day it was sent.

Many of these postcards have survived the decades

Mr Davis added: "Corner shops around the country would display cards of their road and local events.

"Millions of cards have survived - be they topographical, of a village, town or city, or the royal family, military interest or cats and dogs.

"The Festival of Cards is a real showcase for our hobby," he said.

The fair has attracted interest from around the world

Large postcard fairs around in York and Birmingham closed down after the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Obviously no fairs could be held during lockdown and over the pandemic, and there were some casualties," said Mr Davis.

"Confidence has returned now, we are expecting overseas interest from collectors around the world, not just the UK.

"We know we will have dealers from France, Germany, Spain and the United Arab Emirates attending."

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