Welcome to our EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS - Blog.

The idea is that we will present images of early New Zealand Postcards from our vast image library - along with their history, history of the photographer and publisher - and some history of the scene depicted in the postcard.

We hope that others may contribute to build a worthwhile record of events and history of these cards depicted and this eventually become the basis for permanent records in the form of a catalogue or possible book to be published later. It is therefore recommended that if you are interested in this type of event either as a collector - or researcher. That you take your own period copies of this blog so that should in the event of something breaking - a copy will remain for yourself and for replacing back here.

We already have a number of articles and events, history and personal contributions to add here - so please bookmark to your favourites and add to your RSS feed to be informed of additions as they happen.

Cheers - Jeff

Shrunken Tattoed Maori Heads

Maori heads may return home

Nov 06, 2003

The return of shrunken Maori heads - mokomokai - to New Zealand could soon be sped up following a recommendation to the British government.

A committee of experts has called for Britain to change the law to enable museums to hand back body parts collected centuries ago in often barbarous circumstances.

For many people the remains are just a number, but for Maori they hold special importance.

The curator of the Maori collection at Auckland's War Memorial Museum wants the mokomokai brought home.

"Human remains are part of the cycle of ancestors to papatuanuku, the earth mother, and while they are in museums we are interfering with that cycle, says Paul Tapsell.

Indigenous peoples from several parts of the world have been campaigning for the return of the remains of their ancestors, taken to feed the insatiable English scientific appetite.

In many cases, data from the remains was used to further the notion of white supremacy over indigenous peoples or simply to satisfy a ghoulish appetite for sensation.

The Working Group on Human Remains in Museum Collections also proposed the creation of a special Human Remains Advisory Panel to arbitrate in cases where requests for return were disputed.

"The statutes...should be amended to empower national museums to relinquish human remains," it said in a report.

The report recommended that museums that voluntarily handed over the remains in their vaults should be immune from any legal liability for the circumstances of their arrival in their collections, but said return should not be yet made compulsory.

Some museums have complied with requests for the return of body parts, but others have said they cannot return the items, which include whole skeletons, skulls and body parts, because an act of parliament insists collections are kept intact.

"There is substantial evidence that communities are grieving because they cannot lay their ancestors to rest," the report said. "Many human remains were obtained without consent in circumstances of barbarity and oppression.

"While it is not contended that particular museums were the perpetrators of these wrongs, they are, to some degree at least, the beneficiaries," it added.

In the first comprehensive survey of human remains kept by museums in the country, the report said a total of 60 institutions were holding human remains from overseas - including New Zealand.

Of these 13 had received a total of 33 requests for the return of some or all of the remains.

A total of seven of the requests had been agreed to, decisions on five others were pending and 21 had been rejected for various reasons.

But the report noted that last year the French National Museum of Natural History had finally agreed to return to South Africa the remains of Saartjie Baartman, the Hottentot Venus, and in 2000 Spain returned to Botswana the skull of El Negro.

The late Dalvanius Prime was one of the most vocal advocates of repatriating mokomokai. Five years ago he brought home 11 mokomokai from Edinburgh and Scarborough universities.

© Reuters/One News

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The return of shrunken Maori heads - mokomokai - to New Zealand

In the first comprehensive survey of human remains kept by museums in the country, the report said a total of 60 institutions were holding human remains from overseas - including New Zealand.

Of these 13 had received a total of 33 requests for the return of some or all of the remains.

A total of seven of the requests had been agreed to, decisions on five others were pending and 21 had been rejected for various reasons.

The late Dalvanius Prime was one of the most vocal advocates of repatriating mokomokai. Five years ago he brought home 11 mokomokai from Edinburgh and Scarborough universities.

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Interesting information from the book "The Treaty and its Time" reveals who and how these shrunken tattooed Maori heads were 'created' and sold to other parts of the world raises many interesting facets to their claims and returns.

eg. "By the early 1830s, too, some slaves were being tattooed and killed specially for trade in smoked heads."

Although extensive studies and attempts to trace the originals (Family connections) many of these records are only based on oral records - yet we have DNA to prove the most accurate method of positively tracing these heads - YET the Maori race has condoned this on principal - which is halting the process of accurate records and insisting on the public acceptance of their oral tradition which in the past has been found to be seriously wanting.

 

 

P.51 The Treaty and its Time - by Paul Moon & Peter Biggs

 

 

"The Trade in dried heads"

During this period the chiefs found a ready trade in shrunken tattooed Maori heads. After most battles it was customary for Maori to torture then feast on their fallen enemies. The heads were then cut from their bodies and preserved by smoking. Now dried heads began to run short and tribes began leading skirmishes against others just to gain heads for trade. Michael King again:

"In 1814 in the Bay of Islands, the price for one musket was 150 'buckets' of potatoes and eight pigs. In 1822 it was 70 'buckets' of potatoes and two pigs ... In the case of Nga Puhi, much of the agricultural labour was undertaken by slaves. By the early 1830s, too, some slaves were being tattooed and killed specially for trade in smoked heads. "

This trade in 'heads' was described by the American writer Herman Melville in his famous 1851 novel MOBY DICK.

So extensive was the 'dried heads for muskets' trade that it caused a public outcry in Britain. A law was eventually passed in New South Wales in 1831 against the trading of preserved heads - but by then the trade had dimished as tribes had acquired more muskets and were more evenly matched in battle. However, sporadic wars continued even as late as 1854.

 

Cannibalism was apparately also widespread and common place and had been for generations agmonst the Maori tribes of New Zealand., and only through missionaries and education was this practise curtained.

 

1897 NZ Post Office Pictorial Postcard

The first pictorial postcard issued December 1897 and superceded in 1899. This is the inland version with a prepaid 1d post imprinted on back. (there was also a 1 1/2d overseas version with a purple imprint).

The card features pictorials of Otira Gorge, Mt Egmonth, Waimite Geyser and Mt Cook.

NEW ZEALAND early postcard of 1898 Pictorials issue

Curiosity - Embossed post card of the 1898-99 pictorials Issue (SG 246-259)

This very nice post card, from the late 19th or very early 20th Century, has been printed and embossed to give the look and feel of the real stamps. The incription on the message side (The card was not actually sent through the Post) appears to be from one collector to another. The inscription reads:

   "Dear Lou
    These will help your book a
    little. I wanted the full set
    but could not get them.
    They aren't printing any more.
    I sent to Sydney for the few I have.
    Love to all. Ada"

The card was sold in aid of the Sanatoria Home for Consumptive Women.

Old and New Grafton Bridge Auckland Postcards

When the NEW concrete Grafton Bridge was completed - It was the longest single span concrete bridge in the World. Today very few people would even know this.

Real photo.

More views through interesting postcards

Real photo. F G R 3261. Issued 1912

Auckland 1912 greeting view card

 DATED 1912,VIEWS OF AUCKLAND ,INCLUDES,WINDMILL,QUEEN STREET,GRAFTON BRIDGE .

Auckland 1911, New Year real photo postcard

There is also one of the opening day on my data-base which I will add as soon as I locate

OK - found it

Shows what we believe was the opening of the Grafton Bridge in 1910.

