Penny Penates was one of the History good articles, but it has been removed from the list. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the
good article criteria. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be
renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.
The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that the world's oldest postcard(pictured), mailed in 1840, was designed as a practical joke to mock postal clerks?
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Philately, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of philately and stamp collecting on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhilatelyWikipedia:WikiProject PhilatelyTemplate:WikiProject PhilatelyPhilately articles
The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as
this nomination's talk page,
the article's talk page or
Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.
The result was: promoted by
Yoninah (
talk) 21:30, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
ALT1:... that ...? Source: "You are strongly encouraged to quote the source text supporting each hook" (and [link] the source, or cite it briefly without using citation templates)
New enough, long enough, all paragraphs cited. Free of close paraphrasing or apparent copyright violations. Earwig is clear. Picture is public domain and clear at 100 pix. All hooks are supported by
WP:RS cited in line. 7&6=thirteen (
☎) 21:00, 30 March 2020 (UTC)reply
Hi, I came by to promote this. Do you want to say/citesomething about it being verified as the world's oldest postcard? Perhaps more should be added to the lead, like how much it sold for. And should the text be in British English? Thanks,
Yoninah (
talk) 21:00, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Yoninah: - expanded lead = will that work? I created the article and have 98% authorship, however I am from
Michigan, US. I think the text should be in American English. Not familiar on how to write in British English. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:23, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Thanks for expanding the lead. Regarding the language, I have read that editors are allowed to write in whatever language they want. Restoring tick.
Yoninah (
talk) 21:27, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Little of what is in the infobox is in the body of the article. Name? Yes. Artist? Only his last name. Year? Yes. Type? Not even in the lead. Medium? Ditto. Location? Not the guy's name.
Remarkably, the first paragraph manages to say absolutely nothing about the postcard's design. The first sentence is about the stamp on the postcard. The second sentence is a definition. The third sentence describes the intent of the postcard. The fourth sentence is a redundant gloss of the third sentence. And the fifth sentence adds only that it was a practical joke—again, nothing about the design.
The section should be refocused on the physical appearance of the postcard: something like "The Penny Penates postcard is made of [material] and measures x by y. The coloured drawing on the face of the postcard shows [information that's currently in the second paragraph]. [Second paragraph:] The back bears the inscription [description]; a Penny Black stamp is affixed to the top right as postage. A circular postmark underneath the inscription [description]."
This section is currently a combination of factual history, and interpretative significance. It should really be split into two sections: "History" and "Significance". The former section can cover the posting of the postcard, Hook's intent, and the rediscovery and auction; the latter can cover the information about the postcard being the oldest, and the belief about the invention of postcards.
The Penny Penates postcard is made of
card stock. — What's the source for this?
Done - reworded to show it was done on a piece of paper, not card stock. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 20:16, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
What's the source for the drawing being done in watercolor?
Done - reworded to show it was a color drawing, as I don't find a source if it was a watercolor or oil based paint. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 20:16, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The scribes are tallying in ledgers the postage paid by mail going through the post office. — What's the source for this?
This section should introduce
Theodore Hook, who is otherwise mentioned only by last name in the body of the article. It should also mention that he probably sent the postcard to himself.
The postcard with its stamp has been verified by the British Philatelic Association's expert committee as being genuine and the world's oldest. — This belongs in "Significance".
In 2001 an expert discovered the postcard in a stamp collection and, putting together the sequence of historical events, realised that it had been made and mailed by Hook — Conversely, this belongs in "History". The two sentences could probably just be swapped.
