POSTCARDS

This postcard has two N.S.W. stamps, the ½d green and 1d. red and they are postmarked with a faint Sydney suburb MARRICKVILLE/ AU 7/ 10 PM/ 04/ N.S.W duplex cancel. The SYDNEY/ AU 8/ 5.30-AM/ 04/ 43 duplex confirms the former date. The postcard is addressed to a Honolulu, Hawaii address (Figure 1)

ADVERTISING & CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CARD from G.P. FITZGERALD, 1907

The front of the card shows an imposing two-level building clearly labeled G.P. Fitzgerald & Co. in colour, and the reverse is addressed to a lady living at Constitution Hill, Tasmania. The stampless card has a POSTAGE PAID/ 1/ DEC 20/ 1907/ HOBART TAS postmark, as well as a reception postmark for Constitution Hill (now, Dysart), Tasmania the same day. The printed message reads: "With all Good Wishes/ for a/ Merry Christmas/ and may the New Year/ bring you every success/ and prosperity/ G.P. Fitzgerald & CO./ Mail Order Dept. (Figures 1 & 2).

ALBERT HENRY FULLWOOD (1863-1930), ARTIST

This illustrated cover has two N.S.W. lilac 1d ‘View of Sydney’ stamps, postmarked with the duplex SYDNEY/ AP 4/ 11-AM/ 95/ 32 with the N.S.W obliterator. It is addressed to Mrs Bradford, "Hillside", Lower Sandy Bay, Hobart. The cover shows a black ink sketch of a man peering through a telescope, steps, and a sailing boat with 4 men watching the scene (Figure 1).

AN UNUSUAL WW I POSTCARD to a SOLDIER in EGYPT

This home-made postcard was made from cut-outs of red Australian KGV heads and postage due stamps pasted to the front of a blank "Graphic' post card that was sent, presumably under cover (as there were no stamps for postage nor postmarks), to an Australian soldier in Egypt on leave from fighting at Gallipoli in Turkey. The design was drawn in black ink, but the red and green colour was filled in by the stamps.

ARTHUR YATES & CO., SEED GROWERS, SEED MERCHANTS & NURSERYMEN

This real photograph advertising trade post card has a view of numerous workers at the in Plant Department Sydney Warehouse of Arthur Yates & C^O L^TD Sydney, and there is a roller cancel of a SYDNEY/ 5-PM/ JLY 24/ 1922/ N.S.W (Figure 1).

AUGUSTUS SIMSON, PLANT & INSECT COLLECTOR, SHARE BROKER

The New South Wales Postcard with the printed red ‘Shield’ stamp was cancelled with the duplex SYDNEY/ MR 5/ 1 P.M/ 00/ 10 with the barred oval N.S.W obliterator. It was addressed to Augustus Simson Esq, Patterson Street, Launceston, Tasmania (Figure 1).

AUSTRALIAN BANK to CALCUTTA BANK with FRENCH CONNECTION, 1899

This 1891 1½d overprint on the 2d Victorian postcard with the red ‘UNIVERSAL P0STAL UNION’ overprint, deletion of the ‘FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM’ and ‘by the long sea route’ came about when Victoria joined the U.P.U.  As a result cards could be sent for 1½d to any member country of the Union, which by then comprised most of the rest of the world.  It is addressed to the Manager, Comptoir National d’escompte de Paris, it is postmarked MELBOURNE/ 50/ MR 1/ 99, there is a transit mark of TUTICORIN/ 16 MA./ 99/ (India) and a reception mark of CALCUTTA/ 20 MA. 99 (Figure 1).

BANK of INDIA, A/IA & CHINA:  POSTCARD from MELBOURNE to BATAVIA

This THREE HALFPENCE postcard with ‘POSTAGE’ at the base of QV’s neck was introduced in March 1905 and it remained current until 1913. It was printed UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE/ (Victoria, Australia) and the 1½d stamp wass cancelled MELBOURNE/ 21/ 2 15P/ 13 SE 07/ VICTORIA. It was addressed to The Agent, Chartered Bank of India, A/ia & China, Batavia. There is a faint black squared circle BATAVIA postmark (date not legible) and a large blue double oval with CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA/ Recd 14 OCT 1907/ ANSWd _____/ BATAVIA. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

BARONESS de KOENNERITZ of SAINT CLOUD

A single newspaper wrapper is unlikely to excite me, but this one did because of the recipient's name and her address. There can't be too many foreign baroness in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, but Rose Bay would be a likely locale for finding one. The wrapper, without any identifier of the sender, is postmarked twice by BENDIGO/ 2/ 6-P/ 20 NO 19/ VIC on the 'No Inscription' type ½d green plus ½d green KGV head (with the 2 stamp images printed at different levels) wrapper issued in 1918. It is addressed to Baroness A.N. de Koenneritz, "Saint Cloud, Collins Avenue, Rose Bay, Sydney (Figure 1).

BEER & BACCY -- VICTORIAN ADVERTISING POSTCARD SENT to BOSTON 1895

This 1d blue ‘Reading Stamp Duty’ postcard was the first and only Victorian postcard with advertisements, and it could be sent to all Australian Colonies, New Zealand and Fiji without additional postage.  It had a very short life for their was a furious response from conservative elements in the community, its day of issue being 1 November 1895 and it was withdrawn on 19 November 1895.  During the three weeks of use 84,960 cards were sold, many of them as a result of the bad publicity.  Mint cards are common, but postally used cards in this period are desirable.  After their withdrawal, the Post Office sold cancelled-to-order cards for 2d!  The Postmaster-General, J. Gavan Duffy had sold the rights to private advertisements to Cameron Bros., and this was an unfortunate choice of 2 popular brands.