Dated 26/5/1910

SPECIAL Commerative Events
This is a look at some postcards that have taken my attention which I have tried to research to find the full story of. I hope that this is of interest and others may add to the information.

Rotorua Edwin A Bainbridge Monument postcard

Quote:

Born 1866. Killed at Te Wairoa Hotel during Volcanic Eruption of Mount Tarawera. Edwin Bainbridge "This is the most awful moment of my life. I cannot tell when I may be called upon to meet my God. I am thankful that I find His strength sufficient for me. We are under heavy falls of Volcanoe." Written by Edwin Bainbridge of Newcastle on Tyne, England.

Photos I have taken of the same monument

HEADSTONE of EDWIN A. BRAINBRIDGE

Quote:

HEADSTONE of EDWIN A. BRAINBRIDGE READS; In Memory of EDWIN A BAINBRIDGE Born MAY 5th 1866 Killed at the Te Wairoa Hotel on the morning of Thursday June 10th 1886 during the Volcanic Eruptions of Mount Tarawera Other side: The night of horror Thursday June 10th 1886 Violent showers of volcanic stones and ash were expelled crushing the hotel (And continues with a description of the scene endured).

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D.Sutherland, discoverer of the Falls

Interesting postcard as it holds the claim "Sutherland Falls" Milford Sound, NZ 1904 feet - the highest waterfall in the world discovered by D Sutherland, 1888.

We all know that this is not the highest today - just shows how much of of our world hadn't been searched at that stage - 1888.

SUTHERLAND FALLS

Quote:

Sutherland Fall About 15 miles from the head of Milford Sound, and fed from the glaciers beyond the Arthur Valley. It is seen issuing between the mountains, each over 6,000 feet high, and it descends with an awful roar, in three leaps over a precipice of 1,904 feet. Discovered in 1888, and named after its discoverer, the Sutherland Fall ranks fourth amongst the great waterfalls of the world. The others are the Yosemite in California, which falls, 2,548 feet in three great plunges; the Roraima in Guiana, which falls 2,000 feet in two plunges; and the Grand Falls in Labrador, also 2,000 feet. It should be remembered, however, that the height of the Yosemite is made up of the Upper Fall of 1,502 feet, the Lower Fall of 487 feet, and the rapids between them about half a mile long, having a fall of 559 feet in that distance

Sutherland Falls

Quote:

Sutherland Falls, among the world's highest, comprise three spectacular leaps totalling 1,904 ft, and are fed by a small cirque lake, named Lake Quill. The lake occupies a small rock basin that was formed by ice-action during the Ice Age, and spills almost directly over the lip and down a near-vertical mountain-wall into a valley carved by ice. The falls owe part of their impressiveness to the leaping action of the water from the two main ledges on the mountain wall. They are named after Donald Sutherland who, with J. McKay and J. Malcolm, settled at Milford Sound between 1887–80. Sutherland, who discovered the falls, explored much of the surrounding country in search of a new route to Lake Wakatipu

Sutherland Falls

Quote:

Sutherland Falls, located on the South Island off the famous Milford Track at 580 metres (1,904 feet) is listed as the highest waterfall in New Zealand This has recently been hotly disputed, with an unofficial listing for Browne Falls at 619 metres (2031 feet).

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History Maori people arrived here from the Pacific Islands around 1000 years ago. They travelled to Milford overland via the same route as the Milford Track now follows, to gain access to the bowenite at Anita Bay. The Maori name for Milford Sound is "Piopiotahi" meaning "Place of the singing Thrush", a bird which is now extinct. On 11 March 1770 Lieutenant James Cook sailed the Endeavour close to a large open bay in the southwest corner of New Zealand. He wrote: "The face of the country bears a very rugged aspect being full of high craggy hills, on the summits of which are several patches of snow." Joseph Banks the botanist was keen to land and take specimens but a strong wind and heavy squalls forced Cook to keep well out to sea. In 1792 New Zealand's first sealing gang was left in Dusky Sound and the slaughter of southern fur seals began. Although regulations were introduced in 1805 that forbade sealing in the south, they were largely ignored and by the 1820's the seals were all but exterminated. One of the early sealers was John Grono. Grono was born in 1763 at Newport, Pembrokeshire, just a few kilometres north of Milford Haven and a number of the sealer's names for the sounds can be traced to him. It was Grono who named Milford Sound after Milford Haven in Wales, and both the Welsh and New Zealand Milford Havens have a number of names in common - Pembroke, St. Ann's Head and in each case a Cleddau River enters its head. However, the first European to settle in Milford Sound was Donald Sutherland. Donald Sutherland sailed alone into Milford Sound on 1 December 1877. After exploring he crossed to Freshwater Basin where he noted that a little shelf of land would make a likely site for a hut. He returned two weeks later and began building his hut - three rooms, a thatched roof and a large chimney. Later after two more huts had been added, Sutherland referred to his settlement as the "City of Milford". Sutherland invited John Mackay (an experienced prospector) to join him in Milford. While searching for gold on 10 November 1880, they both caught their first view of a waterfall cascading down a sheer face of rock in three giant leaps. In naming it the Sutherland Falls, Sutherland estimated that it was "between 3,000 to 4,000 feet high." In 1882, Sutherland was visited by Samuel Moreton, an Invercargill artist and W.P. Hart, a well-known photographer. He took both visitors to see the falls. Hart wrote: "So wonderstricken were we both that the whole time we were there (two days) I do not think that twenty words passed between us." Hart's photographs and Moreton's paintings publicised the waterfall and Sutherland's isolation was soon interrupted by cruise ships with tourists keen to see the Sutherland falls. Milford Track In 1888 C.W. Adams, Chief Surveyor of Otago commissioned Sutherland to cut a track from Milford to the Sutherland Falls. The track, which became the Milford half of the famous Milford Track was completed by Sutherland and his three assistants in six months. At the same time, Quintin Mackinnon was commissioned to cut a track up the Clinton Valley from the head of Lake Te Anau. Reaching the head of the valley he crossed the "Mackinnon Pass" on 16 October 1888 and then picked up Sutherland's track. Mackinnon hurried on to Milford where he wrote: "found good available track from Te Anau to connect with Sutherland's track at Beech Hut." On 7 August 1890 Sutherland married Mrs Elizabeth Samuel (three times widowed) and six months later had assigned by deed the "City of Milford" and five acres of land where "she intends to build an accommodation house." By 1891, a twelve roomed house had been built and for nearly 30 years trampers received a warm welcome from the Sutherlands.

