Series: N/A
Catalogue: 224422 J.V.
Date of Issue: First half of 1934
Artist: Unknown
Usage: Unused
This popular card, often seen for sale online, is part of a series of at least sixteen postcards depicting the Loch Ness Monster that was issued by Valentine's of Dundee, a titan of the industry. Perfect for Valentine's day.
Each of the fifteen views depicts the monster at a different locale around the loch. Several of the locales are, however, repeated. As such, this is one of a handful of cards from the series with Nessie plying the waters around the township of Fort Augustus, located at the most southerly end of the Loch.
The motif on this card is interesting, for it seems to invert the usual nature of a Nessie sighting: instead of the monster being glimpsed by observers, here the observers have been sighted by the monster! There might be some wry humour lurking in the choice of the "government tug boat" as the subject of Nessie's wrath. Otherwise, this is one of the few cards created which depicts Nessie as an aggressive creature. As far as I am aware, this is not something that is documented in contemporary sightings.
Valentine's cards are significantly easier to date than many others of this period, for the date of manufacture is in fact printed on the card for the eagle-eyed to observe. The date of this example is indicated by the "34-1" which appears in the stamp box at the top right of the verso. This number indicates that the card was printed in 1934, while the 1 signifies that it was issued in the first half of the year. It was reprinted at least twice in the 1930s. I have seen examples dated 34-2 and 35-1.
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