Ed Nels

Above are two examples, one each from the first and second Series of the Transvaal (South African Republic) picture postcards. These were published as the first Series [1] and Series 'II' (2) before the South African War of October 1899. Series 3, 4 and 5 are all South African War (Anglo-Boer War) related and therefore outside my agenda.

Edouard Nels was born on 9^th September 1869 at Haute-Yutz. With his brother Edmond he started a company in Brussels at 20 Simonis Street. Their first postcards used photographs by August van Gele. Edouard was also a keen photographer taking photos in Alsace, Luxemburg as well as Belgium, which were published by Rommier and Jonas of Dresden.

One of their sisters, Louis was secretary to a Dr. Goering in Angra-Pequenha, German South West Africa, and during the South Africa War Dr. Goering was the German Consul in Johannesburg. It would seem likely this assisted Ed. Nels to produce picture postcard of the South African Republic (Transvaal), and later his South African War cards. Ed. Nels firm became successful postcard publishers in Belgium and by 1902 the printing company employed a staff of circa 450, with 56 printing presses and at their peak a staggering production of 160,000 postcards in a single day.

Leeflang records that Ed. Nels used J. Farine, Editeur, Le Locle in Switzerland to publish his postcard in both France and Switzerland.

The only complete list of these postcards from the first two Series is found in Bram Leeflang's outstanding book - see 'References' below. He lists ten picture postcards as the Series first [I] and, fifteen in Series 'II' (2). The late Joan Matthews told me that not all the sets of postcards have the same postcards. Moreover, the address sides are found with different printings and some in different colours; while others can be found bilingual.

The envelope here, 150mm x 100mm (6 x 4 inches), is printed in red and is for Series 'II' picture postcards. I muse it would be difficult to accommodate all fifteen cards into this envelope, particularly as the ‘Bursting Strength’ of the ‘Mechanical paper' is poor.

Conclusion
The facts above do not add up. Therefore, armed with the ‘E. N.’ bilingual envelope from Series 'II' (2), we can see that the number of postcards was ten and not for the fifteen which have been found. French: 'Dix cartes postales illustrées du' and, Dutch: 'Tien geillustreerde postkaarten van de'. Therefore, Joan Matthews’ observation that the envelopes did not always contain the same postcards can now be clarified.

If those who were employed to 'stuff' these envelops ran short of one postcard title, they could simply use another postcard title which may have been at hand. These postcards were for an international market, with different printings and colours of the address side.

There is also the situation when several postcards of the same designed were all facing the same way on a single board (card). For when the ink from a roller arrives at the last postcard, there may not always be enough ink left, resulting in a weak image. Therefore, mixing the designs would resolve the problem. In a large printing company proceeds can sometimes be improved by running two printing jobs together if the ink colour were the same. Industry was there to make a profit; delays in turnover time equates to ‘downtime’ and a commercial loss.

Historically and currently stamp and postcard collectors think there is some great plan and purpose to the way printers worked. The fact was that these postcards were just another job and nobody thought that anyone would be questioning their actions a hundred years later.

References
Leeflang, B. (2019), Pioneer Postcards of South Africa 1896-1900 Stationery and non-stationery picture postcards of the Boer Republics, Cape of Good Hope and Natal, pp.38-42. [A review of this book can be found on this website on the 'Postcard page' + 'Postcard Book Reviews'.]

Teulié, G., (September 1992), More Lowdown on Ed. Nels of "Serie Transvaal" Fame, Newsletter S.A.P.R.G., number 45, Castletown, Isle of Man, p.4.

Postscript
For Bram Leeflang's book, of which a few are left, contact Bram at bramleeflang@hotmail.com