7 Things The Victorians Loved To See Beside The Sea

1. Postcards

Sending postcards was a huge part of a Victorian holiday. Just as modern day postcards do, Victorian postcards came in all manor of different designs from the more traditional styles displaying pictures of the resort or hotel you were staying at to more risqué designs aimed at less conservative holiday makers. One artist who specialised in postcards of a naughty nature was Donald McGill, whose postcards relied on metaphors and double entendres. Despite being relatively inoffensive by today's standards, his work was banned by some resorts for being vulgar. He was even found guilty of breaking the 1857 Obscene Publication Act and fined £75. Today his work has become incredibly collectable with original pieces of his artwork selling for well over £1000.

The Victorians would also send secret messages alongside their postcards using the language of stamps. The language of stamps was a message sending technique in which the strategic positioning of a stamp on a postcard or envelope would hold a special meaning. For instance placing a stamp upside-down at the top left hand corner of a postcard would send the message I love you. On the other hand, placing a stamp upside-down at the top right hand corner of a postcard meant do not write to me again. The placing of stamps all over postcards and envelopes began to cause problems for the speedy processing of the mail. This led to the regulation that is in place today, that all stamps should be placed the correct way up and in the top right hand corner of an envelope or postcard.