Postcards

POSTCARD to TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR from BRISBANE

From the outset I have to admit that I am not an avid collector of Australian Colonial postcards, nor do I have much knowledge of ship routes from Brisbane to what I would call exotic places. The purpose of this paper is to see if readers can add information to the content of this paper. This 1898 postcard is listed as Higgins & Gage #10 and has the printed 1d (2

Read More »

ZERCHO’S BUSINESS COLLEGE, MELBOURNE

The front of the illustrated postcard shows a colourful rendition of Princes Bridge, Melbourne and the well-kept surrounding gardens along the river’s edge. Rising into the sky is a white streamer inscribed with Zercho’s Business College. In keeping with the business theme there is a short inscription in Pitman’s shorthand, at the lower right hand of the card, which translates as “Where I am being educated for business”. The reverse

Read More »

THOMAS STEPHENS, EDUCATIONIST, MEMBER ROYAL SOCIETY, TASMANIA

An unpretentious one penny Tasmanian postcard reveals an interesting story about the addressee, Thos Stephens M.A., Inspector of Schools, Davey Street (Hobart). It was postmarked with a HOBART/ 1 D/ NO 4/ 82 duplex (Figure 1). Figure 1: Click to enlarge. The reverse has an interesting script message as follows: A Meeting of Boys Reformatory Committee will be held at the Bible Depot, Liverpool Street on Monday Morning next 6th Instant

Read More »

THOMAS FINNEY of FINNEY, ISLES & CO., MERCHANTS & Q’LAND POLITICIAN

The illustrated Queensland postcard (Hambledon Sugar Mill, Cairns) with the printed brown 1d stamp was canceled with an unframed CAIRNS/ 8A/ NO 17/ 03/ QUEENSLAND postmark with a barred numeral ‘499′ obliterator and it is addressed to Mrs. Cran, Nelson [Queensland] Figure 1. The reverse is illustrated with a 4-storey flagged building premises and has a printed Memo. It is dated Brisbane Nov 13 1903 and it has the following

Read More »

THE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, AN EARLY HISTORY

This postcard was issued in 1876 and featured the 1875 1d adhesive “Bell” design in pale mauve on a yellow card, which has a distinctive surround border.   The stamp is postmarked with the duplex MELBOURNE/ 5X/ JA 15/ 77 with a VICTORIA obliterator.  The card is addressed to T.J. Crouch Esq., Elizabeth St., City  (Figure 1). The reverse is headed HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL, 17 SPRING STREET (Melbourne), with a manuscript Jan

Read More »

T.S.S. KANOWNA SHIPWRECK OFF WILSON’S PROMONTORY, VICTORIA 1929

The ‘Advance Australia’ postcard was postmarked with a squared circle PORT ADELAIDE/ 3/ DE 20/ 06/ S.A. on the pink ‘ONE PENNY’ stamp of South Australia, and the message read “Dec 20 1906 Arrived here this morning. I will be in Melb on Saturday & back in old F.C. (Fish Creek) about the end of the month, hoping all are well, Yours ( ). The addressed woman lived at Fish

Read More »

SYDNEY BOYS & SYDNEY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOLS

Following Sir Henry Parkes’ Education Act of 1880, the Government of the Colony of New South Wales decided to establish, under the control and administration of the Department of Public Instruction, a system of Public High Schools. The first of these were the two Sydney High Schools. On October 1, 1883, the Boys School enrolled 46 students at the Francis Greenway designed building constructed by convicts in Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

Read More »

SOUTH AUSTRALIA ODDFELLOWS’ POSTCARD

This fine mint South Australian Postcard with the lilac one penny Queen Victoria stamp front is a common postcard of limited appeal. The reverse of a common postcard may be a surprise, for if there is a printed message it can be of considerable interest (see also the Victorian postcard “John George Sauerbrey 1830-1919” at this site). The printing on the postcard is as follows: GRAND UNITED ORDER of ODDFELLOWSAPOLLO

Read More »

ROYAL VISIT to AUSTRALIA, & H.M.S. RENOWN 1927 (2FC BROADCAST)

This postcard has been difficult to research for the “records of radio operations in the 1920s are very poorly documented.” It was posted in March 1927 from Sydney to a Narara, N.S.W. address with the 1d green KGV head and the top centre shows a radio microphone, with the letters ‘2FC’ denoting the radio station It clearly shows the purpose of the card: ‘2 F.C. Sydney has pleasure in sending

Read More »

ROYAL SOCIETY of TASMANIA POSTCARD to CARNEGIE INSTITUTE, D.C.

The postcard has a red 2d KGV Head stamp canceled by a roller cancel ‘SEND/ A/ TELEGRAM and a circular postmark HOBART/ 1PM/ 19 AP/ 1933. It is addressed to The Carnegie Inst. Of Washington, Washington (D.C.), U.S.A. (Figure 1). The reverse has a ‘Belt & Buckle’ insignia enclosing a crown over a map of Tasmania, originating from The Royal Society of Tasmania, The Museum, Hobart, 21st April 1933. In

Read More »