The existence of a citation for a fact in one article doesn't mean that another article with the same fact does not need a citation. Also, you haven't addressed my earlier question, "When did they stop being issued?" --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: I must admit. You have me stumped as to what you are looking for. If it's - The postcard with its stamp has been verified by the British Philatelic Association's expert committee as being genuine and the world's oldest. = then it is referenced by [8] and [14]. I have no idea when the Penny Black stamps were stopped being issued. Is that relevant to the article? Which sentence are you looking for that needs a reference? I am puzzled. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 16:42, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The addition of citation 15 works for the date of Penny Black issue. But when did the Penny Black stop being issued? It matters, because presumably it stopped being issued before postcards became widely used—which would explain why the Penny Penates is the only known postcard with a Penny Black stamp. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 16:57, 24 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: Expanded on when and why the Penny Black stamp was discontinued a year later. Will that work?--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 18:28, 24 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Looks good. Now we just have the lingering comment below (see "Highlighting this comment, which has not been addressed"). --
Usernameunique (
talk) 02:39, 27 May 2020 (UTC)reply
References
Lake 2002: Is there a link to this? The author generally appears first in a citation; this would be fixed by using an appropriate citation template.
@
Usernameunique: - I am puzzled on this Lake 2002 source. I'll be glad to use the appropriate citation template IF I knew which source you are talking about. Give me some more hints and I'll fix it. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:08, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The 2002 source that's written by an author whose last name is Lake. I.e., source #14. —
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:11, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Now I see which ref you are talking about. It was put in by another editor (which I spotted right away, since it was not my style of writing) and it was not a necessary reference, so I removed it. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:27, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Philafrenzy, I see you're the one who added this. Do you have access to the source, and does it have anything that you think is either missing from the article, or worth adding? --
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:33, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Osborn 2009: This source suggests some context is missing from the article, probably best placed in "Significance". Namely, a rule that was in place until 1897 meant that people could not write on the address side of cards, and when it ended, photo postcards became a thing. Likely a few more sources can be found about this (including what the exact rule was).
@
Usernameunique: - Same here on the Osborn 2009 source. I am puzzled as to what you are requesting. I don't see the historical significance of a 1897 rule about not writing on the address side of postcards as related to the Hook 1840 postcard and its genuineness. Need some more hints as to what you are looking for. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:08, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
It sounds as if the rule preventing people from including messages on the same sides as the address effectively prevented postcards (which typically have an image on one side, and an address and message on the other) from entering common usage—so it helps to explain why postcards were not commonly used until after the rule was eliminated. —
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:19, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
O.K. I see what you are saying. However this type of information is already in the article on
postcard. The information has no bearing and no significance as to the genuineness of Hook's postcard, being the world's oldest. It's more along the line of trivia and is already in the
postcard article. Does that help. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:27, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Perhaps not in a direct sense, but it helps to explain a) why postcards were not used until well after Hook's card, b) why Hook's card had no message on it, and c) that Hook was skirting a line by placing only an address on the back, which adds some depth to his practical joke. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:54, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Highlighting this comment, which has not been addressed. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, the main issue with this article is structure: information is tossed around, repeated, or omitted, without any clear order beyond two sections—"Design" and "Significance"—which aren't even followed. Thankfully, the article is short and the subject matter narrow, so reworking it shouldn't be too much of a chore. I'll take a deeper look once you've had a crack at it. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 05:35, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 10:27, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Presently it's on the main page as a Did You Know. = It had 9,271 views for April 26. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 12:36, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, I'll try to respond shortly—have been a bit tied up lately, but should be able to look this weekend if not earlier. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:58, 7 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All additional issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks.--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:41, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All additional issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks.--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 14:41, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, there are two unaddressed issues above. I have added additional comments under them to make them clear. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
It seems, to this inexpert eye, that the clerks represent a range of nationalities, but all working together for their common goal. Is there any support for this? --
Piledhigheranddeeper (
talk) 13:49, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
I have a new source from the time that comments on that and suggests that they represent different races of the British Empire, but there's no proving it. I will integrate later.
Philafrenzy (
talk) 14:14, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Spelling of the city's name
Why does the postmark have a double "L" spelling of the city's name?
Penny Penates was one of the History good articles, but it has been removed from the list. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the
good article criteria. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be
renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.