BEER & BACCY POSTCARD of VICTORIA (2ND PAPER) & CHICKEN SOUP

A previous discussion on this short-lived Victorian advertising postcard is to be found at this website in the Category: Postcard, under the title of ‘Beer & Baccy Victorian Advertising Postcard Sent to Boston 1895'. The first paragraph is worth repeating: This 1d blue ‘Reading Stamp Duty’ postcard was the first and only Victorian postcard with advertisements, and it could be sent to all Australian Colonies, New Zealand and Fiji without additional postage. It had a very short life for there was a furious response from conservative elements in the community. Its day of issue was 1 November 1895 and it was withdrawn on 19 November 1895. During the three weeks of use 84,960 cards were sold, many of them as a result of the bad publicity. Mint cards are common, but postally used cards in this period are desirable. After their withdrawal, the Post Office sold cancelled-to-order cards for 2d! The Postmaster-General, J. Gavan Duffy had sold the rights to private advertisements to Cameron Bros., and this was an unfortunate choice of 2 popular brands.

Another copy of the offending postcard used appropriately on the last day of issue is seen here:

The ‘Beer & Baccy’ postcard of 1895 was issued on 1 November 1895 led to a furious response from the Australian conservative elements and was withdrawn from sale the day that this message was written. It was addressed to Mr. A. Wertheimer, C/- P. Phillipson & Co, 391 Bourke Street, near Melbourne Post Office, Melbourne and the blue ‘One Penny’ printed stamp was cancelled MELBOURNE/ NO 19/ 95 (Figure 1).

BENJAMIN DUNSTAN, QUEENSLAND GEOLOGIST, ASSAYER,  PUBLIC SERVANT

The postcard had two Queensland QV stamps, a green ½d and an orange 1d ‘Four Corners’, both with the ‘OS’ perfin. They were postmarked with a roller cancel BRISBANE/ ( ). JUL. 12. 6-PM / QUEENSLAND, and it was addressed to The Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. America (Figure 1).

BRISBANE WINDMILL OBSERVATORY & Q’LAND STAMP ILLUSTRATIONS

The pictorial postcard has the green ½d QV and the orange QV ‘Four Corners’ 1d stamps of Queensland, canceled by an indistinct postmark in the late 1890s-early 1900s and it is addressed to a person living in Denver, Colorado U.S.A. (Figure 1).

CETINJE, MONTENEGRO VIA SUEZ from MACKAY, QLD: 1894 POSTCARD

The Queensland Universal Postal Union 1½d postcard has the ’Rays 33' on the printed stamp with a MACKAY/ D/ JY 21/94/ QUEENSLAND postmark alongside, as well as a transit BRISBANE/ JY 24/ 94/ QUEENSLAND postmark. In addition there is a transit SUEZ/ A/ 27 ( ) 94, as well as a partial transit of CONSTANTINOPLE (date illegible). The postcard is addressed to Frau Leonie B. Bergner, Citinje (sic), Monte Negro (sic), Europe (Figure 1).

CHARLES DANA GIBSON, ILLUSTRATOR, 1868-1944 [USA]

The pen-and-ink drawings of illustrator Charles Gibson came to represent the spirit of the early twentieth century in America. His illustrations appeared in a number of popular magazines and they both influenced and reflected attitudes, behaviours and mores in the country. The onset of the First World War was said to have ended the public's romance with Gibson's images, for the collective outlook changed from confident optimism to reserved cynicism; the latter outlook made Gibson's perspective to be out of place.

CODED MESSAGE: WINGHAM to TINONEE, N.S.W., POSTCARD: MANLY BEACH

The coloured postcard of Manly Beach, Sydney has a red 1d ‘Shield of New South Wales’ stamp postmarked with the rays numeral ‘123' of Wingham, New South Wales (Figure 1).

COOLGARDIE CYCLE EXPRESS: LOCAL POSTS EASTERN GOLDFIELDS 1894-7

Western Australia gold field memorabilia are not infrequent finds at auction sites, and the Coolgardie Cycle Express Service, Coolgardie, W.A., 1894 postcard reproduction is a reminder of the past. It was produced in 1964 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the service in 1964. The front shows reproductions of the blue 1/- and 2/6 "cinderellas" postmarked with a special cancellation (Figure 1).

DAWSON CITY, YUKON, CANADA: TWO POSTCARDS from CONSUL to CONSUL

Two pictorial postcards from Australian States were addressed to the American Vice Consul in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada.. The first was mailed from Melbourne in February 1906 with the blue 2½d Victoria stamp and was addressed Hon. J. Carlton Woodward, American Vice & Deputy Consul, Dawson City, Y.T. (Yukon Territory), Canada. On its reverse it showed a black & white General View of Collins Street, Melbourne, with a short message: "Feby 9, 1906/ With compliments of John P. Bray, American Consul General, Melbourne, Australia" (Figures 1 & 2).

DENNYS, LASCELLES & CO., GEELONG WOOL MERCHANTS

The 1876-81 1d ‘Bell’ postcard was postmarked with the duplex GEELONG and B.N. ‘2' with an indistinct date, and it was addressed to Messrs Peterson, Lane & Co. Melbourne (Figure 1).

DRAYTON & GARSON, MELBOURNE UNDERTAKERS & EMBALMERS

Why would anyone send such a postcard to a friend? Perhaps because of the historical nature of the horse-drawn funeral carriages, but this may have been the norm in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? The undated postcard gives no clue as to its publisher, and it has the pink 1d QV ‘Postage’ stamp of Victoria cancelled with a wavy VICTORIA roller postmark. The receiver of the postcard, Mrs. F. Treyvaud has an interesting address of ‘Marconi’, Pt. Lonsdale, via Queenscliff, Victoria, and the message penned by the sender ‘R.G.’ reads: Dear E. Just a line to say I will not be driving to meet you tomorrow, as buggy is in dock. If I do not get to the boat, you go to Flinders St by train, then get tram out here and we will watch for you, R.G. As an after-thought, at the heading of the note, there is an addition: You can get train ticket to town on boat (Figure 1).

