Imagine receiving a postcard that was sent over a century ago! In a remarkable twist of fate, Swansea, Wales has just received a postcard sent in 1903—121 years later! This extraordinary event not only defies postal norms but also sets a new record in mailing history. Discover the fascinating story behind this vintage message and the incredible journey it took to finally reach its destination in 2024. Don’t miss out on this remarkable tale of time travel through mail!
In Swansea, Wales, a construction worker received a 121-year-old postcard addressed to Lydia Davies! The postcard, believed to be from 1903, was addressed to Lydia Davies, who was known to be 16 years old and lived on the same street at that time.
The postcard features 'The Challenge' by 19th-century English animal painter Edwin Henry Landseer. The artwork depicts a stag standing in the snow with a snow-covered mountain range and a water puddle in the background.
The exact way the mysterious postcard came to light is still unknown! After being preserved for 121 years, it’s unclear how it ended up with the construction community on Cradock Avenue in Swansea. Henry Darby, the community’s marketing and communications officer, expressed hope to find more information about Lydia Davies or the sender of the postcard.
Darby also mentioned plans to return this historic postcard to one of Lydia’s relatives and preserve it as a memento for future generations. According to The Guardian, the postcard features a green half-penny stamp with a portrait of King Edward VII. This stamp dates from Edward’s reign between 1901 and 1910. Census records from 1901 show that Lydia Davies lived on the same street with her parents and five siblings. However, Lydia's common surname in Wales complicates the search for her relatives.
It is known that Lydia married a man from London who owned a hotel on Pall Mall. This suggests that Lydia’s family might not have lived in Swansea, increasing the possibility that the postcard came from a farther location. The inscription on the postcard notes that a person named Ewart wished Lydia to 'enjoy yourself at home' and mentioned 'about 10 shillings' as a stipend.
A Royal Mail spokesperson suggested that the postcard might have been returned to their system rather than being lost in the mail for over a century. The spokesperson told The Guardian that when an item is in their system, they are responsible for delivering it to the correct address.