AS the tourist season warms up in York, it sometimes seems as if every shop of every type sells postcards. They sit in racks outside kiosks and cafs, waiting to wing their way all over the world. The postcard remains stubbornly popular, despite the ubiquity of cameras and camcorders, 130 years after its invention.

Here in York, the picture postcard was pioneered by businessman James W Arthur. Today is a very special anniversary for the Arthur family. Mr Arthur's daughter, Vera Rosamund, is celebrating her 100th birthday. Yesterday Once More sends its heartiest congratulations to Mrs Rosamund, now living at South Park Nursing Home in Gale Lane.

To mark this occasion, the family opened up the remarkable Arthur archive to the Evening Press.

Mr Arthur, it seemed, never threw anything away. Much of his collection was later lost but hundreds of postcards, original photographs, documents, catalogues and bill posters remain.

Mr Arthur was a singer, a musician, a printer, a carnival organiser and a family man. His proudest boast as a businessman was undoubtedly that he published the first picture postcard of York in 1893. Postcards originated in Austria in 1869: a million and a half were sent within a month.

The following year, Britain adopted the idea. Some people did not take to postcards, unhappy that they could be read by everyone, even the servants. Nevertheless, 575,000 were sold on the first day.

By all accounts, Mr Arthur was one to spot a good business idea when he saw one. And so he began to produce views of York for collectors and early tourists.

His collaborators were some of the best in the business. William Hayes, the famous Victorian York "photographic artist", had his views turned into Arthur postcards.

Mr Hayes also published his own postcards, and a letter of his from 1904 reveals their popularity: "The demand for postcards is still enormous, we cannot print them fast enough".

And Mr Arthur's brother-in-law was the artist Edwin Ridsdale-Tate: his colour paintings of York were made into postcards.

Mr Arthur was an authority on York history, and clearly very proud of his city. To him, the production of fine quality postcards was more than just an excellent source of revenue. A contemporary newspaper report described how "it is the object of the firm, while giving faithful and accurate pictures, to make York appear to its best advantage through the medium of these cards".

It went on: "The firm published the first post card of York in 1893 (on the Government-stamped court card) and, according to the Editor of 'The Picture Post Card and Collector's Chronicle' they were the earliest publishers of Christmas post cards in England."

Mr Arthur's published claim that his early postcards were "fully five years before any London or Provincial House issued post cards" may be debatable. But an obituary published in the Evening Press confirmed his contribution to the art.

"The early history of the pictorial postcard was largely shaped by his original use of the half-tone printing block in monochrome and colour," it said.

Arthur & Co's shop was in Davygate, opposite Davy Hall. At one time it boasted half a million postcards in stock.

An undated advertisement in the Arthur archive proudly proclaims: "a proof of the popularity of our many novelties lies in the fact of their being quickly imitated". It states that the firm sold 130 different series of postcards. These included York Arms in gold and colour (12 cards), and Royal York (64 cards), "including Palace, Coney Street, King's Staith etc". Back then, the cards were as much for residents as tourists. Arthur's produced bromide portraits of York's great and good for loyal residents to collect; the Archbishop, the Dean and the city MPs were among his subjects.

Mr Arthur also ran a Great Postcard Competition, with "cheques and valuable prizes" to the winners. Later, he transformed part of their Davygate premises into The Post Card Gallery (admission free).

On display were: "English, foreign and colonial views, actresses, celebrities, animals, engines, flags, coins, souvenirs of events, cathedrals, coats of arms, flowers, great pictures, sacred art, facsimile paintings, musical composers, military, in fact every subject and topic of interest".

At one time, Mr Arthur also ran a thriving printing business. This was established in 1874. It was based in Davygate, later moving opposite the pit entrance to the Empire, in King Street.

A surviving price list reveals you could buy shorthand clerks' note books for one old penny, tuppence or thruppence; cash boxes were sold for up to two shillings and sixpence; and twine (white and buff) cost four or six pence per ball.

Arthur & Co's Gold Quill Pen was, the advert insisted, a "revelation to writers", and "generally pronounced perfect". Best used, no doubt, with the firm's own Blue-Black Ink, which "will not thicken".

Mr Arthur was married to Emma and had four children: Vera, who is celebrating today, Eric, Donald and Harold. They lived in Monkgate, moving later to Bootham Terrace and then Sycamore Terrace.