MARY Gracie, postcard collector, spoke at February’s meeting of the Knutsford Historical Society about the history of Knutsford, its people, the post office and its first introduction of postcards.

The earliest known postcard was posted in Fulham in 1840 with a Penny Black stamp. It sold at auction in 2002 for £31,750.

The first printed cards appeared in 1872, plain but stamped. In the 1890s the French version appeared featuring artistically posed nude women called French Postcards.

By the 1890s we had British seaside cards originally featuring views.

By the 1930s we had the saucy cartoon style, popular up until the 1980s.

Mary’s cards were all sent from Knutsford so she had to look further afield, which meant visiting used book stores and internet sites.

In 1902 the post office introduced cards with a divided back, address on one half and greeting on the other. Showing the frequency of deliveries in those days you could send a card in the morning and arrive home to find your neighbour had received it and got your milk in.

Our next meeting will be March 19 at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church (rear entrance), the speaker will be Graham Stirrup, on Victorian times – How ancestors lived & faced dangers.

An afternoon visit to Toad Hall and the Old Medicine House, the home of Alan Garner the author is arranged, come along and pick up a form.