"Burlesque Series"

Published by

Watkins & Kracke Ltd

The Burlesque Series of photographed comic cards was published from 51-52 Beech Street, London, E.C.  It seems to have started by Eustace Watkins after the breakup of  Mitchell & Watkins in April 1908 and continued after the formation of the short-lived Watkins & Kracke Ltd in 1909. There may be a break in the series numbers between 200 and 300, and this gap would suggests that the series continued to be produced after Watson and Krake split up.

Copyright copies of some of the cards are held in the National Archives.  In each case the copyright holder is described as Eustace Watkins.

Four different backs have been identified, depending on the publisher information given in the left hand margin. In the earliest form, illustrated here, the margin reads:

Burlesque Series No xx

where xx is the card number. Copyright copies of some of the cards are held in the National Archives. 

 

Publisher information and earliest recorded posting varies

(1) No publisher or address

(2) Eustace Watkins, 51-52 Beech St, London E.C [June 1908 ?reprint]

(3) Watkins and Kracke, Ltd., 51-52 Beech St, London E.C. 12 August 1909]

(4) 51-52 Beech St, London E.C. [June 1910]

No Title Publisher Earliest Date Seen
1 Just arrived. Not what they wanted No Publisher Copyright 16 January 1908
2 I've just arrived   Copyright 16 January 1908
4 I was greatly interested   Copyright 16 January 1908
5 My word if you are not off   Copyright 16 January 1908
6 I am very pressed just now. P.S. Not for time   Copyright 16 January 1908
7 Returning. P.S. This place does not agree with me   Copyright 16 January 1908
9 I saw this the other day was it you   Copyright 16 January 1908
10 Father keeps on doing it   Copyright 16 January 1908
11 If you do Charlie I'll scream   Copyright 16 January 1908
12

Hold the baby nurse    P.S. It's going to rain

No Publisher

Copyright 16 January 1908

18 June 1908

14 Returning home. P.S. This place does not suit me   Copyright 16 January 1908
15 Mixed Bathing No Publisher 5 August 1908
16 All Scotch   Copyright 16 January 1908
17 When there isn't a girl about you do feel lonely  

Copyright 16 January 1908

17 May 1908

18 HOW FATHER BROUGHT HIS WAGES HOME - 19/- IN BEER 1/- IN MONEY No Publisher 18 August 1908
21 THE HUNTING SEASON HAS COMMENCED AT ____ WE AREA LIVELY TIME No Publisher  
22 WE HAVE NOT HAD A DULL MOMENT SINCE WE ARRIVED AT ____ No Publisher 1908
23 DOCTOR: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE MADAM TO GET IN SUCH A TERRIBLY EXHAUSTED CONDITION  - MISS ANTIQUE: OH! I DON'T KNOW DOCTOR BUT GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS No Publisher April 1910
24

TELL ME PRETTY MAIDEN, ARE THERE ANY MORE AT HOME LIKE YOU

No Publisher 13 May 1908
25 I AM LEAVING THIS PLACE ?  
28 SUNDAY MORNING No Publisher  
28 Little drops of whiskey, little drops of beer make you see queer animals if you persevere SUNDAY MORNING Eustace Watkins 22 June 1908
29 SATURDAY NIGHT ? 22 July 1908

30

TELL ME GENTLE BROTHER YOU DON'T LOOK VERY FRISKY

IS IT LITTLE MARY ACHE OR FOUR PEN'OTH O' WHISKY?

No Publisher

7 July 1908

33

HEAR YOUR HAIR REACHES THE GROUND WHEN YOU LET IT DROP No Publisher 27 July 1911

36

WE ARE HAVING A LIVELY TIME, NOT A DULL MOMENT AND PLENTY OF SPORT. No Publisher 30 September 1908

38

NOW YOU'RE MARRIED WE WISH YOU JOY No Publisher 1 June 1908

39

IT WAS A THING HE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE - NEVER LOOK THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ALWAYS THROUGH THE DOOR

No Publisher 26 September 1908
43 I can't get to the bottom of it No Publisher Copyright 21 April 1908
44 [Woman in bed]   Copyright 21 April 1908
45 [Two children and woman holding up her arms]   Copyright 21 April 1908
46 Is this true I hear of you? No Publisher 19 October 1908
Eustace Watkins 1915
47 I hear the change is doing you good No Publisher

Copyright 21 April 1908

19 July 1908

I hear the change is doing you good at ___ Eustace Watkins 18 September 1908
48 Come down here    P.S. The surroundings are beautiful   Copyright 21 April 1908
50 [Man carrying a woman]   Copyright 21 April 1908

52

I believe you old chap.

P.S. But there are thousands that wouldn't.