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The Road to Milford On 27 January 1889, W.H. Homer and George Barber discovered the Homer Saddle. Homer began pushing for a tunnel through the saddle which he estimated would cost 2,100 pounds to build. It was not until 1929 that work began on the road using a government scheme to absorb unemployed labour during the depression. In July 1935 work on the tunnel began and many difficulties were encountered. The rock under the mountain had extensive fractures which fed around 8,000 gallons of water per hour from the permanent snow fields above into the tunnel. The tunnel runs on a downward grade of one in ten and was dug from the higher end, so there was no outlet at the bottom of the tunnel. The water had to be pumped back up to the top of the tunnel and if the pumps failed, the tunnel would start to fill with water. The tunnel mouth was right in an avalanche area and much time was spent digging away snow which buried the opening. Three men died during the construction - killed in two separate avalanches at the tunnel entrance. A barrel extension was built at the entrance to give protection to cars from avalanches. This was swept away in 1945 by another avalanche and was never rebuilt. By 1942 the tunnel was wide enough for a car to drive through but work was stopped during the second world war. In 1953 the enlargement of the tunnel was completed and the tunnel was officially opened to private cars. The total cost of construction was over one million pounds

Historically Important postcard release 30 years after event

Card below - photo was taken in the 1880s by Mr Burton? for Muir and Moodie.

The card is in good condition and has been written on the front and reverse and has been posted with both Ramarama and Waerenga A-class cancellations.

The card is dated 1907 by the postmarks. 

Muir & Moodie postcard (No. 3609)showing a view of the tiny settlement at Te Kumi, scene of the "Hursthouse Outrage". Te Kumi is about 4kms from Te Kuiti.

Below is a scan from the book Alan Jackson book - "Burton and Muir & Moodie of Dunedin: Their Photographs and Postcards" published by the Postal History Society of NZ Inc. in June 1985.

Wilson Paintings reproduced on postcards- (No in series ?)

Wilson, L. W.

Laurence William Wilson (fl.1860-1904) is believed to have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1870s. He lived a peripatetic lifestyle, with a somewhat cavalier attitude to money - one source said he was supported by his family (who owned a shipping company), another that he managed to dissipate more than ten thousand pounds won on race-horses, another that his wife was a barmaid he taught to paint - but he was a friend and respected companion to other painters, at one time sharing a studio with Nerli. He was a competent and prolific painter whose work was exhibited throughout New Zealand and at the St Louis Exposition of 1904: he is believed to have returned to England and to have died there.

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Below five postcards I have recorded of his paintings

Hinemoa's Bath, Rotorua

Manawatu Gorge Painting Palmerston North Postcard

Milford Sound Mitre Peak

Otira Gorge West Coast Road Postcard

West Coast Road Otira Gorge postcard

Alfred and Walter Tibbutt
Today - Some people collect postcards of family members

Hopefully we may get the history of these two photo - postcard producers of New Zealand cards directly from family to fill in the background of these two postcard producers.

Here's a little about them I have received from a family member. If you have more information or postcards/photos they produced - we would welcome it to be added here or contact us so that we may add for the interest of other postcard collectors.

Quote:

Hi Jeff These are great! I will talk to my Mum because she is the one researching it and has more knowledge. However, I do know that my great grandfather (Alfred Tibbutt) was the one who did the railway photography and a project where he photographed the bullock track. He had a studio in Hamilton (Victoria Studios) then he came to Auckland and his brother (Walter) went to Wellington. Liz Tibbutt

No.1 Photo : NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC SERIES

Tug Shipping - Wellington NZ - Photo Tibbutt

No.2 Photo : NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC SERIES

Government Wharf - Wellington NZ - Tibbutt photo

No.3 Photo : NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC SERIES

Wellington Dedge - Tibbutt photo

Here's the three images scanned as a single photo

Tug Shipping - Wellington NZ - Photo Tibbutt

Government Wharf - Wellington NZ - Tibbutt photo

Wellington Dedge - Tibbutt photo

Here are four postcard images that we have also found produced by these two
POSTCARDS ARE:

1.EARLY 1900s - RAURIMU-OIO BRIDGE NZ

This is an early 1900s postcard of the Bridge on the Raurimu-Oio Service Road, N.I.M.T. Railway, N.Z. Unused. New Zealand Post Card. F.T. Series No. 713. Photo by Tibbutt.

2.Snowed Up, Raurimu N.I.M.T.Rly.

Tibbutt printed photo, FT Series 229A

3. Mt Raupehu from Kaiori Plains - AG Tibbutt

4.N.I.M.T. RLY. TIBBUTT PHOTO MAKATOTE VIADUCT 1916

Makatote Viaduct

Makatote Viaduct

Raurimu Oio Bridge

Mt Raupehu from Karioi Plains

Mt Ruapehu from Karioi Plains

Check out these cards

Mt Ruapehu - From Karioi Plains

F T Marble Opalette series Real Photo postcard (No. 1670) showing a view of a horse and buggy crossing a river on the Karioi Plains, with Mt Ruapehu in the background.

The card is in good condition and has not been written on the reverse nor posted.
Thats the very same photo you family took (Gaurantee!) And yet is created on the card
The next card is this one

Quote:

Makatote Viaduct - NIMT Railway - Real Photo F T Marble Opalette series Real Photo postcard (No. 1665) showing a view of a sream train crossing the Makatote Viaduct. Two brave souls can be seen on the platform beside the track at the near end of the viaduct, waiting for the train to pass. The card is in good condition, though there is a buckle of about 3 inches in width near the centre of the card on the right hand side. The card has been written on the reverse and posted, with a Wellington machine cancellation dated 1911.

At least you can see "Photo by Tibbutt" in this one.
NOW - Question - How many of these FT Marble Opalette series did you family do - If you look at some of the others - I think you will find they also did some of them. (Their style of photo)

Emails from Anna Tibbutt

Quote:

Anna Tibbutt Wednesday, 22 February 2006 1:34 p.m. Tibbutt photography Hi Jeff, I'm Anna, Liz's mum, she asked me to contact you. I'm afraid I mostly have just family, as opposed to professional, records of my grandfather Alfred. I am keen to do a proper search and record one day but at the moment am too tied up with my MA thesis to be of much use! However, 2 leads may be of help to you - neither has email unfortunately. 1) Walter Tibbutt's widow Rita and their descendants are being traced - she was the one to tell us that Walter and Alfred worked together and I think she has photos if not records. My family had always said that W "went to Wellington and disappeared"! 2) My cousin, Meryle , worked with my father's sister on the family history and has more of Alfred's work than anyone else in the family. I am planning a trip to see her later in the year to see what I can dredge, but you may like to write. Hope this is useful - I will keep you posted with anything I can find and would like to come to see you sometime myself. Regards, Anna Tibbutt

Quote:

Anna Tibbutt Wednesday, 22 February 2006 1:38 p.m. I meant to say that there is a crystoleum attributed to Alfred here in Auckland but questioned by the Ak Museum and another that Meryle has. I hope to get images of these in case something happens to them. I was supposed to inherit but Ancient Aunt changed her mind and left mine to a nephew who is a 'real' Tibbutt of course - I'm just a girl!!!

Information for those who wish to know what a "crystoleum" is - below

Quote:

CRYSTOLEUM; Crystoleum refers to an “artistic” technique popular with ladies of leisure in the late 19th century whereby a preferably simple engraving is pasted onto a pane of glass. With the utmost patience the tissue of the paper is then scoured away, leaving only the tracery of the ink outlines of the design on the pane. A sort of paint-by-numbers job will then ensue, filling in “the colors” to the aesthetic fulfillment of devotees.

