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A 5.5x3.5" vintage RPPC photo postcard from a large collection of antique/vintage British real photo postcards. We acquired this collection from a London sale house.
U.K. Buyers: we always combine shipping and charge shipping for only one photo/postcard (goes for all buyers, worldwide), so feel free to buy multiple for economic shipping ! Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.
Photo Overview
Locomotive portrait of London & South Western Railway “Samson”-class 2-2-2 No 487 “John O’Groat,” posed with five railwaymen beside the coke-heaped six-wheel tender in the yard at Nine Elms Works, London, circa 1865. The Victorian single’s ornate wheel splashers, polished brass dome and early style weatherboard cab are crisply captured on this glossy real-photo postcard.
Designed by Joseph Locke, the Samson class debuted in 1844 and became one of Britain’s earliest express passenger types; “John O’Groat” worked premier services until withdrawal in the 1880s, just as more powerful doubles and compounds arrived. Authentic period locomotive studies like this are scarce survivors—secure this evocative piece of early UK railway history before another collector steams off with it!
Text Present
Front, splasher: JOHN O’ GROAT
Front, number plate: 487
Back, top left: No 487 “John O’ Groat” Introduced: 1844.
Back, top center: “SAMSON” class
Back, top left margin: PAGE 67
Print analysis: Glossy silver-gelatin emulsion on postcard stock with undivided back layout typical of c1930s British RPPC issues; no half-tone dots visible under loupe, confirming true photographic print. Original negative dates to c1865, but postcard was printed many decades later from that negative, classifying this as a Type 2 RPPC (c1930s print from original 1860s negative).
Condition: Very good to excellent antique/vintage condition. The photos and postcards in this collection have been remarkably well preserved. See photos for exact condition of this item.
