By Lauren Beavis, SWNS

ONE of Britain’s largest collections of historic postcards is due to go on sale this week — with many of the cards showing the height of the electric tram era just before the start of the car revolution.

The over 5,000 unseen and antique postcards belonged to a man who was known for writing books on local history.

The local historian collected the postcards documenting life in his home city for over a century.

Many show outlying villages — which were never or only very rarely photographed at the time.

They also show the streets buzzing with trams — just before the car era boomed.

The images are from all over the city of Bristol and surrounding areas — many of which have never been seen since they were first published in the early 20th century.

The collection is being sold at East Bristol Auctions in February.

Valuer Kieran Lynch, said: “These postcards offer a real snapshot into the history of our city.

“Particularly the more rural areas where photographs are often very hard to find.

“When photography was popular, everyone took pictures of the famous landmarks or scenes — those quaint small villages were often missed out.

“What particularly stood out in the collection were several albums that show Bristol’s early trams.

“Trams were such a big part of our city but they’ve all but been forgotten.

“These photographs are very likely the only lasting memory that remains of these wonderful vehicles.”

Real photographic postcards in the early 20th Century were very often produced locally and in very small numbers.

The collection goes under the hammer on Thursday (February 10) from 10am.

The catalogue can be viewed on East Bristol Auctions website: bid.eastbristol.co.uk