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Heres the information I received from Mrs Jurgen

A.H. Fullwood
It is unknown the number of range of this series of postcards - information required. I believe that this was the artist

Quote:

FULLWOOD, ALBERT HENRY (1863-1930), artist, was born near Birmingham in 1863, and studied art at evening classes in that city. He came to Sydney in 1881 and obtained work as a lithographic draughtsman and designer. He joined the Art Society of New South Wales in 1884, and shortly afterwards obtained a position on the staff of the Picturesque Atlas of Australia, for which he travelled a good deal in the north and did many drawings. He afterwards worked on the Sydney Mail and other illustrated papers of the time. He kept up his painting, and in 1892 two of his water-colours were purchased for the national gallery at Sydney. In 1895 he took a leading part in forming the Society of Artists at Sydney and was a member of its first council. He returned to Europe in 1900 by way of America, holding on the way a very successful exhibition of his work at New York. He made London his headquarters, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1901, 1904, and later years, and also at various exhibitions in Europe. During the war he was a sergeant in the R.A.M.C. and later an Australian official war artist. He returned to Sydney in 1920 and worked chiefly in water-colour and etching. He died on 1 October 1930. Fullwood was a happy-natured man who was in all the artistic movements of his time, and did sound and capable work in black and white, oils, and water-colour. His etchings were on the whole less successful. He is represented in the national galleries at Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, at Dresden and Budapest, and in the war museum at Canberra.

This one of many of the postcards I have in our image library. To view the album click on the album link below - (2 pages - make sure you check out page 2)

The album has 39 images in it (a couple a doubles - and two may be J.M.Cantle)

A.H.Fullwood - album

W. Ferrier was a early New Zealand Postcard producer of high quality photo postcards.
To view the album of postcard images I have created - click on his album link.

William, a native of Edinburgh, arrived at Port Chalmers 9 September 1869 on the William Davie with his father, David Ferrier, and sister Jessie Lowe Ferrier. Rev. William Lowe's daughter Jessie Lowe was married to David Ferrier in Forfar, Scotland in 1852 by Rev. Lowe, her father. Jessie died in 1866 at 39 yrs.

William Ferrier worked under John Gaul of Christchurch. He established his business in Fife's Buildings, Timaru in May 1881, but later moved to larger premises in the Royal Arcade, and again to Stafford Street by 1903. William and Eva Beatrice, had eight children. Ethel Beatrice, Colin, Hedley, John L., Eileen Low 'Pearl', Jack, Ed, Catherine 'Kitty'. Colin Ferrier was killed in Ypres 11 Nov. 1914.

Timaru Herald - WEDDING NOTICE

FERRIER - CUNNINGHAM. On the 17th inst., at Wesley Church, Oamaru, by the Rev. J.S. Rishworth, William Ferrier, of Timaru, to Eva Beatrice, third daughter of Mr T.M. Cunningham, of Oamaru.

Timaru Herald Monday 17 May 1887 Birth

FERRIER - At Sarah Street, Timaru, on the 15th inst., the wife of W. Ferrier of a daughter.

Timaru Herald

Tuesday 22 December 1891 Birth
FERRIER - On the 20th Dec., at North Street, the wife of W. Ferrier, of a son.

FAMILY DEATH NOTICES

Colin Ferrier was killed in Ypres 11 Nov. 1914.

Ferrier, Gilbert Colin Cunninghame
Second Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, 7th Bn. attd. 4th Bn.
Age: 24 Date of Death: 11/11/1914
S/o William and Eva Beatrice Ferrier, of 71 Grey Rd., Timaru.

Timaru Cemetery - FATHERS DEATH NOTICE FERRIER, David Age at Death 80 Date of Interment 20/6/1907

FERRIER, William - DEATH NOTICE Age at Death 68 Years Date of Interment 18/10/1922

Colin McCahon was born 1 August 1919 in Timaru, the son Ethel Beatrice Ferrier and John McCahon (s/o James McCahon), a commercial traveller and grandson of William Ferrier the Timaru photographer and landscape painter. Colin McCahon was named after his Uncle. Colin attended Waitaki Boys High School. He took art classes at age 17. In their Highgate home hung landscapes by Colin McCahon’s late grandfather, William Ferrier. Colin wrote: "My grandfather, William Ferrier, was both a photographer and a landscape painter in water colour. We grew up with his paintings on the walls, and at holiday times visiting my Grandmother's house in Timaru. We lived in rooms hung floor to ceiling with watercolours and prints. Once I spent time confined to a bed in what had been my Grandfather's dark room; red glass in the window, and paints and brushes, a palette, with shallow drawers. I don't remembering doing any painting at this time myself. I was probably intimidated by the obvious professionalism of the environment." Colin died in 1987, a world renown contemporary painter.

Details recorded from CANTERBURY PHOTOGRAPHERS

Additional details

The Timaru Herald 17 May 1881 carried the following advertisement:
"First-Class Photography
Fyfe's Building
W. Ferrier Portrait Rooms will be OPENED in a few days (Studio: 125 Stafford Street, Timaru)
Only first-class Photographs will be produced
South Road, Timaru, opposite the Theatre.
[The South Rd was later renamed Stafford St]

FINAL NOTICE

The Timaru Herald 2 July 1921
"On Friday 8th inst., Morton and Pearson submit to auction the old established photography business of Mr. W. Ferrier. The position is unequalled and the failing health of the Proprietor is the sole reason for selling. The business will be sold as a going concern, and full particulars can be obtained from the auctioneers."

BOOKS

William Ferrier Photographer / John Lester. Publisher : Aigantighe Art Gallery with assistance from Timaru Harbour Board; Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, NZ 1986 60 p. : ill., Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru, NZ. Includes index. Bibliography: p. 59. The book is very detail about his life. Born 20 Aug 1855 Forfar Scotland. Died 16 Oct 1922 76 Grey Road Timaru. Including living in Oamaru before moving to Timaru and was partner with J.W. Rock. There is an appendix which lists Timaru photographers 1868-1921

H. L. Betts Gold Medal Series. Photos By W. Ferrier, Timaru Picturesque Timaru Illustrated: 53 Views and Panorama 20 pages

The above article mentions the "William Davie" - click on name to view photograph of painting held in the Alexander Turnbull Library

Photograph of a painting by W Beckett, depicting the sailing ship 'William Davie' painted after 1880 when her rigging was changed to that of a barque. Photographed by David Alexander De Maus, with his own title. Artist's signature in bottom left of painting. Location of original painting unknown.

credit "De Maus Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library". To view this collection - Go To TIMEFRAMES and do a search for De Maus

David Alexander De Maus (1847-1925) was a specialist ship photographer of Dunedin, New Zealand ( we will be covering him in a future article) His superb photographs (275) are now retained in the Alexander Turnbull Library and can be accessed on-line

Benoni White postcards

This artist did many postcards for the - Issued by N.Z. Govt. Dept. of Tourist & Health Resorts. (Series) I have not found information on this artist as yet or the number done. Below I have recorded ones I have seen by him. Click on the links to see enlarged images. Hopefully I will add others to here and information - if you have this - appreciated you either add here or email me it (so I can add)- Thanks

  

Auckland Harbour   Lake Rotorua Lake Taupo

 

Wanganui River  Maori Children Maori Kaianga

  

Stewart Island Stewart Island-2  Taupo

 

Maori Children  South Island

This is some I have so far.