No Publisher  Copyright 21 April 1908
53 And this is what I'' do to you No Publisher 14 August 1908
56 I hear you're shy, but willing to try No Publisher  
57

My word, if I catch you bending.

No Publisher 3 August 1908
57 We have undone those things we ought not to have undone Eustace Watkins

13 August 1909

58

He: Which is the way to your bedroom, fair maid?  She: Through the church, sir

   
59 Be sure you're right, then go ahead! No Publisher 24 July 1909
60 Now mind you keep on walking No Publisher  
61 We are all behind again No Publisher 31 October 1908
62

But I thought it was your face you wanted taking

No Publisher  
64 Now Please look pleasant [Watkins]  
65

Oh Jack you are a handy man

No Publisher  
65 They love me 'cause I'm blind No Publisher 30 January 1909
66 Pleasant Reflections No Publisher  
67

Are you sure no one is looking

No Publisher  
68 This is not fishing No Publisher  
69 Let your ambition be high No Publisher  
  Is your wife a suffragette    
75 What will you do if you have triplets? No Publisher  
79 I do the little jobs at home No Publisher 24 August 1908
80 My Life as a Lady Eustace Watkins 17 March 1909
82 You do want a shave, old chap No Publisher 1908
83 Arrived home 3 a. m. jiggered No Publisher 30 July 1908
84

But you can't do without a girl.

No Publisher 28 September 1908
85 Your manners are like your boots - they need a polish No Publisher 1 December 1908
86 I hear you made this fashionable at _____ No Publisher  
Eustace Watkins 30 September 1909
88

Sleep, Gentle Sleep

Now you're married we wish you joy

No Publisher  
88? When I say I like _____ I embrace everything No Publisher 26 September 1908
90

Poor little buy blue-eyed & Fair

 He knows not trouble, toil or care

He little dreams one day he'll were

His Dadda's pants that need repair.

No Publisher 24 March 1909
91 There is nothing he wouldn't do for me,   if I let him Eustace Watkins 8 September 1909
92 Should we have lady taxi-drivers Eustace Watkins 11 & 14 November 1908
93 When the gentle breezes blow Eustace Watkins 19 September 1910
94 Excuse me sir - that's my nurse Eustace Watkins October 1908
95 Oh Jack you are a handy man Eustace Watkins 1908
96 They all love Jack Eustace Watkins 15 September 1910
98 Mid the poppies and the corn Eustace Watkins 5 March 1909
99 Off for the Honeymoon Eustace Watkins  
101 Give us a bit of your kilt laddie Eustace Watkins

1 October 1908

105

Love is blind

Eustace Watkins

24 October 1908

107 I could keep on at this all day - but my wife won't let me Eustace Watkins  
108 My new situation suits me. Quite a soft job, altho' I have my arms pretty full Eustace Watkins 5 January 1909
110 Has your Missus ever caught you like this? Eustace Watkins  
112 I trust I don't intrude [Watkins] 1909
114

Jock: Don't look down or you will fall,

Lady: Where shall I look then?

Eustace Watkins 14 October 1908
Watkins and Kracke  
118

Doctor: When I feel run down I tske my wife away for the week.

Patient: Very well Doctor, when will it suit your wife.

Eustace Watkins 9 September 1909
119 Now is this an accident or force of habit Eustace Watkins 7 September 1909
121 Never mind, Old Chap. It's a glorious death. Eustace Watkins 4 March 1909
122 It's quite plain to everyone Eustace Watkins 26 August 1910
125 There are moments when you want to be alone Eustace Watkins  
127 It's quarter day, so I'm going away Eustace Watkins 20 January 1909
128 I would I were a little bolder Eustace Watkins 12 December 1909
129 One more drink, and then I am coming home Eustace Watkins 21 January 1909
131 These little things are sent to try us Eustace Watkins 26 May 1909
132

Duty calls me far away

But this is where I'm going to stay

Eustace Watkins  
134 We will know each other better when the Missis goes away Eustace Watkins 15 March 1909
135 I suppose yoy thought no one saw yo at ____ Eustace Watkins 26 May 1909
136 I'll catch you such a smack in a minute Eustace Watkins 19 April 1910
137 The sins of society at ___ Eustace Watkins  
139 I hear you are enjoying yourself Eustace Watkins