ELEANOR (NELLIE) TOWZEY STEWART, WOOLOOMOOLOO BORN ACTRESS

The postcard has two stamps of N.S.W. heavily cancelled with a duplex SYDNEY/ JA 24/ NOON/ 05/ 44 with the N.S.W obliterator. It was addressed to Vancouver, Canada with a manuscript. Per R.M.S. Moama, and it had an arrival postmark of VANCOUVER/ 7/ FE 16/ 05/ B.C. (Figure 1).

ENRICO CARUSO: POSTCARD FROM SYDNEY to MILAN, REDIRECTED to ROME

This taxed New South Wales postcard has the red printed 1d ‘Arms’ stamp canceled with the duplex SYDNEY/ DE 30/ 3 45 P.M/ 02/ 44 with the barred N.S.W obliterator. It is addressed to Signor Cav. Enrico Caruso, 1 Via Velasca, Milan Italy, and is redirected simply to ‘Roma’. It has a ‘shield’ N.S.W/ T/ 5' tax handstamp, with the red 10 centesimi Italian postage due stamp, which is cancelled with an illegible Milan postmark. There is a ms. blue crayon ‘6', a black oval ‘135' as well as a black oval ‘230' (Figure 1).

ENRICO CARUSO: POSTCARD FROM SYDNEY to MILAN, REDIRECTED to ROME

This taxed New South Wales postcard has the red printed 1d ‘Arms’ stamp canceled with the duplex SYDNEY/ DE 30/ 3 45 P.M/ 02/ 44 with the barred N.S.W obliterator. It is addressed to Signor Cav. Enrico Caruso, 1 Via Velasca, Milan Italy, and is redirected simply to ‘Roma’. It has a ‘shield’ N.S.W/ T/ 5' tax handstamp, with the red 10 centesimi Italian postage due stamp, which is cancelled with an illegible Milan postmark. There is a ms. blue crayon ‘6', a black oval ‘135' as well as a black oval ‘230' (Figure 1).

F.G. MULLER-BEECK, GERMAN CONSUL, NAGASAKI, JAPAN from HOBART

The pink ‘ONE PENNY’ Tasmanian Postcard (H & G #3A) had an additional orange ½d ‘Tablet’ QV stamp paying the correct rate from Hobart to Japan. It had a duplex HOBART/ A/ FE 11/ 1897 with TASMANIA obliterator, as well as a transit HONG KONG/ MR 13/ 97 postmark. It was addressed to Consul Muller-Beeck, Nagasaki, Japan. The reverse was not seen but it had an arrival backstamp of Nagasaki (Figure 1).

FRANK ALLWORK, TASMANIAN DOCTOR & FORMER S.A. VINEYARD OWNER

This Tasmania Post and Telegraph form is strictly non-postal, but it does have an OUSE/ AU 19/ 03/ TASMANIA postmark. It was sent from Macquarie Plains on that date to a Mr. Nicholas, Coroner in Ouse with the following message: Have made full enquiries case of Dr. Stewart. My opinion death due to failure heart. No suspicion of suicide. Consider Inquest unnecessary. Frank Allwork, New Norfolk. It was calculated as 27 words and ‘1/ 8 Pd’ (one shilling and 8 pence) was paid (Figure 1).

FRANK GRIMLEY, COACH & WAGON BUILDER,

The red 1d NSW ‘Shield’ postcard was postmarked WEDDERBURN/ JA 11/ 1904/ N.S.W and addressed to a Bicycle Deater in Gympie, Queensland (Figure 1).

FRED & ERNEST CRISP BARREL OIL POSTCARD

The Tasmanian postcard with the 1d red QV sideface stamp was postmarked HOBART/ A/ MY 5/ 1903/ TASMANIA and addressed Messrs Chas Atkins Co., 472 Flinders St, Melbourne and it also has a MELBOURNE 7 5 03 reception postmark on the front. In manuscript at the bottom right corner there is an F. & E. Crisp 4/5/05 inscription applied by the sender (Figure 1).

FREEMAN & WALLACE, MEDICAL INSTITUTE & HOMEOPATHIC DOCTORS

The New South Wales Post Card with the printed red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp is addressed to Messrs Freeman & Wallace, Medical Institute, 227½ Elizabeth street, Sydney. The stamp is cancelled with the ‘624' Ray of Luddenham (Figure 1).

FRIEDRICH CHARLES KRICHAUFF, STAMP COLLECTOR, PHOTOGRAPHER & ARCHITECT

This unusually addressed cover apparently found its way into the hands of the addressee, F.C. Krichauff, Esq, Stamp Collector, South Australia, in spite of the inadequate address. The ½ anna green embossed stamp from India was up-rated with a blue 2 anna stamp of India, and both were cancelled with the squared circle BOMBAY/ F/ AP 2/ (18)97. The reverse, not seen by me, had Tuticorin, India and Colombo, Ceylon transits and an Adelaide, S.A. receiver mark (Figure 1).

FRIEDRICH KRICHAUFF, 1ST S. A. PARLIAMENTARIAN of GERMAN ORIGIN

The front of the South Australian one penny purple postcard is postmarked with a duplex cancel of G.P.O. ADELAIDE/ MY 14 / 91/ S.A, and is addressed to the Hon F.E.H.W. Krichauff M.L.C., Flinders Street (Adelaide) (Figure 1).

