Our history
In July 1995, a group of people from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas interested in picture postcard collecting met to discuss the possibility of forming a postcard club. A short syllabus was organised for the months of August, September and October in 1995. The Lothian Postcard Club was born.
It was originally agreed that the Club would meet from March to October, but with the later introduction of a Christmas Social in December and the Annual General Meeting in November, the traditional annual syllabus was complete.
Our members have a variety of interests, and it is possible to create a collection covering almost every known subject. Many collect the geographical area where they were born or currently live. Others have thematic collections which include, amongst many others, transport, fairies, lighthouses, islands, comic cards, military, or cards by specific artists or postcard publishers such as A.R. Edwards, W. & A.K. Johnson and George Washington Wilson.
The Club has always taken an active role in the wider postcard collecting community. Our Newsletter was once nominated as best club magazine by Picture Postcard Monthly. In 2016, Margeorie Mekie, founder member and past Secretary of the Club for many years, was awarded a trophy as Picture Postcard Monthly ‘Club Member of the Year’. In addition, a number of our members have entered winning displays in the annual competition at the Congress of the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies, and won the ‘Scottish Postcard Trophy’.
We like to think we are a friendly club. Five founder members of the club have continued their membership over nearly 30 years. The meetings are both interesting for their content and also for prompting good-humoured banter and lively conversations. The mid-evening refreshment break is a social occasion in its own right and provides an opportunity to browse and purchase some postcards. Guests and visitors will always be made welcome.
Not all members of the Lothian Postcard Club are able to attend meetings, but they enjoy receiving the Club Newsletter three times a year. The colour illustrated newsletter contains articles about postcards and postcard collecting, updates on meetings and other Club activities and keeps members up to date on postcard, stamp and book fairs in the area.
This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Lothian Postcard Club, and we look forward to celebrating throughout 2025.
Our Committee
The following members make up the Committee of the Lothian Postcard Club for 2025.
| Position | Name |
| President | Conal Anderson |
| Past President | Ian Anderson |
| Vice-President | |
| Secretary | Fiona Burgess |
| Treasurer | Brian Chilton |
| Newsletter editor | Richard Torrance |
| Committee member & webmaster | Mungo Bovey |
| Committee member | Ian Jubb |
In addition, Richard Cuthbertson, a Past President, serves as our Congress Delegate for The Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies
Our President writes
FAIRS AND FORAGING
Fairs
As a non-car owner I often find myself planning the logistics of getting to and from Postcard fairs throughout the year.
To some this may seem daunting, but with a fair wind (no pun intended), zero train strikes and some minor planning it can be achieved relatively easily and cheaply (if you book in advance) without a car.
If you are able, I would certainly give it a go. Take baby steps and perhaps start small and local. For those of us based in Edinburgh, North Berwick, Dunfermline and Berwick Upon Tweed are well served by public transport.
Once you have the hang of it you can venture further afield. In the last twelve months I have managed, Bristol, Nottingham, York, Woking and *Durham all without so much as a sniff of petrol!
If you remain unconvinced consider the advantages:
- No motorway traffic jams
- No endless circling for a free parking space
- A comfortable seat which allows you to eat breakfast or lunch on the way out and then to peruse your purchases on the way back.
- You can legally treat yourself to a pint or glass of wine (assuming you’re over 18)
- You can take in the views without having to keep a watchful eye on speed cameras or that tractor in front
* The Durham fair is actually in Bowburn which is a painless hour and half direct to Durham and and then from Durham Bus station Stance K has a number of buses which take round 10-12 minutes to Bowburn.
Scenic Durham but not the Cathedral Bowburn bus stance K
Foraging
Encouraging news in the November edition of Picture Postcard Magic seems to suggest that plans are afoot to run a two day postcard event in the ‘North of England’.
This would certainly be welcome since Scotland currently lacks a flagship one or two day Fair not withstanding the excellent activities of Bass Rock and North East Fairs.
In the meantime it is always fun to forage in local Charity shops or antique centres. Oxfam Books often have hidden vintage gems amongst a box of cheap postcards (see below picked up for 50p) and almost every Scottish town has a local junk or antique shop, not to mention jumble sales and car boot sales. It can be surprising where cards turn up.
For example a shop specialising in Vinyl and CD sales is not one I would have had on my list of ‘Postcard Dealers’ and yet this weekend in Perth Concorde Music was a find of stamps, first day covers and a small selection of postcards.
Concorde Music Perth
Having picked up a couple I headed to Effies for a cup of tea whilst admiring their table tops adorned with vintage cards of Perth and Kinross.
Effies
before nipping into the AK Bell Library where I managed to pick up a new book for my bus journey home. Happy foraging everyone.
AK Bell Library stock
DEALERS IN THE DUMPS
Talk to any Postcard Dealer and they often turn to the subject of cards they love to hate.
Usually these number in the thousands, were picked up at Auction as job lots and are a real pain to transport and unload for very little reward.
Some might say that dealers, like Taxi Drivers and Farmers do like to moan…I couldn’t possible comment of course…
Common complaints you may here (allegedly, I am now advised to say by the Editor)
“I can never shift these Birthday Greetings card (see also Nostalgia) even at 10p a card!”
“It’s the same faces who turn up at these fairs”
Sooo in the spirit of soluti0ns not problems here is a thought for any Dealers reading this.
At Freshers week here at Edinburgh University there was a sale of Posters and rather cheaply produced Postcards (4 for £7) which was extremely popular and ran for two days and repeatedly runs in the annual University calendar year.
Why not contact your local University or College and enquire about a small table?
You’ll find a ready-made audience of new faces keen to decorate their walls. In addition art students are always looking for inspiration and materials.
You’ll get to stay local rather than travel to some far-flung part of the country and who knows? you may yet inspire the next generation of collectors.
On sale for £2 each
Lothian Postcard Club 
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