Postcards

The post cards divide into two sections. One section comprises views, the majority being of places in Europe, including the UK. Included are a good selection of cards from Canterbury and other East Kent towns such as Ramsgate, Dover and Folkestone. Elsewhere in Europe different places in Italy feature strongly, while others are from France, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. There are also a few from Russia, China and the USA. The second section is of works of art and a few artefacts, in museums and places of worship, again mainly in Europe.

A large percentage of the used cards were addressed to Hewlett and sometimes his second wife, Nowell, with a smaller number to their parents or siblings, which presumably came into their possession at a later date. The unused cards were presumably collected by Hewlett and his family on their extensive travels.

Hewlett Johnson and his family travelled widely. Mary, Hewlett's first wife, travelled largely through Europe; they often went on holiday together. Nowell Johnson, Hewlett's second wife, had already travelled extensively before they were married. With Nowell, Hewlett's travels extended to numerous socialist countries, as far afield as Cuba, Russia and China. Members of their families were also able to travel, in Britain and abroad, and sent postcards to the Johnsons.

A number of the photographs for the cards were taken by Louis Levy, 1846-1919.