There are at least two dozen different postcards depicting the giant panda "Ming"; most were published by commercial postcard companies although this one is an official Zoological Society of London postcard.
Many of the "Ming" postcards are very anthropomorphic, depicting the giant panda "reading" a newspaper, "driving" a toy car etc.
A number of postcards feature photos taken by Bert Hardy that show the photographer's son, Mike, playing football with the panda, riding on the panda's back etc.
@Panthera1981
Yes 'Ming', originally named 'Baby', was the youngest of the five giant pandas that arrived at London Zoo in December 1938.
The five giant pandas were originally called ‘Baby’, Grumpy’, ‘Dopey’, ‘Happy’ and 'Grandma’.
‘Grandma’ died on 9th January 1939, shortly after arriving in London, (and can be seen mounted in the Leeds Museum). ‘Happy’ was exhibited in various European zoos and eventually went to St. Louis, USA, where he died on 10th March 1946.
The ZSL retained ‘Baby’, ‘Grumpy’ and ‘Dopey’ renaming them ‘Ming’, ‘Tang’ and ‘Sung’ respectively, so that they had oriental names.
During the Second World War, the three London pandas all spent sometime at Whipsnade Zoo; 'Ming' was transported from London to Whipsnade and back again three times.
