Thank you jim1. Yes I noticed the bit about the royal warrant, but glad you can tell me about the style of dress. I was just trying to go by the age she looks on the photo. Also that we know she was adopted in 1901 and the postcard must have come after that. I do think it is from Florence (the adoptive Mum to Gertrude/ May's sister Edith. I think the girl's Mother (Ada Caroline Ling nee Yates) was probably unwell, so they are corresponding through Edith? Thing is - we can Find Florence & Raymond Martin at 7 Kilburn Sq (the same address that is also on the letter of adoption) on the 1901 census, but nothing definite of them before or after and no marriage that I can find. Also for Gertrude, no definite birth. She appears with Edith on the 1901 census living with an Aunt at 45 Victoria Road, Willesden. Family info through my husband's mother (Edith's daughter) is that Gertrude was born in 1891. My husband's mother was pretty reliable and as you see from the photo, she wrote on them to say who people were, which is a great help to us now! There is a baptism record for a May Ling in 1901, which has to be 'our' May (father deceased) but the info in the left column appears to give the actual dob as 1894 (which would make her younger than Edith, not older). We think this is the adoptive parents having Gertrude baptised as May - it's the only thing that seems to fit - except for the 1894 bit.... Anyway what I am saying is that anything that helps us to narrow down dates is really helpful and that my guess at the date of the photo agrees with yours. Still a lot more to unravel. Thanks again.