GEBRUDER SENF , LEIPZIG GERMANY, POSTCARD FROM VICTORIA

The red overprinted UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION with both ‘FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM’ and ‘By the long sea route’ barred out, also has a 1½d overprint on the ‘TWO PENNY’ postcard from Victoria. Victoria’s decision to join the U.P.U. in 1891 allowed post cards to be sent for 1½d to any member country of the Union. The postcard was addressed to Gebruder Senf, (Senf Brothers),Leipzig Germany - Alemania. The postmark was illegible as far as the town’s name, but the vendor stated it was posted in 1901. There was a circular reception postmark of L.13/ 17 8/ S-7N/ C . The reverse had no date and no postmark but it had a message: I depart from here to-morrow, Yours truly, R. Nuln (Figure 1).

GENERAL JOHN FRENCH, HERO in the BOER WAR [SOUTH AFRICA]

This Boer War recruitment publicity postcard with ‘General French War South Africa’ has a portrait of the general on a medal, shows British flags, a crown and crossed swords, plus an inscription ‘We Conquer Step by Step”. It is postmarked with a partial squared circle ALDGATE/ 2/ JY 30/ 00/ S.(A). There is an additional faint circular cancel confirming the JY 30/00 date.

H.K. LEWIS, BOOK PUBLISHER, SELLER & LENDING LIBRARY, LONDON

This Victoria postcard with the red ‘UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION’, ‘1½d’ and two deletions applied to the 2d overseas card was issued in 1891 and the printed stamp was cancelled with a duplex Melbourne in 1904.  It was addressed to H.K. LEWIS Esq, Bookseller, Gower Street, London, England (Figure 1).

HENRY LEWIS JONES, QUEENSLAND'S QUEEN BEE KING

This printed to private order Queensland postcard with the 1d printed stamp has a faint Type 2b 10 bar numeral ‘488' of Goodna, Queensland (14 km east of Ipswich) as well as a routing postmark, T.P.O. S & W RY NO 4/ A 7 OC 95/ QUEENSLAND, and it is addressed to Mr. R.S. Kinnear, The Overflow, Nyngan, N.S.W. (Figure 1).

J. KITCHEN & SONS PTY. LTD., MELBOURNE POSTAL CARD 1931

This used printed to private order postal card is said by the vendor to be “very rare, perhaps two exist” and it was sold at auction AUD 1,100. It was listed as a 1928-36 KGV Oval 1½d brown HG K8 on a bluish advice card. It was addressed to ‘Mr V. Hay, Storekeeper Chelsea (Victoria) and was postmarked MORWELL/ 11 FE 31/ VIC. The item was sold AUD100 above the estimate. (Figure 1).

J. P. JONES M.L.C., SPEAKER at the VICTORIAN INSTITUTE of ADVERTISER MEN

The Commonwealth of Australia postcard with the printed purple 1d KGV Head stamp was cancelled by a roller cancel of MELBOURNE/ 14 OC- 11PM/ 1923 as well as a slogan advertising the BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION. It was addressed to Mr. G.J. Manton, 430 Lit(tle) Collins St., Melbourne (Figure 1).

JAMES HENRY BRETT  WALCH of J. WALCH & SONS PTY LTD, HOBART  

The cover is addressed to J. Walch & Son, Newspaper Agents. Hobart, Tasmania and the two red 1d ‘Shield’ stamps of N.S.W. have 2 copies of the barred numeral ‘1711'. There is a transit roller cancel of SYDNEY/ SEP 22/ 12 M/ 1905/ 15 overlying the postmark of origin RILEY’S HILL/ SP 20/ 1905/ N.S.W (Type 1 D (i), opened 1893, closed 1978, 29 k from Ballina. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

JOHN GEORGE SAUERBREY (1830-1919)

This 1886 1d Victoria "Astley" stamp design was issued as a postcard on 1 June 1886, eight weeks prior to the design's issue as a stamp. The initial card was for use in Victoria only at the one penny rate, and use to other intercolonial destinations required a further 1d stamp. The 3-line instruction to this effect was altered on a reissue on 4 July 1887 following an agreement between the Australian Colonies to accept each other's postcards without additional postage. Both the 1886 and 1887 postcards were printed in violet-brown on either cream or grey-buff card, from a plate of 36 impressions.

JOHN WALKER & CO., MARYBOROUGH, QLD:  LAUNCH of ‘SAURIAN’ DREDGE

The red ONE PENNY Queensland postcard is canceled with an indistinct Maryborough postmark and is addressed to N.S. Arundell Esq, c/o Messrs J.T. Annear & Co., Maryborough (Figure 1).

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN (1836-1914) & TARIFF REFORM [ENGLAND]

When I first considered this paper in 2003, I gave it the title of "Donkey/Mule and Teddy/ Joey", for I could not differentiate whether the kicking quadriped was a donkey or a mule and whether it represented a monocled Teddy Roosevelt or Joey Chamberlain. Additional research confirmed that Joseph Chamberlain was the subject of this cartoon postcard, which was probably of English manufacture.

JULES RENARD, WOOLBROKER MERCHANT, BELGIAN CONSUL, MELBOURNE

The purple 1d N.S.W. postcard went through the mail uncancelled and was posted to Messrs Jules Renard & Co., 306 Kent St., Sydney (Figure 1).

JULIUS LEVY, PITT ST., SYDNEY. POSTCARD from TOOWOOMBA QLD, 1896

This ONE PENNY Queensland postcard is postmarked with '214' rays and an unframed TOOWOOMBA/ QUEENSLAND (with an indistinct date). It is addressed to Mr. Julius Levy, 127 Pitt St., Sydney NSW and has an arrival duplex SYDNEY/ MR 11/ U/ 96/ 29 with N.S.W. between 3 horizontal bars, above and below. Neither the time code replaced by 'U' nor the '29' are recorded in Tobin & Orchard's 'The Standard Circular Datestamps and Related Markings' of Sydney, Volume 6, 1995 (Figure 1).

