The Covers of Cardia (Pre-Wonderland Period), 1770-1832
Before Wonderland was known as Wonderland, the land was known as Cardia (Until 1832).
For practical purposes, very little is known of the early period of Cardia’s postal service; communication outside the territory being virtually non-existent.
Internal mails were generally carried by a private messenger, or merely left lying about waiting for the recipient to come upon them by sheer chance.
The very few covers still in existence bear a Crown or Heart motif, ´CARDIA´ in a curved semi-circle, in red or black. Earlier items may bear another card motif.
None of the covers are using stamps.
October 11, 1770
The first cover is from October 11, 1770 (as shown on the backstamp) … Clubs Dynasty (Pre-Heart Dynasty).
The cover is addressed to “Messrs. Cutshuffle and Deele” from Bridgend, Cardia. The address is “15 Whist Drive”.
The cover is bearing “CARDIA under a Crown” in red … and a 6 of Clubs mark, a Bridge End arrival mark and a 6 Miles mark; all in black.
Examples below:
 Cover 1 from 1770 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from 1770 (Back) |
 Cover 2 from 1770 (Front) |
 Cover 2 from 1770 (Back) |
 Cover 3 from 1770 (Front) |
 Cover 3 from 1770 (Back) |
1800 (or earlier)
The second cover is from approx. 1800 (or earlier) … Spades Dynasty (Pre-Heart Dynasty).
The cover is addressed to “Messrs. Cutshuffle and Deele” from Bridgend, Cardia. The address is now “13 Whist Drive” instead of “15 Whist Drive”.
The cover is bearing “CARDIA over a Spade” and a 5 Miles mark; all in black… and a Bridge End arrival mark in red.
Example below:
 Cover 1 from before 1800 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from before 1800 (Back) |
1800 (approx.)
The third cover is from approx. 1800 … Spades Dynasty (Pre-Heart Dynasty).
The cover is addressed to “Messrs. Cutshuffle and Deele” from Bridgend, Cardia. The address is “13 Whist Drive”.
The cover is bearing “CARDIA over a Spade”, a POST PAID Spades mark and a 4 Miles mark; all in black… and a Bridge End arrival mark in red.
Example below:
 Cover 1 from approx. 1800 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from approx. 1800 (Back) |
Before 1832
The fourth cover is from before 1832 … No Dynasty mark is shown (must still be Pre-Heart Dynasty).
The cover is addressed to “Messrs. Cutshuffle and Deal” (“Deal” instead of “Deele” this time). The address is “Card Sharps Club Row, Cardia”.
The cover is bearing “CARDIA” over a crown with the text “PAID” under the crown; all in red. The cover doesn’t have a date stamp or an arrival mark.
Example below:
 Cover 1 from before 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from before 1832 (Back) |
January 27, 1832
The fifth cover was received at Trumpham on January 27, 1832… the date of Charles Dodgson’s birth (i.e. Lewis Carroll)… The Heart Dynasty reigns.
The cover is addressed to “Jack Pott, Esquire”. The address is “9 Club Row, Trumpham, Cardia”.
(Jack Pott was a fictional character from Cor!!, a British comic book launched in June 1970. Jack always liked to gamble on everything and in each comic book issue he would have bets with friends and his dad).
The cover is bearing “CARDIA over a heart” in red… and a “5 miles” mark and a “5d paid at Wonderland” mark in black. The first 3 examples below have a “Trumpham Received 27. Jan. 1832” mark in either blue or black. The fourth doesn’t have received mark. Instead it has a “Post Paid 27. Jan. 1832” mark.
For the fourth example the red heart isn’t filled out anymore… maybe illustrating that the Heart Dynasty is slowly fading out.
Bearing CARDIA and Wonderland it could be one of the last covers bearing the “CARDIA” post mark.
Examples below:
 Cover 1 from 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from 1832 (Back) |
 Cover 2 from 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 2 from 1832 (Back) |
 Cover 3 from 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 3 from 1832 (Back) |
 Cover 4 from 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 4 from 1832 (Back) |
January 27, 1832
The sixth cover is also from January 27, 1832 … Heart Dynasty.
The cover is addressed to “Jack Pott, Esquire”. The address is “9 Club Row, Poker Flats, Cardia”.
The cover is bearing “a crown over CARDIA over a heart”; all in red … The heart isn’t filled out anymore.. maybe illustrating that the Heart Dynasty is slowly fading out). The cover also have a “5d paid at Wonderland” date mark and a “Received” under a “4 x Clubs” mark; in black.
Bearing CARDIA and Wonderland it could be one of the last covers bearing the “CARDIA” post mark.
Example below:
 Cover 1 from 1832 (Front) |
 Cover 1 from 1832 (Back) |