A SERIES of world-famous saucy seaside postcards images is being relaunched today to mark their 100th anniversary.
Businessman Ian Wallace said he is hoping the classic cheeky cartoons, which could soon be appearing on everything from mouse mats to boxer shorts, will give everyone a light-hearted boost in times of economic gloom.
Mr Wallace, aged 63, bought the firm Bamforth & Co nine years ago and now owns the rights to more than 50,000 of the postcard images with their pneumatic women, henpecked husbands and voluptuous nurses.
In 1870 James Bamforth began his business in Holmfirth, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire - a village now most famous for being the setting of the long running BBC comedy Last Of The Summer Wine.
He was a portrait photographer who later specialised in lantern slides. But it was the saucy postcards, launched in 1910, which sealed his firm`s reputation.
Mr Wallace said: "They always look good and they always make people smile.
"Maybe they`re not to everyone's taste but if you can`t laugh at Bamforth postcards what can you laugh at?
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