FOR hundreds of years people have journeyed to the tiny Scottish island of Iona to view the Christian monuments. In the 18th century such trips were often arduous and frequently uncomfortable but still the travellers arrived, some out of curiosity, others making it their once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage.

In 1772, when the neighbouring island of Staffa was 'discovered' by Sir Joseph Banks, the scientific, artistic and literary 'greats' took to the boats, the composer Mendelssohn and painter J.M.W. Turner being the most note-worthy. Then, in 1847, following Queen Victoria's visit to Staffa and Iona, the shipping companies encouraged the general public to travel the "Royal Route" and by the end of the century, thousands of people a year were sampling the beauty and charm of the islands.

In September 1894 - for the first time in Britain - the public were permitted to send pictorial postcards through the mail system, and to celebrate the centenary, Iona and Staffa via Oban looks at some of the early postcards and contemporary commercial photographs of these places as sold to the public aboard MacBrayne's steamers or in the shops of Oban, Mull and Iona.

Skilfully researched with informative and amusing text, the reader is taken on a trip around Oban, guided along by the use of rare, period photographs and illustrations from the author's extensive private collection of West Highlands and Islands ephemera.

And from Oban to Iona and Staffa, the pictures reflect the growing commercialisation of these places during the Edwardian era, when public demand for postcards was at its height. With over 135 nostalgic illustrations, this book is a fascinating and delightful journey into the past!

PUBLISHER; Clan Books, The Cross, Doune, Perthshire FK16 6BE

9 781873 597026 >