POSTCARDS

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was a furious response from conservative elements in the community, its day of issue being 1 November 1895 and it was withdrawn on 19 November 1895.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.

ADA JEMIMA CROSSLEY, 1871 - 1929, “AUSTRALIA’S NIGHTINGALE”

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).

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).

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).

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.

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

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,

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).

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).

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

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).

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

JAPAN'S SIGNING of the END of WWII & HMAS SHROPSHIRE at TOKYO BAY

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.

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.

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

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

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

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-LA SERENA via MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY & VALPARAISO, CHILE

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).

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

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.

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

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 BROUGH & DION BOUCICAULT, COMEDY COMPANY, SHANGHAI

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 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).

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 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).

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 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).

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

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 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).

WANDA RADFORD, ACTRESS

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

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".