Sir, - I do not wish to make little of John Hinde's marvellous effort in inventing a tourist world, not only for Ireland but for other countries as well (Editorial, January 10th). However, the credit for producing the first series of good colour postcards must go to Philip Carthew, who diverted from studio work to producing the first major series of postcards in Ireland after the second World War. I designed and made the postcard stands that went with his "Real Colour PC cards".
Philip Carthew's photographs included every view of importance in Ireland and his viewpoints and compositions were later used by other postcard photographers. He prided himself on using the photographs exactly as they were taken, with no enhancement of the blue skies or added spots of red. He retired from the postcard business in the late 1950s, when John Hinde filled the gap in the market. The display stands I designed and made for PC were copied and are still in production in much the same form. Unfortunately, I didn't register the design! - Yours, etc.,
Blessington, Co Wicklow.