𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Quentin, whose works include illustrating stories by Roald Dahl, said: “In the days of knights in armour they didn’t have postcards, so I do hope children enjoy mine and send him on to someone special.”

The postcards were printed at Hastings-based Judges, which is the UK’s last surviving postcard business.

The company’s Graeme Wolford said the industry had declined from 12 million cards sold annually in the 1960s and 1970s to about 3 million sold annually in recent years.

But he added there had been a “striking evolution” where postcards had become “more of a collector’s item, transforming into a mini art form”.

“We still see a higher demand for postcards in summer and there’s definitely been an increase in demand for those nostalgic seaside designs,” Wolford said.

English Heritage has also acquired a collection of 800 historical postcards of Dover Castle, which were collated by the site’s former head custodian.

Pat Cunningham, who worked at the castle between 1988 and 2010, bought the cards online or from local antique shops over decades, according to English Heritage.

Visitors to the Kent attraction can view a selection of the postcards on 18 July.

Grace Parsonage, English Heritage’s assistant curator for the South East, said: “It’s been a real treat to work through this remarkable collection, alongside our volunteers, to record and transcribe these messages from the past.”