A Pennyworth of Art : The Green Album

Art - For many millions of people (including Sir Alec Guinness in his book 'Blessings in Disguise'), Ronnie Barker is their favourite performer. 'The Two Ronnies' TV programme, much more than famous on both sides of the Atlantic, is only one example of his genius as an actor. He is also a great collector, particularly of the most enchanting and fascinating picture postcards, produced in different countries from the late nineteenth century onwards. His collection now numbers about 50,000. This is one of two volumes ('The Green Album' and 'The Red Album') published simultaneously, which show his personal taste - often (but by no means always) for the saucy, the humorous, or the ingenious. But they also provide entertaining surveys of a popular art form which is now the subject of collectors' dreams. As he says, 'the great majority of the better cards are indeed little works of art in their own right', and they cost but a penny each. 'Hence the title', says Ronnie Barker, 'of this charming pair!