Henry B Wimbush

This British artist did a New Zealand series called : 7890 W-W-W Rotorua N.Z. Series I - Below I have shown eight of his cards (so far) of this series

Information on this artist can be found : Henry B Wimbush

I have quoted some extracts for our records

Quote:

Henry B Wimbush was one of Raphael Tuck's most prolific artists, but despite his very high postcard output, he remains a shadowy figure, only briefly chronicled in art dictionaries and reference works. Research of published data had so far failed to elicit the dates of his birth and death and even his middle name. His watercolours were published by Tuck between 1904 and 1908, the majority in the "Oilette" series, although a few do appear as "Aquarettes". The Wimbush postcards are distinctive, characterised by soft colours and lines. He had a liking for water, and some of his finest work appeared as seascapes and river scenes The artist's work is highly collectable as his postcard output is clearly numbered in sets of six cards, with many town scenes as well as coastal views in the 162 Tuck sets. J Salmon published a few postcards showing unique Wimbush scenes but these were probably published later and seem to be postmarked after WW1. He was most active in painting between 1881 and 1908 when he lived at various addresses in London. Like many of his contemporaries in the Tuck stable, he toured Britain for inspiration and his coverage was far more comprehensive than many of the other Tuck illustrators. From the Somerset County Gazette 15th May 1943 DEATH OF MR. H.B.WIMBUSH. WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS FUNERAL AT BAGBOROUGH. The death recently at Triscombe House, Bagborough, of Mr. H.B. Wimbush has removed a well known artist. Visitors to his Quantock home are familiar with the delightful studies from his brush that adorn its walls, but indirectly Mr. Wimbush's work is known throughout the English-speaking world. In his younger days, Mr. Wimbush, who stood over 6ft., was very familiar in London tennis circles, he won the North London championship five years in succession. He was also a good golfer. His marriage some 16 years ago to Mrs. Dremel (nee Cheetham) brought him into association with the Quantock Staghounds, and though he did not ride to hounds, he was a familiar figure at meets. He was twice married, and children by his first wife are among those who survive him.   Lake Rotoiti  Blue Green Lakes Hoho Falls Okere Kereru Geyser   Maori Cooking Pink Terraces Rotormahana Waimanga Basin - Rotormahana  Wairoa Geyser

Raphael Tuck and Sons 

 Raphael Tuck and Sons

Raphael Tuck and Sons This site also has this information of the producer of these cards - which also produced alot of cards to be found in New Zealand. Quoted for our reference.

Quote:

Raphael Tuck and Sons Raphael Tuck was born in East Prussia in 1821 and arrived in England with his wife and seven children in 1865. He opened a furniture and picture framing shop in 1886, but the picture side began to expand in 1870 when three of his sons joined the business which developed into importing and publishing. There first Christmas Cards were published in 1871. Raphael Tuck and Sons Ltd. were recognised as leaders in the field of quality publishing, with their fine range of embossed scraps, greeting cards, calendars and books. In 1881 Adolph Tuck succeeded his father Raphael as managing director of the company. The firms lead in fine art publishing was duly rewarded in 1893 with the Royal Warrant by Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a distinction they continued to win until Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. Adolph was one of the chief campaigners for the full size postcard 5.5 x 3.5 inches, the Post Office specified that cards should be no larger than 4.5 x 3.5 inches. Tuck produced the first larger view cards in November 1899 when the Post Office relented and allowed full size cards to be posted in Great Britain, and with the newly erected Raphael House, Moorfields, London and premises in New York and Paris, Tuck were in a strong position to exploit this new market. The final change to the postcard happened in the first half of 1902 when the address and message were allowed to be printed on the back of the card (split back) leaving the maximum area for artist drawn and photographic view pictures to appear on the front. In 1904 Raphael Tuck had 15,000 postcard designs in print, Henry Wimbush is credited with supplying 815 original water colours which were published as Tuck cards. On 29th December 1940 in one of the worst air raids of the war, Raphael House was destroyed, and all the records of its postcards, together with many originals, were lost for ever. Fortunately those postcards in their millions had been distributed throughout the world and has enabled collectors everywhere to enjoy that rich heritage.

Waihi and Rotorua Lettercards-Incredimail

I hadn't made any for awhile as we have busy on other projects (New House - AND something I have been planning for a few years to be launched shortly) so I have made four from some very nice early New Zealand postcard images taken almost a century ago.

If you have INCREDIMAIL and would like them - click the link below for them to automatically download into "Jeffs" folder (which will be created in your Incredimail - New Mail - Letters) ENJOY

Rotorua

Waihi-1

Waihi-2

Waihi-3

 

WAR Postcards - NZ

This album looks at postcards associated with WARS and monuments as depicted on NZ Postcards. 161 images that I had found in my library which would be an excellent start to a collection - which also need alot of research - much of that information now being lost due to people that lived during those times now disappearing (dieing off)

Click on the album link - and view through the 7 pages of thumbnails and enlarged images.

WAR

 

Awapuni WW1 Camp 1914  - Akaroa Banks Peninsula War Monument

Wilson Bros. advertising postcard

Here's a series of advertising cards which were beautifully produced and attractively done. Again very little is known about them, why they were produced and for what reason.

If you can add information - please do so by emailing me or adding to the comments.

Below I have nine recorded - unknown how many or what were done.

Click on the links to view the enlarged views

   

Auckland Harbour Wilson Bros. advertising postcard  WB8

Auckland Mt Eden Wilson Bros.advertising postcard  WB9

Christchurch Wilson Bros. advertising postcard  No.18

Dunedin Wilson Bros. advertising postcard  No.17

   

Mt Cook Tasman Balloon Sefton advertising postcard  WB5

NZ wild flowers Wilson Bros. advertising postcard  WB22

Rotorua Wilson Bros. advertising postcard  WB19

Wilson Bros Advertise Series Kiwi Maori postcard  WB1

Wairua, Whangarei Falls Northland Postcard

At least 22 cards were produced in this series by the numbers recorded above.

QUOTE: from wikipedia - click link above
Whakaari/White Island is one of two New Zealand islands known as White Island. For other islands of this name, see White Island (disambiguation)

Location of Whakaari/White IslandWhakaari/White Island is situated 48 km from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. It is one of the four islands in the Olive island chain. The nearest mainland towns are Whakatane and Tauranga. The island is roughly circular, about two km in diameter, and rises to a height of 321 m above sea level. However this is only the peak of a much larger submarine mountain, which rises up to 1600 m above the nearby seafloor.

Whakaari is New Zealand's only active marine volcano and perhaps the most accessible on earth, attracting scientists and volcanologists worldwide as well as many tourists.

Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty, New ZealandThe full Maori name for the island is 'Te Puia o Whakaari' meaning literally: 'The Dramatic Volcano.' It was named 'White Island' by Captain Cook on October 1, 1769 because it always appeared to be in a cloud of white steam. Although Cook went close to the island he failed to notice that it was a volcano. Its official name is Whakaari/White Island although it is most well-known as White Island.

Attempts were made in the mid 1880s, 1898-1901 and 1913-1914 to mine sulphur from Whakaari but the last of these came to a halt in September 1914, when part of the western crater rim collapsed, creating a lahar which killed all 10 workers.[1] They disappeared without trace, and only the camp cat (named Peter the Great) survived.[2] Some years later in 1923 mining was again attempted, but learning from the 1914 disaster, the miners built their huts on a flat part of the island near a gannet colony. Each day they would lower their boat into the sea from a gantry (a kind of tripod with a boom) and row around to the mining factory wharf in Crater Bay. If the sea was rough they had to clamber around the rocks on a very narrow track on the crater’s edge. Sulphur before the days of antibiotics was used in medicines as an antibacterial agent, in the making of match heads, and for sterilising wine corks. The miner’s diggings were handled in small rail trucks to the crushing and bagging process in the factory built on the island. Unfortunately, there was not enough sulphur at Whakaari and so the ground up rock was used as a component of agricultural fertiliser. Eventually the mining ended in the 1930s because of the poor mineral content in the fertiliser. The remains of the buildings can still be seen, much corroded by the sulphuric gasses.

The lake at Whakaari/White Island
Corroded remains of sulphur mineWhakaari is privately owned and was declared a private scenic reserve in 1953 and is subject to the provision of the Reserves Act 1977. Visitors cannot land without permission or remove or disturb any wildlife and must leave only their footprints.

An excellent book for photographs and well written history is "WHITE ISLAND - NEW ZEALAND'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO" by Peter and Jenny Tait

The start to a specialised collection of early New Zealand Postcards showing the history of this volcanic island - WHITE ISLAND.

PICTORIAL POSTCARDS - Location designed

The following articles I look at these beautifully and artisically designed postcards.Alot of detail has been added to these postcards with a number of inserted photos (much information about these images is now lost - so add it here for our records)

Second section - Location designs - Part One

   

1906 PONSONBY Auckland Photo postcard  Greetings from Ponsonby Christmas 1906. Five images make up this postcard.
Shelly Beach
Bayfield School
Clares Beach
Costley Training Institute
... and a waterfall which I don't think has anything to do with Ponsonby!

MAILED: Mailed to France from Fred Hutchinson 16 Nov 1906. Stamp intact plus Auckland cancel. Two images below are each part of the image enlarged

Ponsonby Christmas 1906-1

Ponsonby Christmas 1906-2

Addington, 5 views, real photo postcard

Advertising AMERICAN FLEET TO NZ SOUVENIR Postcard AMERICAN FLEET TO NZ SOUVENIR POSTCARD 1908

Coloured Souvenir postcard from the visit of the American Fleet to Auckland in August 1908. Shows pics of Governor, Premier of NZ and Mayor of Auckland and Hon Mahuta M.L.C.

HAEREMAI AROHANUI written under Eagle. Maori Waka and meeting house bottom corners.

History of the United States of America in a hundred words written in light red on bottom of postcard and is readable.

Advertising on back of postcard (as shown in photo). Blue stamp reads G & A Wilson, General Merchants, Ohaupo, Waikato NZ.

Designed and Published by J.W.H. Martin, Publicity Expert and Business Systematist, Auckland !

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1908 POSTCARD SHACKLETON Antarctic Expedition 1908 by Ernest Shackleton postcard.

   

Auckland - Four View Card - Real Photo  WAP hand coloured Real Photo Postcard showing four various views around Auckland, namely Queen Street, Cheltenham Beach, The Wharves (with the SS Kaikoura at dock, and a view of Auckland from Queen St wharf.

The card is in good condition and has not been written on the reverse nor posted. The card is dated 1907 by the protected date on the card. 

Auckland 5 scenes early postcard  Auckland wharf with a view of Queen street and Harbour buildings, Auckland view from Devonport, Auckland view from Mount Eden showing North Shore and Rangitoto, Shortland Street with Post Office, Auckland harbour from Grafton Road.

Undivided back.
H Pottkaemper & Co, Auckland.

Auckland 5 Views Postcard 

Auckland Albert Park real photo greeting postcard Photo by Winkelmann.
Greetings from Maoriland.

   

AUCKLAND CAMEO TYPE CARD FROM MT EDEN 1915 SHOWS CASTLE HOUSE AND VIEW TO RANGITOTO . PROTECTED SERIES

Auckland Grafton Road view real photo postcard

AUCKLAND Waiheke Is. Cowes Bay greetings postcard  Real photo postcard by E.T. (Tourelle)

Auckland Waterfront Greetings Xmas card, published by Frank Duncan and Co.

   

Auckland Xmas card Vaile photo shipping view VAILE PHOTO FT SERIES 9708NO.

Blenheim View is of the Opawa River, used as a Xmas card

Blind Institute Auckland Postcard  Real photo.

Buller Gorge, greetings postcard

PICTORIAL POSTCARDS - Location designed

The following articles I look at these beautifully and artisically designed postcards.Alot of detail has been added to these postcards with a number of inserted photos (much information about these images is now lost - so add it here for our records)

Second section - Location designs - Part Two

   

Cambridge 5 Views Postcard

Custom House, Wellington, Christmas postcard 1915 

PHOTO LOST WHITE TERRACES ROTOMAHANA POSTCARD  FT Series No 2773.

FGR - Car in Herekino Gorge, Hokianga FGR - No.7307

   

HAMILTON - Early View of the Traffic Bridge.  real photo postcard

Hauling Logs Dannevirke 1907 Postcard 

Lake Wakatipu greetings postcard 

Lower Hutt 3 scenes real photo postcard 

   

MANGAWEKA 3 VIEWS GREETINGS ON. TRAIN ETC ALDERSLEY SERIES NO 2305, MINT CARD PLAIN BACK

Maori Tiki Palmerston North Postcard  Real photo. F G R 2194. Writing on back dated 1915.

Milford Sound Mitre Peak & Sinbad Gully  Tanner Bros. No. 45-313

Napier Greetings real photo F.G.R. postcard  F G R 3964.
Maori Tiki and flowers.
Message on back dated 1916.

   

Mokoia Island Rotorua H Winkelmann Postcard 

Mt Egmont Greetings  FT Series No.4009.

New Plymouth 2 View Mint card from the A. J. Burgess series.

New Plymouth 5 Views Postcard 

   

NZ 1908 RP World Sculling Champs - Wanganui River  Real photo

Opunake Brass Band (UNIQUE) 1913  This early historic real photo postcard shows the Opunake Brass Band.

The card is used but not postally. Message is dated 14/1/13.

The card is in good condition for age, but has crease across top right corner and small chip off left corner.

It is by F G Radcliffe (F.G.R.) - and has a divided back.

Palmerston North (P.O.) Greetings F.T. series.

Postcard, Greetings From Nelson.F.N.Jones Junr. A black and white card showing five real photos of scenes around Nelson. The photographer was F.N.Jones Junr.