KIMBERLEY, TASMANIA to ALEX NORTH F.R.V.I.A., ARCHITECT LAUNCESTON

This Tasmania Post Card with the red 1d King Edward VII head was the third Tasmanian type of official postcard issued with this sovereign’s head, the 2-line inscription having been removed from beneath the crest of the previous issue. It was issued on a buff colored card with an early date of 4 September 1906 and reissued on a white card, with an early date of 1 June 1912, the latter being scarce.  It was postmarked with a fine KIMBERLEY/ OC 4/ 10/ TASMANIA cancel and it was addressed to Alex North Esq., F.R.V.I.A., A.M.P. Chambers, Cameron St., Launceston (Figure 1).

LAWRENCE ADAMSON, HEADMASTER of WESLEY COLLEGE, MELBOURNE

The orange brown One Penny ‘Reading’ postcard on yellow stock was cancelled with a duplex MELBOURNE/ 16 S/ JE 10/ 91 with a VICTORIA obliterator, and it was addressed to L.A. Adamson Esq, Wesley College, Prahran (Figure 1).

LEATHER POSTCARDS of AUSTRALIAN INTEREST

I had thought that leather postcards were uncommon until I looked on Ebay, where I found hundreds of them on offer, all of American origin. I learnt that the leather postcard had its heyday in the last decade of the 1800's and the first decade of the 1900's, when they were largely replaced by commercially printed postcards, in great abundance. The writing and illustration on leather postcards were often produced by a burning technique, although the technique of printing on American leather postcards was prevalent in the early 1900's.

LEO BURING [HERMANN PAUL LEOPOLD (LEO) BURING] S.A. VIGNERON

The brown ONE PENNY South Australian postcard was addressed to Leo Buring Esq, Spring Vale, Water Vale, (South Australia) and it was postmarked with a ‘Squared Circle’ ROSEWORTHY/ SE 19/ 99/ S.A (Figure 1).

LIONEL & WILLIAM SAMSON, EARLY SWAN RIVER COLONY SETTLERS

A relatively ordinary front to this 1880 postcard reveals an interesting story about early settlers in Western Australia. The one-half penny postcard is addressed to a customer in Fremantle and it is postmarked with a FREMANTLE duplex, the date being illegible (Figure 1).

LYDIA YEAMANS-TITUS & LESLIE HARRIS, SOCIETY ENTERTAINERS

This postcard with the bluish green Half Penny stamp of New South Wales was postmarked with the duplex WILLIAM STREET/ FE 20/ 12- ( )PM/ 06/ N.S.W and the numeral ‘697', and also had a MORE TO PAY/ 1D / [maltese cross] handstamp.  It was addressed to Andrew Smart Esq, “Weekly Mail”, Wellington, New Zealand.  The printed advertising matter reads: Opera House, Wellington,  commencing Saturday, Sept 22 1906   Prices:  3/-, 2/-, 1/-   BOX PLAN AT HOLLIDAY’S (Figure 1).

MAUD EVELYN CRAVEN JEFFRIES, ACTOR, with STRONG AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION [USA]

The address side of this postcard has the N.S.W. red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp postmarked with a duplex NEWCASTLE/OC 11/ 12.15 P.M./05/ N.S.W with the barred numeral ‘55', and it was sent to a Hobart, Tasmania address (Figure 1).

MAXIMILIAN TANNENBERG, STAMP DESIGNER of AUSTRALIAN STATES

Two postal items have appeared at two auction sites in the past year addressed to Max Tannenberg. The first is a cover described as follows: "use of the India 4a 6p envelope from Rangoon to Melbourne addressed to Maximillian (sic) Tannenberg". It has a RANGOON/ AUG 19 cds with an 8 barred R duplex obliterator and it was sent to Tannenberg, at his home address 19 Canning Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. There is a pencilled ‘36' (registration number?) as well three examples of insufficient postage paid: a black ink manuscript ‘18cts’; a large oval ‘MORE TO PAY’ handstamp with ‘8' inserted in pencil; and, a large ‘T’ in a circle handstamp. The vendor is not sure if the tax markings were applied in India or Victoria., but he is well aware that Max is a known Australian colony stamp designer. The reverse (not seen) shows that 1884 was the year of the cover being posted, and it was postmarked at Bombay, Melbourne and Carlton (Figure 1).

MELBOURNE to the DIRECTOR of FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM, CHICAGO 

This overprinted UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION Victoria postcard with the 2d stamp overprinted with 1½d has both the reference to the United Kingdom and the long sea route barred-out when Victoria joined the U.P.U. in 1901. It is postmarked MELBOURNE/ 15A/ DE 16/ 99 and is addressed to The Director, Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, U.S. America. By 1894 the original grey card of 1891 ran out and this buff coloured card was introduced. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

MELBOURNE-LA SERENA via MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY & VALPARAISO, CHILE

The routing of this Victorian postcard has long given me concerns, and I still am not sure why it went via Uruguay to La Serena, Chile. The postcard is unique, for Victoria was the only Colony to accord postal commemoration of the new Commonwealth when a series of postcards was issued on the ‘eve’ of Federation. The design of the series featured a heading with the letters “AC” (Australian Commonwealth) above the coat of arms. The series comprised five postcards, each in a different colour, blue-green, grey-green, blue, lilac-brown and orange, and was issued between 20 and 22 December 1900 [Australian Federation was 1 January 1901]. It is believed that about 250,000 post cards were issued (Geoff Kellow 1990). On 9 February1904, an additional ½d had to be added for destinations outside Australia.

