|
Thomas Stevens of Coventry - England was the inventor and manufacturer of " Stevengraphs ", small pictures that are woven out of pure silk. Silk pictures are machine - made scenes that were a popular novelty in the late - Victorian era. Generally 2 1/2 X 6 inches and crammed with minute detail, they were mounted on cardboard and displayed on a wall, like tiny tapestries. Similar illustrations were woven into bookmarks, political ribbons, souvenirs and postcards. The mechanism that made this possible was the Jucquard attachment, with which the operation of a loom could be programmed on punch to make practically any desired design. Silk postcards and greeting cards first introduced in 1902. This postcards have the address - and - message side printed in the conventional manner. The scenic side has a small Stevens woven - silk picture or portrait let - in, surrounded by a pressed, relief - patterned border design. The early Stevens postcards do not bear the name and address of the manufacturer. The cards depict famous passenger liners were sold aboard these vessels. Postally used Stevens postcards are now rare. This postcards are not for sale.
|
