States archaeologist eager to solve postcard mystery

MYSTERY surrounding a series of postcards has encouraged one islander to showcase his collection.

States archaeologist Dr Phil de Jersey gave a talk on his postcard collection at Candie and is on a mission to find out more about them. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 27041958)

Aside from his day job, States archaeologist Dr Phil de Jersey has for around 20 years been collecting a series of local postcards from the early 1900s.

However, other than the location, there is no publisher, photographer or print name on them.

‘I started collecting many years ago,’ said Dr de Jersey, ‘buying them online and at fairs – it turned into a bit of a passion and now many people collect them.

‘I think the artist has a good eye. They stand out because of the unusual locations, such as the Bouet.

Grand Bouet, from Dr Phil de Jersey's postcard collection.

‘They’re not run of the mill and that attracted me to them.’

The archaeologist presented a talk at Candie Museum on his collection of more than 50 postcards, which he has dated to be from the early 1900s, and said people had been extremely interested in the mystery surrounding them.

Over the years there have been many who have wondered who designed the cards and with no indication in writing that the cards are from the same series, Dr de Jersey has looked to the pictures themselves for some clues.

‘There’s a horse and cart and a dog that reappears constantly throughout them,’ he said.

‘So that hints towards the cards being part of a series.

‘Plus the design of them and the paper used is another indication they are from the same person.’

There has been a suggestion that they could have been designed by Jersey postcard designer H. G. Allix, who used similar imagery and printing for postcards sold in Jersey.

St Julian's Avenue, from Dr Phil de Jersey's postcard collection.

‘H. G. Allix was a photographer in Jersey and his postcards use pictures that closely resemble how the pictures were taken of Guernsey,’ Dr de Jersey added.

‘There are streets that would not necessarily be used today, including Vauvert, South Esplanade and the Bouet – unusual locations.

‘Possibly he thought that, being a Jerseyman, he could not print his name on the card for fear that nobody would buy them. Who knows? But it’s the mystery that makes them.’

Dr de Jersey thinks he now has most of the collection, but there are a few exceptions.

‘The earliest I have is stamped 1907,’ he said.

Jerbourg, from Dr Phil de Jersey's postcard collection.

‘There’s around 50 to 60, I’ve not seen any more.

‘It’s been nice to share them and talk about something other than bones.’