The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that the world's oldest postcard(pictured), mailed in 1840, was designed as a practical joke to mock postal clerks?
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Philately, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of philately and stamp collecting on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhilatelyWikipedia:WikiProject PhilatelyTemplate:WikiProject PhilatelyPhilately articles
The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as
this nomination's talk page,
the article's talk page or
Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.
The result was: promoted by
Yoninah (
talk) 21:30, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
ALT1:... that ...? Source: "You are strongly encouraged to quote the source text supporting each hook" (and [link] the source, or cite it briefly without using citation templates)
New enough, long enough, all paragraphs cited. Free of close paraphrasing or apparent copyright violations. Earwig is clear. Picture is public domain and clear at 100 pix. All hooks are supported by
WP:RS cited in line. 7&6=thirteen (
☎) 21:00, 30 March 2020 (UTC)reply
Hi, I came by to promote this. Do you want to say/citesomething about it being verified as the world's oldest postcard? Perhaps more should be added to the lead, like how much it sold for. And should the text be in British English? Thanks,
Yoninah (
talk) 21:00, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Yoninah: - expanded lead = will that work? I created the article and have 98% authorship, however I am from
Michigan, US. I think the text should be in American English. Not familiar on how to write in British English. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:23, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Thanks for expanding the lead. Regarding the language, I have read that editors are allowed to write in whatever language they want. Restoring tick.
Yoninah (
talk) 21:27, 21 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Little of what is in the infobox is in the body of the article. Name? Yes. Artist? Only his last name. Year? Yes. Type? Not even in the lead. Medium? Ditto. Location? Not the guy's name.
Remarkably, the first paragraph manages to say absolutely nothing about the postcard's design. The first sentence is about the stamp on the postcard. The second sentence is a definition. The third sentence describes the intent of the postcard. The fourth sentence is a redundant gloss of the third sentence. And the fifth sentence adds only that it was a practical joke—again, nothing about the design.
The section should be refocused on the physical appearance of the postcard: something like "The Penny Penates postcard is made of [material] and measures x by y. The coloured drawing on the face of the postcard shows [information that's currently in the second paragraph]. [Second paragraph:] The back bears the inscription [description]; a Penny Black stamp is affixed to the top right as postage. A circular postmark underneath the inscription [description]."
This section is currently a combination of factual history, and interpretative significance. It should really be split into two sections: "History" and "Significance". The former section can cover the posting of the postcard, Hook's intent, and the rediscovery and auction; the latter can cover the information about the postcard being the oldest, and the belief about the invention of postcards.
The Penny Penates postcard is made of
card stock. — What's the source for this?
Done - reworded to show it was done on a piece of paper, not card stock. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 20:16, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
What's the source for the drawing being done in watercolor?
Done - reworded to show it was a color drawing, as I don't find a source if it was a watercolor or oil based paint. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 20:16, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The scribes are tallying in ledgers the postage paid by mail going through the post office. — What's the source for this?
This section should introduce
Theodore Hook, who is otherwise mentioned only by last name in the body of the article. It should also mention that he probably sent the postcard to himself.
The postcard with its stamp has been verified by the British Philatelic Association's expert committee as being genuine and the world's oldest. — This belongs in "Significance".
In 2001 an expert discovered the postcard in a stamp collection and, putting together the sequence of historical events, realised that it had been made and mailed by Hook — Conversely, this belongs in "History". The two sentences could probably just be swapped.
