Itisthoughtthatthefirstpostcardeversentwaspostedon14thJuly1840toFulhaminLondon.Itwasaddressedto TheodoreHook,awriterandpracticaljoker.Thepicturewashandpaintedonpapershowinganimageofagiantink wellwithpostofficeclerkssittingaroundwithhugepens.Hookhadpostedthecardtohimselfintendingthecardto be a practical joke, poking fun at the postal workers who would have processed it.InBritain,thePostOfficeissuedpostcardswithoutimagesin1870,includedinthepriceofpurchasewasthestamp whichwasprintedasapartofthedesign.TheRoyalMailin1894gavepermissiontoBritishpublishersto manufactureanddistributepicturepostcardswhichcouldbesentthroughthepostalsystem.Earlypostcardswere picturesoflandmarks,scenicviewsphotographsordrawingsofcelebritiesetc.Theseasidebecameapopulartourist destination with steam trains providing fast and affordable travel, and this generated its own souvenir Industry.
Many postcards of Southend and the surrounding areas have been produced over the years here is a collection of just 50.