5 April 1909

140 I hear you are taking the water cure at _____ [Watkins]  
141 This is the style at ______ Eustace Watkins  
143 I hear you are under police protection Eustace Watkins 14 September 1909
145 Amateur Photographers making good headway Eustace Watkins 15 November 1909
146 My wife is lying at death's door - Come at once, Doctor, and pull her through Eustace Watkins  
147 Here endeth the first lesson Eustace Watkins 29 March 1909
149 Can this be love [Watkins]  
150 It's all right in the summertime Eustace Watkins September 1909
151 So sorry to here you were upset Eustace Watkins 17 April 1909
152 Duty calls me far away but this is where I'm going to stay Eustace Watkins 4 August 1909
152 Duty calls me far away but this is where I'm going to stay Watkins & Kracke  
154 We are on the rocks Eustace Watkins 7 November 1917
156 I caught this fishing at _____ Eustace Watkins 6 August 1909
157 Why don't you come and paddle at ____ Eustace Watkins  
159 I am on the rocks at _____ Eustace Watkins 2 August 1909
160 IF I HAD A COW THAT GAVE SUCH MILK ... ... Watkins & Kracke 12 August 1909
161 Beauty and the Beast Watkins & Kracke  
163 In spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love Watkins & Kracke 1910
165 Taking things easy at ____ Watkins & Kracke 31 August 1909
168 Will you meet me by moonlight at ____ Watkins & Kracke 3 January 1910
170 In the arms of the law at ___ Watkins & Kracke  
174 Is this part of a postman's duty? Watkins & Kracke  
177 That's what's the Cook told the Policeman [Watkins]  
180 You are a territorial terror [Policeman] Watkins & Kracke 15 October 1909
181 Is this part of a policeman's duty Watkins & Kracke  
189 You can't always trust a policeman Watkins & Kracke  
191 What will the harvest be? Watkins & Kracke 6 September 1909
192

Will you love me in December as you did at  _____

Watkins & Kracke  

193

Now beware of "widders"

They are awful kidders

Watkins & Kracke

 

197 I wonder if the man I am thinking of is thinking of me Watkins & Kracke November 1910
199 Like the ivy I'll cling to you Watkins & Kracke  
206

The pleasures of cycling

Mending punctures

Watkins & Kracke  
325 Keep on doing it Sandy 51-52 Beech St, Barbican

September 1910

326 I'd like to go halves in that 51-52 Beech St, Barbican August 191?

328

?

Could you love me if I loved you?

51-52 Beech St, Barbican

June 1910

332 What is one among so many 51-52 Beech St, Barbican  
334 All I want is a girl 51-52 Beech St, Barbican  

1 Just arrived. P. S. Not what they wanted

12 Hold the baby nurse. P S. It's going to rain

22: WE HAVE NOT HAD A DULL MOMENT SINCE WE ARRIVED AT ____

24 TELL ME PRETTY MAIDEN, ARE THERE ANY MORE AT HOME LIKE YOU

25 I AM LEAVING THIS PLACE

29 SATURDAY NIGHT

36 WE ARE HAVING A LIVELY TIME, NOT A DULL MOMENT AND PLENTY OF SPORT.

47 I hear the change is doing you good

52 I believe you old chap. P.S. But there are thousands that wouldn't.

52

57  My word, if I catch you bending.

57  We have undone those things we ought not to have undone

58  He: Which is the way to your bedroom, fair maid? She: Through the church, sir

62  But I thought it was your face you wanted taking

65 Oh Jack you are a handy man

67 Are you sure no one is looking

69  Let your ambition be high

79  I do the little jobs at home

83 Arrived home 3a.m. jiggered

84  But you can't do without a girl.

90  Poor little buy blue-eyed & fair

He knows not trouble, toil or care

He little dreams one day he'll were

His Dadda's pants that need repair.

92 Should we have lady taxi-drivers?

99 Off for the Honeymoon

101  Give us a bit of your kilt laddie

105  Love is blind

Lady: Where shall I look then?

Burlesque Series No 114

Never mind, Old Chap. It's a glorious death.

Burlesque Series No 121

 
 

I would I were a little bolder

Burlesque Series No 128

 

We will know each other better when the Missis goes away

Burlesque Series 134

The Sins of Society at ____.

Burlesque No 137

I hear you are enjoying yourself

Burlesque Series No 139

You are a Territorial terror

Burlesque Series No 180

You can't always trust a policeman

Burlesque Series 189 

I wonder if the man I am thinking of is thinking of me

Burlesque Series 197

Like the ivy I cling to you

Burlesque Series 199

 

The pleasures of cycling

mending punctures.

Burlesque Series 206

 

Keep on doing it sandy.

Burlesque Series No 325 

What is one among so many.

Burlesque Series No 332 

 
Burlesque Christmas Cards

All good wishes for Christmas

A visit from Santa Claus

No 1001 - posted 23 December 1910

A Merry Xmas

Poor Jock hanging up the mistletoe

No 1009   23  December 1908

A Merry Christmas to You

Last Xmas  -  This Xmas

No 1012

A Merry Xmas to you

And may Santa Clause bring you a well filled stocking

To wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

Eustace Watkins

No 1009