The existence of a citation for a fact in one article doesn't mean that another article with the same fact does not need a citation. Also, you haven't addressed my earlier question, "When did they stop being issued?" --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: I must admit. You have me stumped as to what you are looking for. If it's - The postcard with its stamp has been verified by the British Philatelic Association's expert committee as being genuine and the world's oldest. = then it is referenced by [8] and [14]. I have no idea when the Penny Black stamps were stopped being issued. Is that relevant to the article? Which sentence are you looking for that needs a reference? I am puzzled. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 16:42, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The addition of citation 15 works for the date of Penny Black issue. But when did the Penny Black stop being issued? It matters, because presumably it stopped being issued before postcards became widely used—which would explain why the Penny Penates is the only known postcard with a Penny Black stamp. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 16:57, 24 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: Expanded on when and why the Penny Black stamp was discontinued a year later. Will that work?--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 18:28, 24 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Looks good. Now we just have the lingering comment below (see "Highlighting this comment, which has not been addressed"). --
Usernameunique (
talk) 02:39, 27 May 2020 (UTC)reply
References
Lake 2002: Is there a link to this? The author generally appears first in a citation; this would be fixed by using an appropriate citation template.
@
Usernameunique: - I am puzzled on this Lake 2002 source. I'll be glad to use the appropriate citation template IF I knew which source you are talking about. Give me some more hints and I'll fix it. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:08, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
The 2002 source that's written by an author whose last name is Lake. I.e., source #14. —
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:11, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Now I see which ref you are talking about. It was put in by another editor (which I spotted right away, since it was not my style of writing) and it was not a necessary reference, so I removed it. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:27, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Philafrenzy, I see you're the one who added this. Do you have access to the source, and does it have anything that you think is either missing from the article, or worth adding? --
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:33, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Osborn 2009: This source suggests some context is missing from the article, probably best placed in "Significance". Namely, a rule that was in place until 1897 meant that people could not write on the address side of cards, and when it ended, photo postcards became a thing. Likely a few more sources can be found about this (including what the exact rule was).
@
Usernameunique: - Same here on the Osborn 2009 source. I am puzzled as to what you are requesting. I don't see the historical significance of a 1897 rule about not writing on the address side of postcards as related to the Hook 1840 postcard and its genuineness. Need some more hints as to what you are looking for. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:08, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
It sounds as if the rule preventing people from including messages on the same sides as the address effectively prevented postcards (which typically have an image on one side, and an address and message on the other) from entering common usage—so it helps to explain why postcards were not commonly used until after the rule was eliminated. —
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:19, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
O.K. I see what you are saying. However this type of information is already in the article on
postcard. The information has no bearing and no significance as to the genuineness of Hook's postcard, being the world's oldest. It's more along the line of trivia and is already in the
postcard article. Does that help. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:27, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Perhaps not in a direct sense, but it helps to explain a) why postcards were not used until well after Hook's card, b) why Hook's card had no message on it, and c) that Hook was skirting a line by placing only an address on the back, which adds some depth to his practical joke. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 21:54, 16 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Highlighting this comment, which has not been addressed. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, the main issue with this article is structure: information is tossed around, repeated, or omitted, without any clear order beyond two sections—"Design" and "Significance"—which aren't even followed. Thankfully, the article is short and the subject matter narrow, so reworking it shouldn't be too much of a chore. I'll take a deeper look once you've had a crack at it. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 05:35, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 10:27, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Presently it's on the main page as a Did You Know. = It had 9,271 views for April 26. --
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 12:36, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, I'll try to respond shortly—have been a bit tied up lately, but should be able to look this weekend if not earlier. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:58, 7 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All additional issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks.--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 21:41, 14 May 2020 (UTC)reply
@
Usernameunique: All additional issues have been addressed. Can you take another look at it. Thanks.--
Doug Coldwell (
talk) 14:41, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
Doug Coldwell, there are two unaddressed issues above. I have added additional comments under them to make them clear. --
Usernameunique (
talk) 15:33, 22 May 2020 (UTC)reply
It seems, to this inexpert eye, that the clerks represent a range of nationalities, but all working together for their common goal. Is there any support for this? --
Piledhigheranddeeper (
talk) 13:49, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
I have a new source from the time that comments on that and suggests that they represent different races of the British Empire, but there's no proving it. I will integrate later.
Philafrenzy (
talk) 14:14, 26 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Spelling of the city's name
Why does the postmark have a double "L" spelling of the city's name?