MESSRS. W. MURDOCH & CO. MERCHANTS, HOBART 1894

The Tasmanian red One Penny postcard was postmarked with the duplex HOBART/ H/ SE 3/ 94 with TASMANIA in the oval obliterator and simply addressed to Messrs. W. Murdoch & Co. Liverpool St. (Figure 1).

MINNIE TITTELL BRUNE, MOST POPULAR ACTRESS IN AUSTRALIA in 1904-09 [USA]

This postcard was sent from BRIGHTON STATION/ SP 7/ (19)08/ TASMANIA to Elizabeth Street, Hobart and the personal message was of no consequence (Figure 1).

MUSEUM, SYDNEY  to  ACADEMIE IMPERIALE des SCIENCES  ST.  PETERSBURG

The Commonwealth of Australia, New South Wales Post Card is addressed to The Secretary, Academie Imperiale des Sciences St. Petersburg: it has a printed red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp of N.S.W. with the uncommon OS/ NSW perfin, which perforates the card. There is a roller cancel SYDNEY N.S.W. AP 11- 3-PM 1912. In addition there are 2 identical ST. PETERSBURG (in cyrillic)/ -1-5-12-, as well as an additional ms. ‘Russia’ and other illegible manuscripts, in a different hand (Figure 1).

No 4 AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, ABBASSIA ARTILLERY BARRACKS, 1915 [EGYPT]

This may well be a one of a kind illustrated World War One postcard on account of the large 3-ringed postal marking with the unusual centrally placed ABBASSIA and the 8 11 1915 date-stamp, that originated at the No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Artillery Barracks, Abbassia, (Cairo). It has a manuscript ‘on active service 1276 9^th.. 6^th Reg, and is addressed to a Mrs P.C. Mowle, Neutral Bay, Sydney. The card is stampless, and the message short: Wishing you & Bill & Percy a very happy Christmas & New year. I wont be at the front before Christmas, (signed) Den. There is a transit postmark HELIOPOLIS/ 9 XI.15 - 5 P.M with arabic notation in the lower third. At the lower left hand side the origin of the card is described: The Cairo Postcard Trust Cairo 61857/ Serie 529 (Figure 1).

OSCAR MARESCAUX, COLONIAL BANK, KINGSTON, JAMAICA LETTER

This long registered cover has seven stamps of Victoria as postage of five times the 9 pence rate plus 3 pence for registration, a total of 4 shillings. The stamps from left to right are the orange eighteen pence stamp duty, two copies of the pink eight pence stamp duty, the brown five pence stamp duty, a pink four pence as well as a pair of the brown two pence halfpenny stamp duty. They are individually cancelled with the ‘1 over W’ barred numeral with the unframed MARKET STREET/ JULY 22/ 91/ MELBOURNE W postmark, alongside. There are a manuscript ‘Via London’ and ‘413' registration number, a boxed ‘REGISTRATION’, as well as an incomplete ‘REGISTERED LONDON’ handstamp, with a double oval ‘JAMAICA/ SP 18/ 91 REGISTERED’ alongside. The cover is addressed to Oscar Marescaux Esq, Colonial Bank, Kingston, Jamaica and there is a blue crayon manuscript for which I have no definite idea. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

PATERSON, LAING & BRUCE LTD, WYNYARD STREET, SYDNEY to APIA SAMOA

Examples of the present postcard appeared on 2 Australian auction sites. The company has an interesting history which may never be fully told, as the records were lost in the bombing of the London, England company during World War 2. To add further interest, the son of one of the partners had a significant impact on subsequent Australian history.

POSTCARD to DR. BENHAM from MOUNT LYELL MINING & RAILWAY Co. Ltd.

This 1d pink Victoria postcard has a roller postmark MELBOURNE/ OC 29–2-30P/ VICT/ 1908 and it was sent to Dr. Benham, Camden House, Exeter, S.A. (Figure 1).

POSTCARD to T. AITKEN, VICTORIA PARADE BREWERY, EAST MELBOURNE

This Victorian postcard is an example of the 1876-81 1d "Bell" Post Cards, a variant of the initial issue which had a fine outer frame-line of the ornamental border, for the outer frame-line is thick. It was issued in mid-1878 and this example was postmarked with the duplex MELBOURNE/ 11Y/ SE 27/ 81 and was addressed in bold print to Mr.T. Aitken, Victoria Parade Brewery, East Melbourne (Figure 1).

POSTCARD to TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR from BRISBANE

From the outset I have to admit that I am not a 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.

POSTCARD to WILLIAM A. TOPLIS, SARK, CHANNEL ISLANDS, ENGLAND

There are four main islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark) in the English Channel that are called the 'Channel Islands'. These islands are dependencies of the British crown (although strictly not part of the United Kingdom), having been so attached since the Conquest of 1066 when they formed part of the Duchy of Normandy. The smallest of the four is Sark. The islands were occupied by the Germans in WW II. The total area is only 194 sq km and both English and French are spoken, and Norman-French patois survives (Figure 1).

POSTCARD: V-PACIFIC DAY ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC

The postcard has a manuscript ‘V-Pacific Day Souvenir Air Mail Card - Mailed Admiralty Islands South-West Pacific’. It has a red 6 cents USA air mail stamp, postmarked with a fine A.F.P.O./ 15 AU 45/ 203 and it was addressed to E.D. Cash, 21 Victoria Square, Perth, West Australia (Figure 1).

PROF. MORRIS LOEWY, HOBOKEN N.J., MAGICIAN & STAMP COLLECTOR

A colourful non-Australian-related cover introduced me to the Professor Loewy two years ago and almost simultaneously I found an Australian cover sent to the same man. The Hoboken N.J. cover sold for a cool USD 6,000, the price can be attributed to at least 3 factors: it is a first day cover for the 1901 2c Pan-American Exposition stamp with a May 1 1901 machine cancel; the black vignette of the stamp is shifted upward; it has a multi-coloured vignette; and there are 3 different design exposition labels, one tied by the postmark (Figure 1).

