General Postcards Courtesy Rose Ledbury December 2025
Composite Cards
The composite postcards of Box don't really enable readers to understand anything about the village because they are too small and don't really show the attractive features of the area. Instead, they focus on streets, shops and buildings. They were probably chosen because the publishers felt they could use them copyright-free or easily copied without permission. Copyright was formalised in 1710 under the Statute of Anne for a period of 14 years which could be renewed for another term but thereafter the original became a free public source. In 1848 this altered this to become the lifetime of the author plus 7 years. However, it proved to be difficult to establish copyright when the photos were cropped and amended as in the composite cards.
The composite postcards of Box don't really enable readers to understand anything about the village because they are too small and don't really show the attractive features of the area. Instead, they focus on streets, shops and buildings. They were probably chosen because the publishers felt they could use them copyright-free or easily copied without permission. Copyright was formalised in 1710 under the Statute of Anne for a period of 14 years which could be renewed for another term but thereafter the original became a free public source. In 1848 this altered this to become the lifetime of the author plus 7 years. However, it proved to be difficult to establish copyright when the photos were cropped and amended as in the composite cards.
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Hand Coloured Images
Many of the original images in black and white were not intrinsically interesting and only marginally improved in sepia. But the hand coloured headline composite postcard in four colours was a significant improvement, albeit that it was coloured with a limited palette.
Many of the original images in black and white were not intrinsically interesting and only marginally improved in sepia. But the hand coloured headline composite postcard in four colours was a significant improvement, albeit that it was coloured with a limited palette.
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Some of the hand-colouring is aesthetically rather poor, as shown by hand colouring above left compated to full colour images above right. Nonetheless, the images do show interesting views of the area by which we can see changes in the village.
Modern Photographs
When printers were able to use more modern images, the cards were significantly improved. The photo above is hand coloured and charming in its depiction of Box as a rural village. The photo appears to show sheep grazing on land at the centre of the village, possibly from the area around the bottom of Devizes Road where it joins the top of Chapel Lane.
When printers were able to use more modern images, the cards were significantly improved. The photo above is hand coloured and charming in its depiction of Box as a rural village. The photo appears to show sheep grazing on land at the centre of the village, possibly from the area around the bottom of Devizes Road where it joins the top of Chapel Lane.
The portability of modern cameras allowed views to be taken from unusual locations, making images appear fresh and exciting, even when showing rows of domestic houses.
Shutter speeds were significantly shortened, allowing people to be shown in the views withut being blurred. The stamp on the postcard below left is dated 1924 when the stone work around the War Memorial is still brilliant white and the road signage uncompromised by Second World War camouflage to confuse invaders.
Shutter speeds were significantly shortened, allowing people to be shown in the views withut being blurred. The stamp on the postcard below left is dated 1924 when the stone work around the War Memorial is still brilliant white and the road signage uncompromised by Second World War camouflage to confuse invaders.
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Hillside Views
Because of the nature of the village topography, views tended to look down hills to offer depth in the photograph. This gave a better perspective than views uphill when the view was foreshortened.
Because of the nature of the village topography, views tended to look down hills to offer depth in the photograph. This gave a better perspective than views uphill when the view was foreshortened.
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Even small differences in contour could be used to give the photograph a sense of depth. The spire of Box Church has almost disappeared in the image above, but a sense of landscape is given by the slope in the foreground and right-hand side. The image below was taken from a different position showing the extent of property development in the area.
