Ranstead Collection

Fancy Meeting You by George Ranstead
Humorous illustration by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps, depicting a rascally little boy wriggling through a fence after stealing apples

Apres la Guerre No. 3 - WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard drawn by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, who, in a series of illustrations suggesting what life might be like at the end of the war

War Horse - illustration on postcard by George Ranstead
Lovely illustration of a noble looking horse, with a plough harness around its neck. Drawn by amateur soldier artist, George Ranstead, at the time of World War One

Humorous hand drawn postcard by George Ranstead
Comic illustration by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, showing a pavement artist pleading with a woman to keep her cat indoors as it keeps licking his pictures of fish off

Weak Tea by George Ranstead
Humorous exchange about weak tea between two sailors of World War One by George Ranstead, an amateur artist who served in the Army Pay Corps

Lady at dressing table - WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Lovely, decorative illustration by amateur, soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, depicting a lady at her dressing table. circa 1916

Two women chatting in a kitchen, one thin and one fat. One says: I just seen young George the worse for drink again. The other replies: I ain t surprised. You may depend e in aled it from is father

Jeannie by George Ranstead
Original illustration on a postcard depicting a young woman in a wide brimmed hat. It is inscribed " Jeannie by George". Jeannie was the fiancee and later wife of George Ranstead, the artist

Apres la Guerre no. 5 - postcard drawn by George Ranstead
Humorous drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur soldier artist of the Great War. This image, one of a series suggesting what life might be like at the end of the war

Belgium by George Ranstead
Drawing on a postcard showing a small child looking cold and frightened, meant to represent Belgium which had fallen to German forces in the first few weeks of the First World War

Postcard by George Ranstead
One of a large number of postcards hand drawn by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Elegant woman in evening dress by George Ranstead
A drawing of a woman in fashionable and glamorous evening wear from the WWI era. Drawn by amateur artist of the Great War, George Ranstead who served in the Army Pay Corps

Street Fight by George Ranstead
Drawing of two men engaged in a punch up in the street, much to the horror of a lady watching from a doorway (possibly the cause of the fight)

Portrait of a woman on a postcard by George Ranstead, WWI pe
Drawing of a woman in a fashionable dress of the Great War period, its loose, straight style and bandeau in the hair forecasting the fashions of the 1920s

Lady on a postcard by George Ranstead
A lovely, dramatic illustration on a postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead showing a lady in a turban or toque style hat applying powder to her face

A Terribold Tale by George Ranstead
An old man sits in a chair telling a tall tale to his terrified friend. Drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Pretty Girl, World War One era, drawn by George Ranstead
A pretty young woman with abundant long dark hair drawn by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Postcard by George Ranstead - ladies in their boudoir
Attractive illustration on a postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead; a decorative image featuring two ladies in 18th century costume, one at her dressing table. 1918

Two soldiers in a trench during WW1
Two soldiers in a trench during the First World War. The officer, new at his job, is asking whether the enemy are very close

Hand drawn postcard by George Ranstead Apres la Guerre
Humorous postcard hand drawn by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, which is the first of a series he drew suggesting what life might be like after the war had ended

A misunderstanding by George Ranstead
Two soldiers discuss a new watch while traveling on a bus or tram, but accidentally offend a ruddy lady sitting opposite. Humorous drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead

Crocodile Tears
A crocodile with toothache cries tears of pain. Drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Powdering - Hand drawn postcard by George Ranstead
A lady dressed in a diaphanous nightgown looks at her reflection in a hand mirror as she delicately powders her nose. circa 1916

Optimist and pessimists - postcard by George Ranstead
Postcard by George Ranstead, amateur soldier artist of the Great War featuring three miserable looking hairy men with long beards, looking with suspicion at an optimist who is grinning broadly

Portrait of a fashionable woman on a postcard, George Ranste
Drawing a fashionable lady in an evening dress with a bandeau and aigot in her hair by George Ranstead, an amateur soldier artist of the Great War who produced a variety of some 96 illustrations

Lady and Mirror by George Ranstead
A rather arrogant lady, wearing a fashionable ensemble, gazing at her reflection in a large oval mirror, except, spookily, no reflection appears to be forthcoming

Thoughts of home, WWI postcard drawn by George Ranstead
Hand drawn postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, featuring an idyllic scene with flowers, a country church and his sweetheart

Wartime courtship by George Ranstead
A young subaltern and his sweetheart flirt with each other across a table. She asks him when he first fell in love with her to which he replies

