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Telegram

1934 (made)
Artist/Maker
General Post Office (maker)
Place of origin
England (made)

1. Greetings telegram printed in black on gummed strips of white paper, on a white form with a decorative border. The border is printed in blue, pink, green and gold with motifs suggesting good luck, affection, and communication, such as pigeons giving envelopes to cherubs.
2. Envelope of gold paper, the front printed in red and blue with the words GPO GREETINGS TELEGRAM and a decorative border.

Object details

Object type
Telegram
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Greetings Telegram
  • Greetings Telegram Envelope to a Child
Materials and techniques
Paper
Printing
Brief description
Message and envelope, issued in the UK by the General Post Office, ca. 1934
Physical description
1. Greetings telegram printed in black on gummed strips of white paper, on a white form with a decorative border. The border is printed in blue, pink, green and gold with motifs suggesting good luck, affection, and communication, such as pigeons giving envelopes to cherubs.
2. Envelope of gold paper, the front printed in red and blue with the words GPO GREETINGS TELEGRAM and a decorative border.
Dimensions
  • 1st width: 17cm
  • 1st length: 21.6cm
  • 2nd width: 17.2cm
  • 2nd length: 11.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
BIDDY WATSON 4 RAWLINSON ROAD SOUTHPORT = MANY HAPPY RETURNS LOVE = BARG + (Message inside the card)
Credit line
Given by Barbara Watson.
Object history
Sent by the donor's eldest half-sister, Margaret "Barg" (b. 1910) to the donor, Barbara "Biddy" Watson, born 1924 (4th daughter of Thomas Watson and only child of his second wife Ella Kate Aucott.
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
MISC.432:1-1992

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1126255/telegram-general-post-office/
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