Raphael Tuck & Sons, publishers from the mid 1800's into the early 20th Century; known to be the Publishers to Her Majesties the King and Queen, with printing houses in London, Paris and New York.
They began in London in 1866, selling pictures and frames. Raphael Tuck was joined by his three sons in 1871 and published their first Christmas greeting card.
In 1893 they were granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria.
Adolph Tuck, one of the sons, produced their first picture postcard in 1894 which was sold to tourists visiting the site.
The first series of numbered postcards was printed In 1898 which was a set of 12 lithographed vignette views of London, numbered 1 to 12 with the "Tower of London" being postcard #1.
They entered the postcard market in the United States in 1900 with an office in New York. American artists designed many of the postcards, but the cards were printed in Europe (Germany, Saxony, England) and then returned to the states for sale.
The history, records, original paintings and postcards of Raphael Tuck & Sons were destroyed during the bombing blitz of London during World War II.