Woman in a hat by George Ranstead
Drawing of a pretty, young woman in a fashionable hat and fur drawn by George Ranstead, amateur soldier artist of the Great War

WWI postcard drawn by George Ranstead
Humorous illustration on a postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead. The picture depicts a home owner throwing a boot at a couple of fighting felines

Apres la Guerre no. 4 - postcard drawn by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard drawn by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, One of a series of images suggesting what life might be like after the war has ended, here

Humorous WWI postcard drawn by George Ranstead
Comic illustration by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, depicting a rather weedy, monocled chap, dressed smartly with spats and a top hat

Camouflage - WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, showing the evolution of an almost fully-grown infantry soldier by the end of the war

Portrait of a girl on a postcard by George Ranstead
Portrait of a young girl in a bonnet (a style often worn as as sunhat during the Great War). Drawn by amateur soldier artist of the period, George Ranstead. circa 1916

Strongman by George Ranstead
Humorous drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps, of a strong man being rejected from a competition

18th century gentleman by George Ranstead
A curious eighteenth century gent wearing a silk frock coat and tricorn hat lifts a monocle to his eye to see better. Drawn by George Ranstead

Woman in a turban by George Ranstead
A stylised black and white illustration of a woman in a turban or toque style hat as she smokes a cigarette, the smoke of which curls artistically around her head

The Great Advance by George Ranstead
Cartoon drawing by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps, showing two ruffians looking as if they are about to start fighting

Woman on a postcard by George Ranstead
A woman wearing a large hat posed against a doodled geometric background. Drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur artist who served in the Army Pay Corps during World War I. circa 1916

Young Woman by George Ranstead
Drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps, of a young, pretty woman wearing a mop cap style hat. circa 1916

Fed Up Dog by George Ranstead
Cartoon drawing of an extremely glum looking dog by George Ranstead, an amateur soldier artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Apres La Guerre by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard from the WWI era by George Ranstead, an amateur artist who served in the Army Pay Corps. A soldier finally arrives back from the Front to discover that the baby born in his absence

Two men, Harold and Clarence, having a conversation. Clarence is on his way to see his solicitors to bring a libel action -- someone has been telling people that he deserves the OBE! circa 1916

WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur soldier artist of the Great War, showing a sergeant handing a bomb to a rather green looking new recruit on the battlefield and saying, Ere you are

Still Smiling by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps. This particular postcard, with the cheeky caption

Two men on a street, one tall and slim, the other short and plump. Horace asks: Got such a thing as a spare fiver on you, old chap? The reply is unprintable. circa 1916

Portrait of a young woman by George Ranstead
Drawing of a young woman of the World War I era in profile by George Ranstead. Ranstead was an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps

Flag Selling, World War One by George Ranstead
A young and pretty flag seller seems to be falling prey to the attentions of a rakish type who isn t in uniform, much to the disapproval of an older, matronly lady

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"Ranstead: Capturing Moments of History and Humor in Postcards" Step into the world of George Ranstead, a talented artist who brought life to postcards with his unique illustrations. From "Fancy Meeting You, " where unexpected encounters spark intrigue, to "Apres la Guerre No. 3, " a poignant reminder of the aftermath of World War I, Ranstead's work reflects both the beauty and struggles of the era. In "War Horse, " Ranstead's illustration transports us back to the battlefield, capturing the bravery and loyalty between man and animal. And just when you think he couldn't surprise you more, there is his humorous hand-drawn postcard that brings laughter even during challenging times. With "Weak Tea, " Ranstead humorously highlights everyday situations we can all relate to – those moments when life hands us something less than satisfactory. Meanwhile, in "Lady at dressing table - WWI postcard, " he unveils an intimate glimpse into a woman's private world during wartime. But it's not all serious subjects; it also captures simple joys like two women chatting in a kitchen or playfully warns us about swimming abilities with "I Can't Swim. " In "Jeannie" and "Belgium, " he showcases his versatility by portraying both individuals' portraits and landscapes with equal skill. Each postcard by George Ranstead tells its own story – whether it be historical significance or lighthearted amusement. Finally, we are introduced to an elegant woman in evening dress who exudes grace through every brushstroke. Discover these captivating glimpses into history through George Ranstead's artistry on each carefully crafted postcard. Let them transport you back in time while appreciating their artistic brilliance that continues to captivate collectors worldwide.