Freda Gittos

The Edwardian era (1901-1910) was known as the Golden Age and a time of new inventions and machinery. It was during this short period that the first cars, aeroplanes and the telephone were introduced into society.

In this book, we have nostalgic examples of social history depicted on postcards: gold miners in the Forest of Dean, Rose with her ’rag and bones’ horse-drawn cart, a lady chimney sweep pushing her brushes, and various images, including harvesting, rural crafts and transport. This was also the time of the Art Nouveau movement, and other postcards show the delightful work of the artists Alphonse Mucha and Raphael Kirchner.

The Suffragette campaign dominated the Edwardian era, and included is a photograph of the Suffragettes marching down Cheltenham High Street with banners advertising a meeting at the town hall.

The Edwardian era was indeed a ’Golden Age.’