2 postcards lot UK County Durham hanging of the 'Hartlepool Monkey' 1913

This is a lot of two postcards with images of the alleged hanging of a monkey by the people of Hartlepool, County Durham, and verses of a song commemorating the event.

The story goes that during the Napoleonic Wars, a French sailing vessel was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Hartlepool. The only survivor from the ship was a monkey, allegedly dressed in a French Army uniform to provide amusement for the crew. On finding the monkey on the beach, a group of locals decided to hold an impromptu trial. Because the monkey was unable to answer their questions, and because they had seen neither a monkey nor a Frenchman before, they concluded that the monkey must be a French spy. Being found guilty, the animal was duly sentenced to death and summarily hanged on the beach.  There is some doubt as to whether the story is true, but it has passed into local folklore and is an important part of the history of the town.

One card shows the monkey being found on the beach, while the other shows the hanging.

The cards were both published by “W.N.C.”, West Hartlepool, and are numbered No. 1 and No. 2 respectively (see final image). I believe “W.N.C.” stands for Wholesale Novelty Company, a stationers at Lynn Street in West Hartlepool. 

These examples were posted on 7 and 9 August 1913, from West Hartlepool to an address in York, from a lady called Enid Jackson to her mother.   The first card appears to have been sent without a stamp, and has a postage due cachet.  On the second card, Enid apologises for this, and notes, “I am sending you the last card of the monkey”.

The cards are in fair condition, with minor wear to the corners and edges, and some marks on the back.  The second card has a 15mm tear half way down the right edge, and the first has a slight crease on the right edge.