Yesterday, Tennants Auctioneers in North Yorkshire sold an important private collection of original artwork by the bawdy seaside postcard designer Donald McGill.  The collection numbering some 82 original watercolour drawings was part of a specialist sale devoted to postcards, stamps, coins and cigarette cards.

There was enormous interest in this sale and the saleroom was packed with buyers of all ages from both the UK and overseas. Also, all the telephone lines were busy with eager buyers bidding for their favourites.   Not only were did the bidders include postcard collectors, but also artists and graphic designers.  As anticipated, the sauciest watercolours sold for the highest prices, just going to show that the humour and wit found in 1950’s British seaside towns is still appreciated today.

The collection was stored for many years in a bank vault and was sold by a private vendor from York who recently inherited them.

Donald Fraser Gould McGill (1875-1962) was a graphic artist whose name has now become synonymous with the saucy seaside postcards he designed.   The postcards were sold in small shops in seaside towns throughout Britain and typically portray busty young woman, fat old ladies, drunken red faced middle-aged men, honeymoon couples and vicars.

The watercolours all sold for high prices, with the highest price being paid for lots 372 and 449 which sold for £1,300 and lot 453 which sold for £1,450.  No doubt some will have been bought as investments and will be going back into bank vaults but others will be framed to be placed on view and enjoyed by their new owners.

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Lot 453. Sold for £1500

Lot 372. Sold for £1300