REVEREND HERMANN HERLITZ, LUTHERAN PASTOR in MELBOURNE

This New South Wales postcard has the 1d ‘Shield’ impression cancelled with a faint barred numeral ‘1529' of Pleasant Hills and an even fainter reception postmark of Melbourne. It is addressed to Rev. H. Herlitz, Gisborne Str, East Melbourne, Vic (Figure 1).

ROBERT & ARTHUR BUNNING, W.A. TIMBER MERCHANTS & J. TALBOT HOBBS 

This common Western Australian ½d postcard was postmarked with a duplex PERTH/ 1/ JL 5/ 92 with the G.P.O obliterator and was addressed to Messrs. Bunning Bros, Goderich St., Perth (Figure 1).

ROBERT BROUGH & DION BOUCICAULT, COMEDY COMPANY, SHANGHAI

This 1d red New South Wales postcard has an additional red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp added and it is cancelled with a duplex SYDNEY/ MY 3/ (–) PM/ 01/ 41 with the N.S.W obliterator. It is addressed to Allan Hamilton Esqr, The Brough Comedy Coy, Shanghai. It has a double circle SHANGHAI’ 1/ JU 1/ 01/LOCAL POST with an adjacent small single circle ‘34'. There is a manuscript Chinese script along the left border (Figure 1).

ROSENTHAL, ARONSON & Co., WHOLESALE & MANUFACTURING JEWELLERS & GENERAL MERCHANTS

This Victorian Post Card with the brown One Penny ‘Stamp Duty’ stamp has a duplex MELBOURNE/ T/ MR 14/ 92 postmark and the six barred VICTORIA obliterator. It is addressed to the company of Mess Fraser Bro & Devonshire in Yarram, Victoria (Figure 1).

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).

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 you a souvenir photograph of the Royal Visit and appreciates your very kind letter commenting on this historic transmission'(Figure 1).

SCOUT JAMBOREE, FRANKSTON VICTORIA, 1934-35

This illustrated cover specifically prepared for the Jamboree was postmarked with a faint AUST. JAMBOREE FRANKSTON/ 2.30 P 3 JA 35/ VIC. and it was addressed to Tom Fielding, Penguin, Tasmania. The front had a small printed AUSTRALIAN JAMBOREE FRANKSTON/ VICTORIA 1935, with a kangaroo and a boomerang in the centre, as well as a scout badge. It had a total postage of 1½d made up of the green 1d and orange ½d KGV head stamps (Figure 1).

SIR ARTHUR ALFRED CLEMENT COCKS (ARTHUR COCKS & Co.) to CHEMIST

This unpretentious commercial postcard introduces a man of some substance, in more ways than one. His life takes him from Wild Duck Creek, near Heathcote, Victoria to London and finally to Mosman, N.S.W. The Private Post Card , Issued by the Postmaster-General of New South Wales was sent from Arthur Cocks & Co., Wholesale Opticians, 3 Wynyard Street, Sydney to Mr. Collins, Chemist, Gunning (N.S.W.). The red 1d ‘Shield of N.S.W.’ stamp (which has a private perfin ‘A C’) was postmarked with a duplex SYDNEY/ OC 13/ 8 30-PM/ 98/ 41. The reverse was of no interest and had no postmark (Figure 1).

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.

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. This site was that of the present Elizabeth Street store of David Jones Ltd. (which runs through to Castlereagh St.).

SYDNEY N.S.W. to Mrs. EDWARD CAMERON, GRAND TURKS ISLAND

Two New South Wales postcards and one NSW Letter Card, with all 3 addressed to either Mrs. E. or Mrs. Edward Cameron, with slight variations of the address have recently appeared on the internet (December 2004). The composite address was as follows: Mrs. Edward Cameron, Government House, Grand Turk (Island), Turk's Islands, West Indies. The earliest is a REPLY POST CARD and has the printed blue 1½d stamp postmarked SYDNEY/ DE 26/ 93/ 34, N.S.W duplex, as well as a receiving postmark of TURKS ISLANDS/ FE 27/ 94 (Figure 1).

SYDNEY POSTCARD to I.M. MOSES c/o MESSRS DAVID SASSOON & Co., BOMBAY

One never knows initially where a postal item will lead and this one produces a trail of religion, trade, wealth and opium. The 1½d N.S.W. postcard is postmarked with the duplex SYDNEY/ SP 26/ 4 PM/ 92 with the N.S.W obliterator and there is a reception postmark of BOMBAY/ F/ OC 17/ (92). It is addressed to I. M. Moses Esq., Care of Messrs David Sassoon & Co., Bombay (Figure 1).

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 Creek, Sth Gippsland, Victoria (Figure 1).

TAXED CARTOON POSTCARD from INVERELL, N.S.W. to PEKING, CHINA

I am always intrigued how inadequately addressed mail is sent out into the world, and this postcard really takes the prize. It is an English postcard, identified in green print vertically placed on the left hand side as being produced by the Cyn( )cas Publishing Co., Ltd , Tayport, Fifeshire. The postcard is simply addressed to Miss Isabel Pi( )y, Pekin (sic) China!

THE AUSTRALIAN WIDOWS' FUND: BOOM & BUST

This unassuming NSW 1d pink Queen Victoria mint Post Card reveals a story of Melbourne's past (late 1800's). The front has not been illustrated, but the reverse shows it is from The Australian Widows' Fund, Life Assurance Society Limited, with Offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane & Launceston.

