Straw Gallery

Tomando Mate - Argentina

Gaucho taking mate in Argentina. Tomando mate or "taking mate, " is a cultural practice, which refers literally to drinking a semi-bitter herbal infusion of crushed yerba mate leaves in hot water. One takes mate by putting the loose, crushed leaves in a mate gourd, pouring hot water (about 2 ounces at a time) over the leaves, and using a bombilla, or a metal straw with a strainer on the end to separate the water from the leaves, to drink the beverage. Few Argentines like tomando mate alone, however. This is an intensely social activity, and one person holds the thermos, pours new water into the gourd and passes it to each person in turn

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Saucy and silly seaside postcard with cheeky caption

A Young man heads out to sea in a small rowing boat named the Saucy Sue - she instructs him: "Mind you don't goo too far, Darling!!" Saucy and silly seaside postcard with a deliciously cheeky caption. Date: 1912

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

1910s, 1912, Beau, Behaved, Behaviour, Boat, Boater, Boating, Chap, Cheeky, Couple, Dont, Gent, Girl, Good, Heading, Heads, Historical, History, Holiday, Holidaymakers, Hopeful, Ideas, Love, Lust, Naughty, Pleasure, Propriety, Romance, Romantic, Row, Rowing, Rows, Saucy, Sea, Straw, Sue, Suggestive, Surf, Taking, Warning, Wave, Waves, Young

First airmail letter delivered, Windsor Castle

The first airmail letter ever to be delivered is handed to the Postmaster of Windsor, to whom it is addressed, on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle. The aviator Gustav Hamel, who flew from Hendon to Windsor on the very first airmail flight, is standing bareheaded just behind the postman and his bicycle. The Mayor of Windsor, Sir Frederick Dyson, stands smiling in a top hat. The first aerial mail service took place on 9 September 1911 from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor and back again, and Hamel was the first pilot to arrive. King George V gave permission for the aeroplanes to land in the grounds of Windsor Castle. During September 1911 the Grahame-White company operated an experimental air mail service for two weeks between Hendon and Windsor. As well commemorating the coronation of King George V, and raising money for charity, the event publicised the possibilities of the aeroplane as a means of transport

© Mary Evans Picture Library