The Photographic Greeting Card Co. Ltd., London

A solitary card, posted in 1964, by this publisher:

Photo Tourists Association, Turnham Green, W

An early card on undivided back from this well known West London publisher represents Chelsea, followed by sets of later cards of the Servite Church and St Mary’s Cadogan Street:

Kate Pragnell

Kate Pragnell was born in Newport, Hampshire, in about 1851 and was a flourishing photographer, living at 39 Brompton Square.   The Chelsea Historical Pageant was held in the Old Ranelagh Gardens, Royal Hospital, between 25th June and 1st July 1908 and was performed in 10 episodes.   Miss Kate Pragnell was commissioned to photograph the event and produced a large number of postcards of each episode (EP) together with portraits of each of the historical characters portrayed.   Each card was produced in small numbers and is hard to find; the following titles are noted:

Qualis Photo Company, 733 Fulham Road, London, S.W.6

Nothing is known about this publisher:

R.A. (Postcards) Ltd., London, E.C.4

Originally the Rapid Photo Printing Co., Ltd., London, E.C. and represented by a plate-sunk RP:

a later post-war (1950)set of six coloured postcards followed:

Real London, 9/11 Kensington High Street, W8

Included within their portfolio a coloured close-up portrait of an archetypal Chelsea Punk Rocker:

H. Reid, 52 Ellerby St., S.W.6

During the 1950s this local newsagent/stationer published a number of real photographic postcards of the Fulham neighbourhood, including a handful of Chelsea real photographic cards.   These are quite hard to find and, for the moment, only the following titles have been noted; no doubt there are more yet to find.

RHHR Ltd

One card from a set of six, artist drawn by Ace in 1998, showing frogs dressed up in various costumes is of a:-

Robertson, 43 King’s Road, Chelsea,S.W.

Only two cards are currently known bearing Robertson’s imprint; the first is clearly just a retailer’s mark on a collotype card - the second is a very nice real photographic card of Royal Avenue with his name on the picture side.

Rotary Photographic Series

Rotary are noted especially for their London Life cards, but also published a full range of topographical views, including the following of Chelsea:

J. Russell & Sons

From the year 1904 J. Russell & Sons secured an exclusive contract with Whitelands College to produce postcards for their students featuring both the buildings of the college and the famous annual May Queen Day.    Initially there was a set of six collotype cards; in later years, however, the range became mostly real photographic and prolific - the final year of publication being 1927.

J. Salmon Ltd., Sevenoaks, Kent

A well known and prolific national publisher, who also printed cards for others:

Samuels Ltd., Strand, London, W.C.

A major London stationer and publisher included the following real photograph:

The Scientific Press Ltd., London

Just a few cards under this imprint are known:

Anon - SH2010

Nothing is known as to who published this charming set of six cards.   One suggestion is that SH may be the national publisher S Hildesheimer.

Shamrock & Co., Photographic Printers & Publishers, London, E.C.

Published a single real photographic ‘song’ card with a Chelsea theme:

Shepherd 753 Fulham Road, S.W.

Although not strictly speaking a publisher, Shepherd had his name overprinted on cards published by others; an example being that of Stengel’s card of Chelsea Embankment numbered 26281, which appears with no publisher named - simply “Sold by SHEPHERD 753, Fulham Road, S.W.” instead.

Shurey’s Publications

Perhaps the most frequently encountered old postcard of Chelsea is a view entitled “Old Chelsea Gate ”, published by Shurey’s as a free insert in their “Smart Novels”, “Yes or No” and “Daimty Novels”.

A. R. Sidders & Co., King’s Road - Sidders Series

Sidders was principally a newsagent, but who carried one of the largest ranges of local picture postcards; most of these carried his imprint as well - although many of the images derive from cards previously published by others, notably Wrench and Cook.    His production centres around a comprehensive series of Real Photographic cards, supplemented later by a set of high quality plate-sunk sepia views of Chelsea, a poorer quality (anonymous, but distinctive) set of similar views and rounded off by another numbered set of twelve poorer views of Chelsea and Battersea Park.   Wherever possible these are cross referenced to the photographic cards from which they derive.

The listing commences with the Real Photographic cards.   These appear to carry on from the Wrench numbering system, which was also used by the distinctive (but as yet unknown) Real Photo printer who published widely for many different retail outlets.   With the exception of the Whitelands College card, the earlier cards bear no publisher imprint but are included here as they are almost certainly Sidders Series cards.    The anonymous 9304 was later republished as 164750 by Sidders; from 9366 onwards they are all clearly marked Sidders Series.    After 11134 a new series was begun at 400 and ran through (?continuously) to 438; this included some views of Battersea Park and these are listed for completeness, although not all of these are currently known.    The listing continues with the sepia cards and finishes with two double view photographic cards, published under the imprint G. M. Sidders.