Around 40,000 cards were in the collection, which Barker built up since the Fifties. Many were signed or initialled by him.
But Bristol auctioneers Dreweatt Neate, said anonymity was an ‘express condition’ of the sale.
Brian Lund, the editor of Picture Postcard Monthly, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘These postcards were his inspiration. A lot of his stage material can be seen in the jokes and all the double entendres.
‘It was very disappointing the sale was kept secret because it would have been a huge shot in the arm for the British postcard industry.’
One dealer who bought 4,000 cards at the auction ‘quite cheaply’, reckoned he would be able to double his money on them, now he knows that came from Barker.
Click here to view the postcards.
Earlier this month, Barker’s handwritten script for the Two Ronnies’ Four Candles sketch sold for £48,500.