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 WHOLE DAM FAMILY: A CARD SENT to a 2nd YEAR ARTS STUDENT

My intent with this humourous card was to find out something about this Sydney University second year Arts student who was sent the card postmarked SYDNEY/ 8 JY 05 - 2PM/ 35 on the red ‘Arms’ 1d N.S.W. stamp. To date this has not been achieved, for after 6 months I am unlikely to obtain an answer from the Registrar’s Office at the University of Sydney (Figure 1).

THOMAS BAKER & JOHN ROUSE COMPANY, FORE-RUNNER of KODAK, AUSTRALASIA

Two N.S.W. letter cards to the Baker & Rouse company in Sydney in the late 1890's not only led to information about photography in Australia, but also about philanthropy which led to the formation of one of the premier Victorian medical research and treatment centres.

THOMAS BRUNTON, BAKER, POLITICIAN, FLOUR MILLER & FARMER

The postcard had a 1d orange-brown ‘Reading Stamp Duty’ stamp cancelled with an ‘UP TRAIN/ MG 1/AU 23/ 90/ VICTORIA postmark and had a printed JAS. GRIGG, Esq.,456 Collins Street, Melbourne (Figure 1).

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.

THOMAS PROUDFOOT’S BOATHOUSE on HOPKINS RIVER, WARRNAMBOOL

The postcard displays a colourful scene on the Hopkins River with the beflagged boathouse, the boats at moorings, with much people activity in the foreground (Figure 1).

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).

TINY TOWN & ZEYNARD’S AMAZING MIDGET CIRCUS

The present postcard cannot be called postal history as my card has not been through the post. It shows a group of longitudinally challenged individuals in fine formal ware, five ladies and six gentlemen. The group are described as Zeynard’s Amazing Midget Circus. Tiny-Town. The Big Show and the reverse simply has Post Card, without any identification as to the maker or country. (Figure 1).

UNCLE SAM in AUSTRALIA [CORRECT MAP of AUSTRALIA]

A 'humorous' postcard has been seen recently at two different sites, but whereas the card may be comical in the U.S.A., Australia's attitude is most certainly different, particularly at present.

VINCENT PATRICK TAYLOR a.k.a. CAPTAIN TAYLOR PENFOLD

A postcard was sent on July 2nd 1910 from Sydney to the Minister of Defence and the contents were as follows: "Dear Sir, Kindly advise me if final time has closed, for entering a machine for the Commonwealth Aerial Prize. To oblige, truly yours, Captain Penfold, The Australian Aeronaut, Box 1564, G.P.O." There is a blue double ringed DEFENCE ( )/PM-1 16 OC 10 mark applied top centre - the delay in reception cannot be explained (Figure 1).

W.H. SCHMALZ, MAYOR, BERLIN ONTARIO, PHILATELIST, BUSINESS MAN

The postcard was addressed to W.H. Schmalz Esqre, Secretary, Economical Insurance Co., Berlin, Ontario, Canada and it had a blue 2½d ‘Swan’ stamp of Western Australia with 2 cancellations, a duplex PERTH/ 1/ AP 10/ 01/ W-A with a barred obliterator GPO/ D, as well as a SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 1/ AP 10/ 01/ PERTH. WA (Figure 1).

WANDA RADFORD, ACTRESS:  WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS CHILD PRODIGY?

This hand-painted postcard shows a young girl, Wanda Radford in a theatrical pose. The card is of German origin, marked ‘Gerlach’ and ‘GG/ CO/ Ser. 277/3 (Figure 1).

WARD 15 COAST HOSPITAL, LITTLE BAY N.S.W.

A century old postcard with 3 be-ribboned aristocrats (kittens) on the front brought back memories of my 4 year's working at the Coast Hospital, as a physician in charge of half a ward's patients, when it was known as the Prince Henry Hospital. The 1d red N.S.W. 'Shield' stamp had a fine Type D3(ii) barred numeral '208', Waverley/ NO 10/ 10 40 AM/ 06/ N.S.W duplex postmark, plus a reception postmark of BOTANY/NO 10/ 1906/ N.S.W (same day postal service for 2 Sydney eastern suburbs) (Figure 1).

WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, LAUNCESTON WINES & SPIRITS MERCHANT

Two items appeared at auction sites recently and both referred to the same family. The first was addressed to Mr. Wm. Johnstone, Merchant, Launceston and was postmarked in red with an oval PAID SHIP LETTER/ [crown]/ AU * 20/ 1845/ SYDNEY, with rosettes on both sides. The only other markings were in manuscript, a large black '4' (for paid postage) and a large red '3' (for payment of the captain of the ship) (Figure 1).

WILLIAM FEHON, RAILWAY COMMISSIONER & MARY GAUNT AUTHOR

This One Penny ‘Reading’ post card of 1890-99 (the late version that could also be addressed to New Zealand and Fiji) was postmarked with the double circle MELBOURNE/ AM/ 11/ 30 6 00/ VICTORIA and it was addressed to Wm Fehon Esq, Commission Railways, Sydney (Figure 1).

WOMEN’S WORK EXHIBITION, MELBOURNE 1907

The reverse of the postcard showed it was an ‘Empire’ postcard, the left hand of which the manuscript message gave good wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year. The 1d red Victoria stamp was postmarked with a duplex FRANKSTON/ DE 26/ 07/ VIC barred numeral ‘142' (Figure 1).

YALOGINDA GOLD to SMITH & WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. [USA]

This 1d imprinted Western Australian postcard has a halfpenny green W.A. stamp (ASC #18) attached, for the 2-line postcard's directions clearly state that the 1 penny rate applies for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The card is printed on buff stock and when used for any other place an additional halfpenny stamp is required. The postcard is addressed to Messrs. Smith & Wesson, 33 Stockbridge St. Springfield, Mass.USA and it is indistinctly postmarked Yaloginda/ 26 FE 1908/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Figure 1).

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".