F.O.C. Media Release – Feb 2024

Festival of Cards a celebration of an old hobby enjoying a new lease of life – Major picture postcard event at Bridgwater

Enthusiasts of one of Britain’s oldest hobbies are set to converge on Somerset next month for a major two-day celebration of postcards.

The Postcard Traders Association (PTA) is organising a two day ‘Festival of Cards’ at Junction 24, Bridgwater, on Thursday February 29 and Friday March 1.

Some 64 of the country’s top dealers will attend – carrying a combined stock of several hundred thousand vintage postcards, with some moderns too.

The number of postcard fairs around the country has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic with major casualties in recent years including York and Birmingham – which were the biggest fairs in the north and Midlands. 

But there has been increased interest from both dealers and collectors in the remaining fairs with the Somerset event – which traditionally used to be held near Shepton Mallet – the biggest event in the West Country, which is also well served by big fairs at Exeter and Bristol.

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.

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.

“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.”

Notes to reporters:

The PTA is the umbrella organisation for the postcard hobby. To visit its website, click here or go to www.postcard.co.uk.

The Festival of Cards will open 10am-6pm on Thursday February 29; and 9.30am-4pm on Friday March 1. Entry is £5 on Thursday (for a two-day pass) or £2 for the Friday. Under 16s are free if accompanying an adult.

*Cornhill and Fore Street, a real photo card by Valentine’s.
*The High Street, published by Frith.
*Bridge and Fore Street, Valentine’s Series.
* Eastover, another card by Valentine’s.

Issued: Mark Wingham  mark.wingham@ntlworld.com