Our Cape Town - Fifteen postcards by artist G. W. Pilkington 'GWP'

If your are postcard collector and are lucky enough to stumble upon vintage postcards, depicting humorous life in Cape Town initialled 'GWP', you might wonder who the artist was.

Biography

George Willian Pilkington (1879 -1958) aka G.W. Pilkington was born in Sea Point, Cape Town, went to school there, going onto 'Bishops' in Rondebosch. On leaving Diocesan College he joined the customs section of the Cape of Good Hope Treasury Department in 1898. He was a self taught artist, though he did get a bit of tuition from James Ford at the Cape Town School of Art in the 1890s. He was into sports and he enjoyed such activities as yachting and fishing.

In 1904 a series of postcards by 'GWP' was published by Paul Schaefer & Co; Cape Town depicting humourous scenes of life in Cape Town; five are shown below. Although slightly crudely drawn in comparison to other artist postcards they are very collectable.

A stern chase is a long chase

A playful South Easter

Afro-German Cake Walk

The Flora and Fauna

A summer shower

D--n! D--n!! D--n!!

Don't be Afraid Darling

A Cape Town Highlander

Music hath Charms etc

Death of the King

The Arrival

Shall we ever see Simonstown again

I've just sold for ten ponds the horse you sold me for five pounds

Oh John, I've heard that Muizenberg is a dreadfully dangerous place.

Local Billingsgate

Marine Artist

In 1924 he began painting full-time with marine subjects being the sole subject of his work at this period. Some of these painting appear on auction from time to time. He also exhibited in Johannesburg and one of his customs, was to present sea captains visiting Cape Town, a gift of a Pilkington painting. There only seems to be two records of his participation in SASA exhibitions. Remaining a a self taught artist, he was known and admired for his technique and skill when it came to depicting marine pictures.

Pilkington died in St. James, Cape, 1958.

For postcard collectors, G. W.Pilkinton "GWP' left a unique and quaint number of highly sought after postcards depicting life in Cape Town in the Golden Age of the picture postcard.

References:
Something of a Novelty- Postcards of Both Africa by Archie Atkinson. Published by S. A. Manx Association. Page 150.
and
https://africacartoons.com/cartoonists/map/south-africa/pilkington-g-w/bio/