The Eric Ravilious High Street Postcard Collection (No. 1).

Introducing the first Eric Ravilious High Street Collection – six rather good postcards depicting high street scenes from the late 1930s. These were created by Ravilious to illustrate a book about the high street (called ‘High Street’, sensibly enough), first published in 1938. Architectural historian J. M. Richards provided the text to accompany the illustrations.

2,000 copies of the book were printed, and doubtless more would have followed, but unfortunately the world had other ideas, with the original lithographic plates being destroyed in the blitz, which resulted in the original editions becoming extremely sought after. There are 24 illustrations in all.

Eric Ravilious (22 July 1903 – 2 September 1942) was an exceptional watercolourist, wood engraver and designer. He grew up in the shadow of the Sussex Downs in the coastal town of Eastbourne, the surrounding landscape of which heavily influenced many of his best known works. His instantly recognisable style, palette and choice of subject have an almost universal appeal, a blend which has increased in popularity with the passing of time, particularly in the first two decades of the 21st century.