Here is a nice collection of original watercolours and proof pages for designs for postcards published by A W Wardell of Brighton and Worthing in the early 1950s. The material here shows how changes were made to the original paintings (10 and 9/16 inches by 6 and 9/16 inches) in order to maximise the impact when reproduced at postcard size (5 and 3/16 inches by 3 and 3/16 inches).
Proof page of postcard designs Nos 1 to 3
Sea Front and Pier, Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and the following instructions: Grass too green; Clouds to be made pronounced; Boats bigger.
Sea Front and Pier, Worthing (proof page)
Sea Front and Pier, Worthing (actual postcard)
Marine Gardens, West Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and the following instructions: Break up colour in the red beds; Clouds made pronounced; Boats in distance; Back of flats to be brick colour (leave as it is).
Marine Gardens, West Worthing (proof page)
Heene Terrace, West Parade, Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and the following instructions: Grass too green; Break up beds like Worthing picture marked north 3 xxx; Ships larger; Take out television aerial.
Heene Terrace, West Parade, Worthing (proof page)
Proof page of postcard designs Nos 4 to 6
The Boating Pool, Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and No 1075.
The Boating Pool, Worthing (proof page)
Sea Front, Marine Parade, Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and No 1072 and the following instructions: Clouds more pronounced; This bus dark green please. The bus indicated is the one parked on the opposite side of the road as the rest, to the right of the painting. If you look closely you can see the original red paint beneath the green.
Sea Front, Marine Parade, Worthing (proof page)
Sea Front, Worthing (original watercolour)
The back of the board has the title and No 1074 and the instruction: Grass too green.
Sea Front, Worthing (proof page)
Sea Front, Worthing (actual postcard)
Proof page of postcard designs Nos 7 to 9
Sunken Gardens Looking East, Brighton (proof page)
The Beach and Grand Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton (proof page)
The Beach and West Pier, Brighton (proof page)
Proof page of postcard designs Nos 10 to 12
Sunken Gardens & Brunswick Terrace, Brighton and Hove (proof page)
Metropole and Grand Hotels, From West Pier, Brighton (proof page)
Sunken Gardens & Brunswick Terrace, Brighton and Hove (proof page)
Untitled, but is the Winter Gardens, Cliftonville, Margate (original watercolour)
The back of the board is blank. The front has the instructions: Jetty roof silver, lighter under jetty; Boats white, funnels buff, as on sample A743; Pavilion whiter; Two small round beds or similar to A 745, brighter reds; Narrow wall whiter; Leave entrance.
Untitled, but is the Torre Abbey Gardens, Torquay (original watercolour)
The back of the board is blank.