Book..THE CRYSTAL PALACE 1854-1936 On Post Cards

[mcleanmuir]

THE CRYSTAL PALACE 1854-1936 On Post Cards
By Fred Peskett and Bill Tonkin

The book contains 320 pages in A4 size and is the most comprehensive listing of the post cards of The Crystal Palce ever undertaken. Profusely illustrated it covers the building and the many events and exhibitions that took place there until it was desroyed by fire on the 30th November 1936.

http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/billsbook.html

[tulse hill terry]

Worthy work, but incredibly frustrating to use.

[Falkor]

Is there any shop(s) where I could purchase and pick up a copy of that book?

[Falkor]

Worthy work, but incredibly frustrating to use.

What do you mean? Please can you elaborate...

[tulse hill terry]

It is a worthwhile aim to catalogue all the many different postcards published on the Crystal Palace. Fred Paskett and Bill Tonkin of The Exhibition Study Group must have put many hours into the endeavour.

But.

While they have grouped the cards by publisher, the entries take note mainly of the backs, with long lists of measurements of the word postcard, and the few illustrations are only to clarify confusion. There are more illustrations of the several different types of the most common view, and of the backs, than of the fronts of only a few examples.

A great attempt, but only really of use with reference to a collection of Crystal Postcards to hand.

The book is avaliable from the Exhibition Study Group, 23 Bramley Way, West Wickham Kent, BR4 9NT ISBN 0 9524065 5 1 .

It would also be availiable from the Crystal Palace Foundation I would have thought. This is where I got mine.

[Falkor]

Thanks for clarifying that Terry...well said!

I shan't be buying a copy.

[tulse hill terry]

Please do not misunderstand me, though it is your choice whether you purchase it or not.

I have found it helpful enough, in conjunction with my own collection, though even then a frustrating read.

[mcleanmuir]

Terry,

thanks for clarifying, your one liner did not do anyone any favours.

Most educational books are frustrating but they get you there in the end.

[tulse hill terry]

Phew, once more into the fray......

It is not "profusely illustrated," and concentrates on the back of the cards! Without years of collecting the postcards themselves, it's not much use to even the most obsessive, and a missed opportunity I feel.

[tulse hill terry]

Unlike your own website of course.