 

PICTORIAL POSTCARDS - Location designed

The following articles I look at these beautifully and artisically designed postcards.Alot of detail has been added to these postcards with a number of inserted photos (much information about these images is now lost - so add it here for our records)

Second section - Location designs - Part Three

   

REAL PHOTO FERRY WHARVES AUCKLAND POSTCARD Tanner Bros x-6-167

REAL PHOTO HARBOUR FROM FORT TAKAPUNA AKL POSTCARD  Tanner Bros x-13-176.

REAL PHOTO KING DICK LION WELLINGTON ZOO POSTCARD  "What about my xmas dinner" Postally used.Tanner Bros No 98-D2.

REAL PHOTO QUEEN OF THE NORTH POSTCARD "Fight work or pay" Split views.From top left Mrs AE Harding,Whangarei,Wairua falls,Pahi River Paparoa,Whangaroa,Wairoa river at Mangawhara.Almost mint.

   

REAL PHOTO STREET SCENE HAWERA POSTCARD Frank Duncan No 7173.

REAL PHOTO WAIKATO RIVER HAMILTON POSTCARD FGR 2195.

Remuera Auckland Postcard

Rotorua Bath House (F.G.R) F.G.R. 7014, Xmas 1920 used card.

   

Te Awamutu and Maori Artifacts Postcard

Te Awamutu Sloane St, 2 View 

Te Reinga Falls, near GISBORNE - postcard  F.T. Series 6035 real photo.

Timaru Greetings 

   

Town Hall Cambridge, real photo greetings postcard

Waihirere Falls (nr Gisborne) photo by Innes. Used in 1910

Wanganui River, Lower Reaches, postcard

Wellington greetings postcard, Zoo Lion King Dick

 

Hows that for a starter collection. I know there are a number of others that could fit in here. Cheers - Jeff. I may assemble more later

Stamp montage postcards as produced by Muir and Moodie

This article looks at the Stamp montage postcards as produced by Muir and Moodie.

I have read the list that this firm produced somewhere (I believe was in an old copy of "THE KIWI" which I will endeavour to look for via their CD that I have on their first 50 volumes that they produced. In the meantime - I believe with the Internet and my system (blog) we can actually make a research article with all of the images produced in thumbnail size for collectors records.

Below I have listed and shown 24 postcard images I have collected from various auction sites. (These are only for record purposes. (So shown as thumbnail images)

To read some of the history of the photographers that took these photos and produced these postcards click on the links provided.

I also have an extensive article still on our broken site which will be re-constructed for research purposes later. Hopefully this information will be of assistance to collectors and researchers.

The history of Burton Bros and Muir and Moodie.

And the interweaving of these photographers and NZ postcards.

Old South Canterbury Postcards

Quote:

'Muir and Moodie' a postcard company from Dunedin that was in business from 1898 to 1916 during the "golden age" of postcards. Frederick Mintaro Bailey Muir was a freelance photographer who came to New Zealand in the 1880s and who worked for John R. Morris of Dunedin. Muir was running the Timaru branch of Mahan and Muir from 1903. It is situated on the first floor of McKeown's building. Mahan's Studio (Robert Mahan proprietor) head office, Oamaru.

Link to my album on these postcards - click here - MUIR & MOODIE STAMP MONTAGE POSTCARDS.  or click on the individual links below each panel of stamps.

    

buller gorge muir & moodie stamp card

cathedral square cafe m & m stamp card

dunedin gardens muir & moodie stamp card

From Antigua Boat Sheds Christchurch stamp montage

gardens dunedin muir & moodie stamp montage

    

glen dhu, lake wanaka, stamp montage postcard

m & m stamp card avon, boat sheds

m & m stamp card mitre peak, milford

m & m stamp card pembroke milford

m & m stamp card princes st dunedin

    

m & m stamp card shag rock sumner

muir & moodie dunedin stamp card

muir & moodie stamp vignette postcard

muir & moodie sumner stamp card

muir & moodie wanganui river stamp card

    

muir moodie devonport stamp card

muir moodie st heliers stamp card

Muir Moodie Stamp card Dunedin T Hall

oamaru post office muir moodie stamp card

stamp montage christchurch muir & moodie postcard

   

stamp montage muir & moodie christchurch postcard

stamp montage muir & moodie wellington postcard

stamp montage nelson muir & moodie postcard

stamp postcard jervois quay well

 

I note that I have a couple of double-ups here - OK

Frederick George Radcliffe

This photographer produced a large amount of early NZ Postcards which still remain readily available today. To record his history - I have quoted from

MIM RINGER

Obit. Northern Advocate. 15 Jan. 1923: 4

Watkins, T. M. 'F. G. Radcliffe: a personal collection'. History of Photography in New Zealand research paper, 1986. AUEL

HOW TO CITE THIS BIOGRAPHY:
Ringer, Mim. 'Radcliffe, Frederick George 1863 - 1923'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 July 2005
URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

The original version of this biography was published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume Three (1901-1920), 1996
© Crown Copyright 1996-2006. Published by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage , Wellington, New Zealand. All rights reserved.

===============================================

Frederick George Radcliffe was born at Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on 15 November 1863. His parents were Harriet Quilliam and her husband, Frederick Radcliffe, a well-to-do merchant in the West African trade. According to family information, he was educated at Audlem Grammar School, Cheshire, and also attended school in Belgium where he learned the oboe. He then spent some time in Oxford and while there was apparently appointed guardian of a member of a West African royal family. In 1885 he was a lieutenant in a Lancashire volunteer rifle corps.

On 28 July 1886 Radcliffe married Kate Litherland in West Derby; they were to have two daughters, Harriette Eva and Olive Isabel. Seeking an equable climate for his health, Radcliffe came to New Zealand in the early 1890s. His wife's brothers had settled near Paparoa, on an inlet of Kaipara Harbour, and here he purchased a farm of some 150 acres. Kate Radcliffe and the two girls arrived in New Zealand in 1894. Eva later went back to England to school, while Olive attended Mount Eden College, (later St Cuthbert's College) in Auckland.

Utopia, as Radcliffe's farm was called, prospered, but his interest turned to photography. The appearance of stereoscopic cards under the trade name 'Radcliffe and Stewart', the sale of scenic photographs to the Auckland Weekly News and New Zealand Graphic , and the interest of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department launched Radcliffe as a scenic photographer. Often accompanied by Kate, he began the country-wide trips that were a feature of his life for 20 years, and which provided the photographs for the later postcard business.

The farm was advertised for sale in 1905 and the family moved to Auckland for two years. During this time Radcliffe is said to have worked with C. J. Ellerbeck, an Auckland photographer. He also spent time in Christchurch taking photographs and playing the oboe in the New Zealand International Exhibition orchestra at Christchurch in 1906--7.

By 1908 the family were in Whangarei. The following year Radcliffe's studio in Cameron Street was taken over by Ernest de Tourret. The photographic business was then pursued at Stony Hill, the Radcliffe home in Mill Road, with its established orchard and untouched bush straddling the Hatea River. It was remembered for its walls papered with pages from the Weekly News and photographic transparencies over the windows.

