A postcard has arrived in South Wales 121 years after it was posted.
The Christmas-themed postcard which depicts a majestic stag in a snowy landscape was originally posted in 1903.
At that point, the Victorian era had just come to an end, women did not yet have the right to vote and Arthur James Balfour was Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland.
So staff at a building society in Swansea were more than a little surprised when the 121-year-old postcard arrived with their mailbag on Friday last week.
Speaking on Moncreiff, spokesperson Henry Darby said it is all a “mystery we’re still struggling to uncover”.
“Within last week’s mail was this postcard,” he said.
“Not in a separate envelope, not with a note attached and obviously pretty quickly we realised it was not expected by head office.
“Although the address was correct it was 121 years late.”
🔍 Calling All Aspiring Investigators! 🔍
We just received a postcard at our Swansea HQ with the correct address, but it seems to have been delivered 121 years late!
We need your help! Can anyone in the Swansea community (or beyond) shed light on this mystery? pic.twitter.com/1SbBO8t0Hu
— Swansea Building Soc (@SwanseaBS) August 19, 2024
Mr Darby said the handwriting has taken “quite a bit of deciphering” but they have had some help.
“It’s very specific although vague at the same time,” he said.
In the postcard a man called Ewart writes to someone called Lydia that he is “so sorry" that he was able to buy for her a "pair" of some kind of item.
He also said he hopes she is “enjoying yourself at home” and that he is 10 shillings "in pocket money, not counting the train fare, so I am doing alright".
Who were Ewart and Lydia?
The story of the postcard has since gone viral and the building society was contacted by someone who knew who the writer and recipient were.
“We spoke to what I believe to be Ewart’s grandson yesterday and we now know that Ewart is Lydia’s little brother,” Mr Darby said.
“Essentially, this it’s a text message between a brother and sister just 121-years ago.”
Lydia was the oldest of six children and her father was a tailor.
“Not long after this postcard, Lydia grew up,” Mr Darby said.
“She met a man from London, moved to London and he owned a hotel on Pall Mall.
“Then actually, the tale goes a little bit cold but this morning I’ve been contacted by Lydia’s great-great niece and she lives in Toronto.
“I think she will be able to fill in some more blanks for us about what Lydia’s life was like for us after she moved to London.”
Mr Darby described the postcard as still being in “amazing condition” and assumes it was probably kept in a box somewhere.
Main image: 121-year-old postcard. Image: Swansea Building Society.
