Stunning Vintage Raphael Tuck Postcard depicting the original heraldic emblem and motto of Harrogate (embossed), and a framed inset of a sepia image of Valley Gardens, a Grade II listed park laid out in 1887 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria.
The original heraldic emblem of Harrogate granted in 1884 features a shield, quarterly argent (silver/white) with two fountains (representing medicinal springs) and two bugle horns. The crest shows the chief (central symbol) - a lion passant guardant (passant: walking in profile, with right paw raised; and, guardant: with his head turned to face the viewer) - and out of the battlements of a tower, a tree entwined by two serpents, surmounted by a cock sable.
The motto, Arx Celebris Fontibus, translates as 'A citadel famous for its springs'.
Published by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd. - Harrogate, Heraldic Series, No 998. Embossed heraldic emblem. Date of first publication attributed to 17th June 1901.
Designed in England. Chromographed in Bavaria.
Postal history:
Unpaid/underpaid mail postcard from Harrogate, Yorkshire to Hyde Park London N.W, with:
(i) Without postage, cancelled with a bold double cancel, postmarked Harrogate, dated JY 7 01 (July 7 1901), time-stamped 7.30PM;
(ii) A bold "1d" chargemark, hand-stamped and initialled; with "1d" representing the amount underpaid; and
(iii) Two distinct receiving thimble cancels postmarked London N.W., the post office district for London North Western, dated JY 8 01 (July 8 1901), time-stamped 12.30PM.
Condition: Slight corner bumps and crease through emblem, with slight imprint of postmark through to the front of the card. Please see photos.