From York to Reading, A Scene of Old London (1907)

I thought it fitting that this old London scene was mailed between the Pennsylvania cities of York and Reading – especially because the vintage illustration was picked up at a postcard exhibition in Lancaster.

All three place names in the Commonwealth commemorate cities in England.

Holborn is now a district within the west end of London; the ancient community once lay along the now-buried Fleet River beyond the City of London.

The postcard illustration shows the last remaining Inns of Court where (over centuries) solicitors were trained, lodged, and officed.

Holborn escaped the Great Fire of London (1666) so this medieval structure is an important relic of the historic city.

(In the Comments, I link a fascinating history of this area.)

Miss Lillian Schumer(?) lived on Elm Street “below 5th SE” in the city of Reading.

In January of 1907, Lillian received a postcard greeting from an unknown correspondent in York, PA.

The postcard, published by the distinguished firm of Raphael Tuck & Sons (London), was printed in Great Britain.

This drawing of the medieval building at Holborn was printed in the copyrighted style called “Oilette” – which gave the appearance of an oil painting.

The drawing appears to be signed by “Barraud”, which was the name of a popular illustrator of the early 20th century.  (The initials do not appear to match the famed F. Barraud who first painted “Nipper” listening to the victrola in “His Master’s Voice” in the popular commercial advertisement.)

It appears that Lillian was pleased by the postcard as it was saved in good condition for more than a century.

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