april 9th 1907 Martha mary mantz to frances Martha mantz

Victoria docks, London to wood green, london

18 miles

the message

"Dear Frances & Nellie

We are very pleased to hear you will like it. Did you your paper alright.

Hope it is not too cold.

With love from all

Martha"

the sender

For details of Martha Mary Mantz go to

the recipient

For details of Frances Martha Mantz go to

the places

Victoria Docks, London

Wood Green, London

Maidstone, Kent

what the card says to us

This is the ninth card in the Frances Mantz series and the second sent by her younger sister Martha, 3 years after the first.

The picture is of Maidstone High Street and appears to have no relevance. In the bottom left hand corner of the picture there is a doodle. Is it a cartoon message between the sisters? Or is it part of the original card?

The message suggests that Frances has only just started at the teacher training college and this is consistent with the previous card in the sequence from Lilian Tarrant.

There seems to be a word missing between "you" and "your" in the first sentence. Probably "get".

The card is addressed to Frances and Nellie as was the first card from Martha. Who is Nellie? Is it a friend? An imaginary friend? A pet? A doll? There is nothing in the family tree to suggest the identity of Nellie.

The most curious aspect of this card is the fact that part way through, Martha switches to mirror writing which tells us that at least two of the Mantz sisters are adept in this technique. But why do it, and for such a mundane question about the cold? Families are funny things.

To see the whole Frances Mantz series go to