Colour transparencies and stock were purchased by David Varney Bennett following the demise of Shoesmith & Etheridge (Stationers of Hastings) on 4th January 1966. Bennett’s company, described as a “Wholesaler of Postcards” was first registered on the same day, 4th January 1966, and traded from premises at 12 Mill Street, Maidstone.

The Directors of the Company were David Varney Bennett, Douglas Whittaker (MD), PR Edwards, and Leslie Denyer (Co. Secretary)

At first, Bennett used existing views of Shoesmith & Etheridge postcards and added his personalised back to the photograph. Later, he or his photographers took their own photographs which were then produced as postcards, mainly in colour.

He produced postcards with a variety of themes, including typical views of sea-side towns, railways (in particular the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway), transport, animals (including an elephant and cheetah!!), map cards, cards republished from early drawings by Mabel Lucie Atwell, and many more. All cards seem to have been printed not only in the standard size (3.5” * 5.5”) but also the larger size (4” * 6”) and even a few larger (4” * 8”). Most have plain edges, but there are also many deckle edged cards, as used by Shoesmith & Etheridge.

The backs fall into four types - the logo’s used are of a Norman Head (from Shoesmith & Etheridge), Photo View, Camera, and no logo at all. The Norman Head has been seen on cards from 1970 to 1980; the Photo View from 1969 to 1979; the Camera from 1972 to 1987, and no logo cards seen from 1968 to 1991. Along with the logo, the cards are headed: Bennett Publications, Lenham, Kent; D.V.Bennett Ltd, Maidstone; or D.V.Bennett Ltd, Lenham, Kent.

      Back type 1 - Norman Head                                 Back type 2 - Photo View

            Back type 3 - Camera                                    Back type 4 - no logo

All the cards (other than a few dozen) are numbered on the back (a few on the front as well), and there appear to be cards in the series 2001 to 2232; 7001 to 8421; 10001 to 20000 with many gaps in each sequence.

DV Bennett sadly died in the early 1980’s, and the company was wound up on 1st August 1984.

I have included a selection of the cards by D V Bennett below:

Click on the photo to enlarge the image.

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D V BENNETT

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