Active Service Envelopes & Field Service Post Cards WW1/2

[Michael Dobbs]

Hi all - another enquiry:

I have received the following detailed enquiry from Australia - and before anyone suggests, I have sent it to Peter Burrows to see if he can / is willing to answer such detailed questions.

Other than that does anyone know if any research has been carried out into the printing of such stationery? 

[color=maroon]Apologies for not making my request clearer.  I am a keen collector of the Active Service Envelopes and Field Service Post Cards as used by Australian troops during World wars I and II.  I have enclosed a couple of scans to illustrate the items that I am chasing, and hopefully background information in relation to their printing.  I do understand that most were printed in England for the British Troops, and that some found their way to be used by Australian Troops.  That's all good.

What I am wanting to discover is who were the printers used and where were they based.  And what was the process for these printers in gaining authority to print the items?  Specifically:

For Active Service "Privilege" Envelopes
• What do the initials "M.E", "C & Co (B) Ltd", "C & Co Grange Mills, SW", "J.D. & Co Apsley", "P.A. & Co Ltd London", "J.D. & Co", "M & S Ltd", "T.B. & Co", "K. & J", "M.C. & S. Ltd", "W.M. & Co & Ltd", and "F.A. & Co Ltd" stand for?
• Presumably they denote specific printers, but can one of your members identify them for me?
• There are no doubt other printers not included above

For Field Service Post Cards
• What do the initials "M.R. Co Ltd", "W. & Co Ltd", "C & Co Grange Mills, SW", H.C . & L. Ltd", "J.J.K. & Co Ltd", "F.T. & Co", "S & S Ltd", stand for?
• Presumably they denote specific printers, but can one of your members identify them for me?
• There are no doubt other printers not included above
• I have been told that on the reverse side, the large numeric number indicates the print run by the printer, again, is this able to be confirmed?

I have been unable to find any publications/meaningful research on the items, and would be delighted to learn of any reference work/study done on these items, and would be very happy to purchase it/or a copy thereof of, if such is available.  I would be interested in hearing more of your Society, what is involved in joining from here in Australia?[/color]

Thanks, Mike  :)

[Peter Harvey]

These will all be in Peter Burrows book - "I am well', but I already have the following notes:

For Field Service Post Cards
M.R. Co Ltd = Morgan Reeves & Co Ltd
C & Co Grange Mills, SW = Chapman & Co Ltd Grange Mills refers to Balham address and SW South West London.
H.C . & L. Ltd = Hayman, Christy & Lilly Ltd
J.J.K. & Co Ltd = J. J. Keller & Co Ltd
S & S Ltd = Shaw & Sons Ltd

[Michael Dobbs]

Peter

Many thanks for your response; I have also heard back from Peter Burrows who has supplied a complete listing as follows:

C & Co (B) Ltd - Chapman & Company (Balham) Limited
C & Co Grange Mills, SW - Chapman & Company Grange Mills, Weir Road, Balham, London SW12
J.D. & Co Apsley - John Dickinson & Company Limited, Apsley Mills, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
P.A. & Co Ltd London - Pirie, Appleeton & Company Limited, Mansell Street, London E1
J.D. & Co - John Dickinson & Company Limited
M & S Ltd - Millington & Sons (1908) Limited, Southwark Street, London SE1
T.B. & Co - Thornburn, BaIn & Company Limited, Paternoster Row, London EC
K. & J - Kenrick & Jefferson Limited, West Bromwich
M.C. & S. Ltd - M Cook & Son Limited
F.A. & Co Ltd - Fenner Appleton & Company Limited, London EC
W.M. & Co & Ltd - Whitehead, Morris & Company Limited, London
M.R. Co Ltd - Morgan Reeves & Company Limited, London
W. & Co Ltd - Waddie & Company Limited, Edinburgh
H.C . & L. Ltd - Hayman, Christy & Lilly Limited, London EC
J.J.K. & Co Ltd - J J Keliher & Company Limited, London SE1
F.T. & Co - F Thorne & Company Limited, Liverpool
S & S Ltd - Shaw & Sons Limited, London EC4

Please note that it is 'Keliher' not Keller; see [url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._J._Keliher_and_Co]https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._J._Keliher_and_Co[/url]
Shaw & Sons Limited, London EC4 still appear to be trading but from different premises; see [url=https://www.shaws.co.uk/about-us.cfm]https://www.shaws.co.uk/about-us.cfm[/url]

Mike

[Alan Baker]

I hope you have "sold" the enquirer membership