SOME of the country's top postcard dealers will be meeting up in Bridgwater this week in celebration of one of Britain's oldest hobbies.

The two-day Festival of Cards event, which will start on Thursday, February 29, will take place at Junction 24 on Market Way.

Around 64 of the country's top postcard dealers will attend the gathering, which has been organised by The Postcard Traders Association (PTA). The Somerset event  traditionally used to be held near Shepton Mallet.

Dealers will showcase a range of vintage cards, some of which depict historic scenes of Bridgwater and beyond.

Somerset County Gazette: Collecting postcards is a hobby which goes back hundreds of years.Collecting postcards is a hobby which goes back hundreds of years. (Image: Mark Wingham)

Collecting postcards is a hobby which was hugely popular during Edwardian times, when photographs were uncommon even in newspapers.

It only cost an old halfpenny for a stamp, and often the postcard would have been delivered the same day as it was sent.

PTA show secretary Clive Baker said: “We are delighted to report that we have a full house of dealers for the two days. – with a waiting list of others who would have loved to be involved. If we had the space for them."

Somerset County Gazette: The event will take place in Bridgwater this week.The event will take place in Bridgwater this week. (Image: Mark Wingham)

PTA chairman Dave Davis added: “Collecting postcards was all the rage in Edwardian times and up until the outbreak of World War One – and a huge means of communication in an age before use of the telephone was widespread, 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.

“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 subject cards of theatre stars, the royal family, military interest or cats and dogs.

Somerset County Gazette: Attendees will be transported back in time.Attendees will be transported back in time. (Image: Mark Wingham)

 

“The Festival of Cards at Junction 24 is a real showcase for our hobby and a ‘not-be-be-missed’ event for so many. Long may that continue.

“Obviously no fairs could be held during lockdown and over the pandemic, and there were some casualties. We lost a number of friends – dealers, collectors and some of the major fairs.

“But confidence has returned now, and we are again expecting overseas interest from collectors around the world, not just the UK. Indeed we know we will have dealers from France, Germany, Spain and the United Arab Emirates attending.”