S&E

………the other postcard publisher from Hastings!

This is a fairly comprehensive history of the Hastings postcard publisher Shoesmith & Etheridge (S&E), and draws on information provided by the excellent website SussexPostcards.info to whom I give credit. Additional information has recently come to light from Grace Dicker, an ex-employee of the company, about the associated company Silbrom, and that is included within this text.

Albert Shoesmith started issuing postcards when working for the Sussex Postcard Company and the Sussex Photographic Company, before issuing cards using his own name. George Etheridge joined forces with him after WW1, and together their output of cards (mostly numbered) exceeds 25,000. Their photographers travelled through Kent, Sussex and Hampshire to take photographs of everyday life in mainly the sea-side towns, and many fine views were achieved.

My listing of the cards I have found to date (only 5,000 or so out of the estimated 25,000 cards issued) is listed in numerical order, with supplementary information including colour of back and front, generic back type, date postally used, and the caption on the front. So you can see that there is plenty of information still to find - so if you have a card not on my list, please let me know??

I have included some of my favourite views below the links to the various parts of the history for your interest.

Albert George Barrett Shoesmith & George Etheridge

Postcard Backs

The Sussex Postcard Company

The Sussex Photographic Company

Shoesmith & Etheridge Photographs

Silbrom Ltd

David Varney Bennett

Below are a selection of the Postcards of Shoesmith & Etheridge:

Click on the photo to enlarge the image.