The Coolest Place in the House.
A postcard that sums up the fantasy of colonial life for Europeans. The dog resting by the tub is to Indians most unhygienic, but to Europeans the ultimate Raj bathroom accessory.
Animals
A Camel with rider and gun. Jaipur
One of the more unusual forces in Rajputana during the Raj was the Bikaner Camel Corps which "had such camels also on which 'jujarbas' or small cannon were mounted" (Nandakiśora Pārīka, Jaipur that was: royal court and the seraglio, p.
Calcutta. Snake Charmers.
[Original caption] Snake Charmers, Calcutta. The Snake Charmer, as a rule, is an itinerant being, who is glad to charm his snakes in your compound, or before your house or bungalow, for a small reward.
Snake Charmer
Snake charmers are one of the most common early Indian postcard subjects, and this must be one of the earliest and most beautiful such views. Note the clever use of the palm backdrop to create the illusion of depth, and the rich use of red.
Prince of Wales Wild Boar Bagged in Patiala State
This card was part of a series published in connection with the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley in 1924, copyright and likely sponsored by the Patiala Government.
State Elephant
In India, elephants are revered as symbols of wisdom and good luck. Once it was common to find elephants on the roads of Mumbai.
Tanga Stand (Murree)
Before the advent of the motor car the tonga or open horse-drawn carriage was a popular mode of transporting humans and goods in the Indian subcontinent.
Jeypore. The Chowk and Hawa Mahal
[Original caption] The Chowk and Howa Mahal. This is a picturesque and animated scene. The inhabitants of Jeypore are a busy people, and their bazaars are generally crowded.
Royal Visit at Gwalior, on Jan 1905
[Original Verso] (King Georges V was then Prince of Wales) India [end]
Antoine Druet (1857–1921) was a French painter and postcard artist; given the caption, this card would have been published after George V was crowned King in May 1910. A lush,
Aligators at Maghar Pir, Karachi
Few Karachiites today would believe that a very popular early postcard of the city showed the Alligators at Mughar Pier, Karachi.
