Holmfirth was the birthplace of Bamforth & Co Ltd and the saucy seaside postcard. The beginnings date back to 1860′s when a family of painters and decorators started to supply painted backgrounds for laternslide shows and subsequently the lanternslides themselves. At the turn of the century the picture postcard started to become popular and during the first world war sentimental and song based cards were produced by Edwin Bamforth.

Popular holiday resort views were core products until artists Douglas Tempest and Arnold Taylor introduced the comic cards we now associate with Bamforth’s. The cards often had a topical theme but the most enduring were the saucy variety like Taylor’s courting couple She: “I’m as virtuous as the day is long, Mr Jones!” Mr Jones: “Stick around, then, love – it’ll soon be dark!” or Policewoman: ”Anything you say will be taken down”. Drunk: ”Knickers” – and they had the cartoons to match.

Sadly the company bought by E W Dennis of Scarborough in 1987 stopped production with the closure of Dennis’s. Now you can see postcards in the museum at Holmfirth or buy them from collectors fairs or Ebay like those above.

More humourous slogans