High-res
This is quite the postcard, with the image surrounded by tartan. Let’s get sidetracked by tartan. There are thousands of designs registered at the Scottish Register of Tartans. When we think of tartan, we think of Scotland, where it’s been worn since approximately 250AD, probably even further back. Apparently, various Celtic populations wove and wore tartan cloth. And recently, remnants dating from 320 BC have been found in Austria.
So far, the oldest tartan has been found in… oh, come on, you know what I’m going to say… China. Yes, China, where apparently every damn thing was started! This tartan was found on mummies from approximately 2000 BC. That story, in itself, is fascinating. Referred to as the Tarim mummies, due to their location in the Tarim Basin. (It’s on the Pakistan side of China.) The mummies are Caucasian, with red and brown hair. Not, you know, what you generally expect to find in that region 4,000 years ago. The Scottish Tartans Authority provides some more info.
Back to the postcard… I love the image of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town. Old Town’s been around since the Middle Ages, probably the 12th century (about 1125), which is when it became a burgh. But, people have lived there since the Bronze Age. It cracks me up that New Town dates from the mid-18th century (1765). Here is the US, that would be pretty darn old.
Cool postcard courtesy of djgagnon:
Edinburgh, Scotland. Valentine postcard.
Railway station in centre foreground.
I was once told that Valentine (postcard printers) had a printing operation and warehouse in Edinburgh.
