Photographs, vintage postcards and other ephemera


Saturday 31 March 2012

A nation of shopkeepers

Work is the theme for Sepia Saturday this week. Taking a leaf out of Adam Smith's book, I've gone for a retail image. I'm not sure how this one came into my collection - it's either a print from an old negative or a copy of the original photograph - and I've no idea where in the UK it was taken.
The date on the newspaper adverts is Thursday, September 2, and judging by the headlines I'm guessing that the year is 1918.

As ever, lots more posts on this week's theme over at Sepia Saturday.

21 comments:

Lisa B said...

Wow, great photo, the detail is wonderful. Looks like there were plenty of sweets available then.

Alan Burnett said...

Wonderful photograph, you can blow it up to maximum size and let your eyes wander around it, soaking in all the fascinating detail.

Little Nell said...

Just behind the horse's front legs I can see the name of my home city - Nottingham! It's a very good print and I'd love to know what street it was on. I did a Sepia Saturday post a while back, called 'Open All Hours' which was about Nottingham shops.

Wibbo said...

@ Little Nell: I spotted that too and think it's probably part of an advert for Player's cigarettes or tobacco. I love these mysteries!

Unknown said...

I'm afraid we'll never know why mrs Casey is proud of her men folk. Based on the newspapers on the left I would suggest 1915, so I'm puzzled by the newspapers on the right.

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

It's a wonderful picture, capturing a moment in time. I wonder what on earth Mazawallee chocolates were.

North County Film Club said...

Yes, enlarging this photo is a must. There's so much to explore. From the newspaper headlines to the array of candies and so much more.
Nancy

Postcardy said...

There are lots of interesting details in that photo.

Wendy said...

So why was Mrs. Casey proud of her menfolk? Inquiring minds want to know. As everyone else has noted, there is so much to look at and contemplate in this photo. Fun fun!

Kristin said...

Great photo with lots to look at. I too wonder what the menfolk did to make Mrs. Casey proud.

Tattered and Lost said...

A wonderful shot and very very collectible.

Queen Bee said...

My favorite kind of photo - one with lots of details! I did a search on Mazawattee Chocolates. It started out as The Mazawattee Tea Company, but in 1900 tea prices rose & sales dropped, so they branched out into chocolate. Wikipedia states the company was one of the most important & most advertised tea firms in England during the late 19th century.

Bob Scotney said...

You could spend hours looking at this photo and still discover something new.
I wonder whether the horse was used for deliveries.

Little Nell said...

Actually Rob's right. I hadn't taken much notice of the dates, but the two newspapers on the left definitely belong in 1915, and September 2nd 1915 was a Thursday! So why the later newspapers on the right? The only thing I can think is that it was taken to mark an occasion - possibly even the end of WW1- and they had kept the posters as significant events and were displaying them as examples. it's certainly a lot of posters outside one small shop. I would really like that gentleman and his horse to move away for a few minutes so that we can solve the Nottingham mystery. I can't think why Players would put the name of the city on their ads. The has really mystified me; thank you for posting it.

Christine H. said...

I'm so glad I came along after all of these other comments. It's a great photo with great detail, and I also love the insight from fellow readers.

Linda said...

Newspapers again! Hooray. I have to admit, thinking of the different newspaper dates on display, what occurred was Facebook Timeline! Where past and present commingle. Ugh. Give me the news print version any day.

North County Film Club said...

I, too, was intrigued by Mrs. Casey and her men folk. I wonder if we'll ever know?
Barbara

North County Film Club said...

I'm also wondering about Mrs. Casey and her men folk. Intriguing!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

I love pictures like this; there is so much going on. It would make a great writing prompt for a story.

Kathy M.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Rowntree's Pastilles - mmm, I wonder if you can still get them? The orange ones were the best. Jo

Bruno Laliberté said...

So many details, it's amazing!!
:)~
HUGZ