I noticed that some of the postcard scans published in the Coulter/Seaman books can be slightly cropped, as well as of course being lower resolution to fit two on an A5 page (printed).
This above view is very significant indeed as it shows the shops besides Oaksford Avenue and the sign to one of the original well drinker's cottages called the Green Dragon:
"September 2, 1675.—I came back by a certain medicinal spa waters, at a place called Sydenham Wells in Lewisham parish, much frequented in summer. Yes, there I hung—the green dragon of Sydenham—no mere painted picture or shadowy representation, but a real, substantial, wooden dragon, 'natural as life,' as everybody said, though I do not know that anybody had ever met with my relations, or that any green dragon had ever before occupied my high position."
If Upper Sydenham was ever to have it's own town sign then it should most definitely include the symbol of a Green Dragon; likewise, if this forum ever allowed avatars then I would represent myself as a Green Dragon because it symbolises the very roots of my interest in local history; Upper Sydenham and the Wells Park Road area was the first place I studied. I can now envisage the area in past times much more vividly thanks to an article lent by Steve Grindlay. At the heart of Upper Sydenham's tourist attraction in the 1640s was the Green Dragon! Remember this, folks...
A higher quality scan might reveal the only known photo of that sign(?) in better detail! Remember, we are talking about a very important part of Sydenham's heritage here--the Green Dragon!
What's more, to the right of the view is a pub called The Gardener's Arms. As far as I'm aware this is the only photo to show that pub, as it closed many moons ago--almost a century before the Duke. The Talma is still going, but for how long? A higher quality scan might show a bit more of the sign to the left and the pub to the right if it's one of those views that had to be cropped for publication.I've just won a postcard on Ebay looking up the hill from the same viewpoint:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0168008256
I'd be happy to upload a scan of this once I receive it! I'm pretty sure it's the only view to show a glimpse of the buildings opposite the Green Dragon that were built on top of one of the backfilled wells! Another well stood roughly where the photographer was standing!! Another well was meant to be in-between Oaksford Avenue and where those shops used to stand!!! I know all this thanks to the article lent by Steve. Most local residents only know about the well that used to be underneath the font of St Philip's Church.
So you can understand why the above photo is important and in need of an upgrade!
Most of the wells had been backfilled by the early 1800s, but this later map of 1863 looks very intrigueing, still:
It must have been long gone by the postcard era. 
A bit more of the Gardener's Arms is visible though, plus the quality is great. Oh well, you win some you lose some...