Radcliffe recorded pictorial images of rural and urban New Zealand from the far north to Bluff on nearly 8,000 glass-plate negatives. A few were of family and Maori activities; the majority were clear, detailed images of parks, domains and gardens, municipal buildings, churches, streets, bridges, railways and wharves, and panoramic views of mountains, rivers, caves, thermal areas, forest and harbours. People seemed incidental, small, distant and unidentifiable.

Radcliffe's wife, his daughter Olive and a number of young women assistants processed and organised the postcards, each characterised by a neatly printed name, consecutive number and the initials 'FGR'. Many were composed into decorative greeting cards and, along with the other postcards, were sent to retailers nationwide.

Full-plate sepia photographs of magnificent northern trees or spectacular southern scenery, mounted and framed, were in demand throughout the country. Radcliffe's work was hung in the office of the high commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom. In 1910 he published a souvenir album on the Waitomo caves. His photographs appeared in other souvenir albums and regularly in Christmas annuals. Views of the Hatea River were used by his friend and neighbour H. B. Dobbie in the 1921 edition of his book New Zealand ferns. A number of his photographs appear in C. A. Cotton's Geomorphology of New Zealand. Many of his quarter-plate glass negatives have survived, and the distinctive postcards and large art photographs are sought by collectors.

Frederick Radcliffe was active in the local community, especially in musical circles. For many concert and light opera performances he organised and conducted the orchestra. He was a member of the Savage Club, a committee member of the Waiata Society, and helped set up the Whangarei Beautifying Society. The family were members of the Whangarei Camera Club.

A slight, moustached, courteous and kindly gentleman, Frederick George Radcliffe died at Onerahi, Whangarei, on 14 January 1923. Kate Radcliffe died in 1963.

====================================================

Record this for your records.

Burton, Alfred Henry 1833-1835? - 1914
Photographer, elocutionist

This was probably one of the most influentual photographers of early New Zealand  - below is his information as found here ALFRED HENRY BURTON

Alfred Henry Burton was the eldest of four sons of John Burton and his wife, Martha Neal. He was born at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, probably sometime between 1833 and 1835. John Burton had founded the firm of John Burton and Sons, printers and photographers of Leicester, with branches in Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham and other Midland towns. All four of his sons seem to have started work with the family firm.

In 1856 Alfred emigrated to New Zealand, and was employed in Auckland as a printer for about three years. After a similar period spent in Sydney, Australia, he returned to England. He married Lydia Taylor at Ramsgate, Kent, on 15 November 1864, when he was manager of the Nottingham branch of John Burton and Sons. His brother, Walter John Burton, who also trained as a printer and photographer, had married three weeks before Alfred, on 24 October 1864 at Lincoln. He and his wife, Helen Jemima Draper, emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1866.

It was at Walter's invitation that Alfred returned to New Zealand, attracted by opportunities for landscape photography in the burgeoning province of Otago. Alfred and Lydia Burton arrived in Dunedin in 1868. Their daughter, Oona Emma, came with them; they were to have two more daughters and a son, Harold Taylor.

Alfred joined Walter's photography business, and the firm became known as Burton Brothers. Their first studio was in Princes Street, Dunedin, and looked remarkably similar to the Leicester frontage of John Burton and Sons, with a large coat of arms claiming royal patronage. For several years the brothers advertised as dealers in Masonic clothing and jewels and they also sold newspapers and fancy goods. However, the demand for photographs was constant: Dunedin settlers wished to send home portraits and views of the new country. Consequently, the first years of the partnership were busy and successful.

During the 1870s the business expanded. Alfred was travelling over much of New Zealand taking photographs of a landscape new to European eyes. Panoramic views were a speciality. On arrival, he had had the coachbuilders Robin and Company build a travelling dark-van, essential in the days of wet-plate collodion when photographic plates had to be processed on the spot. Where the van could not be taken, pack-horses and a small dark-tent had to be used. Alfred narrates how, on the West Coast, coating plates in the dark-tent 'was truly a delightful experience in a region where the tiny but potent sandfly worked his wicked will.' He would be pouring the collodion onto the plate to make an even coating and the 'little wretches' would take advantage while he was occupied to bite his face and hands. Often a sandfly would 'with devilish art, plump himself right in the middle' of the plate which would then have to be discarded. Once this occurred three times in succession. In March 1874 Alfred accompanied the official expedition to the West Coast sounds on the Luna and undertook photographic work.

Meanwhile Walter Burton looked after the portrait side of the business, a little half-heartedly. He could not travel because he did not enjoy the robust health of his older brother. As an investment he acquired various properties in the centre of Dunedin which he held until late 1878.

Both Alfred and Walter held positions of prominence in the orders of Freemasonry. Alfred became affiliated on his arrival in Dunedin in the Lodge of Otago, was installed master in 1873, and was provincial grand master from 1890 until 1893 and grand master of New Zealand in 1904 and 1905. In all Alfred gave some 50 years to the study of Freemasonry. Walter was initiated in the Lodge Otago Kilwinning in 1867 and was provincial grand jeweller from 1870 to 1872. The Otago Witness of 6 June 1868 records that Walter took a photograph of the laying of the foundation stone of the Masonic Hall, at which 2,000 were present.

Some idea of the diverse activities of Burton Brothers during the first decade can be gained from a montage which Alfred prepared. In it, about 650 portraits are skilfully arranged around the firm's title. Included are photographs of the premises, spiritualist seances showing levitation, a military group, and Alfred and Walter clowning. But although the firm was successful, there were differences between the brothers which contributed to the break-up of the partnership in 1877, after which the two saw little of each other.

Walter travelled to Europe and visited studios, bringing back with him the latest equipment to set up an independent studio in premises in George Street in late 1878. He called it the Royal Gallery of Photography. It did not prosper, however, because of his uncertain health, and on 10 May 1880 he committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide. Walter's wife, two sons and a daughter returned to England, and in July 1880 his studio passed to Robert Clifford and John Richard Morris.

Meanwhile, Alfred continued to run the firm of Burton Brothers. Between 1877 and 1880 the youngest Burton brother, John William, came out to Dunedin and joined the business but returned to England after Walter's death. By about 1882 Alfred had entered into partnership with Thomas Mintaro Muir, and acquired the lease of the building on the corner of Princes Street and Moray Place. Muir was born, probably in 1851 or 1852, in Australia and emigrated to New Zealand with his parents, Matthew Bailey Muir and Amelia Muir (née Allen). Seven of the Muir and Allen families are known to have taken up photography. Young Thomas Muir had also became a photographer in Dunedin and his aptitude and enthusiasm were rewarded when he was included in the party that recorded the transit of Venus at Queenstown in 1874. He then joined Alfred Burton as portrait operator. During the 10 years after he became a partner the firm achieved great successes, and in 1885 Muir and Burton were able to open a large portrait studio at the Exchange Court on Princes Street.

Alfred Burton continued to travel widely from 1880 onwards, but encountered some setbacks. In 1882 and 1883 he set out to photograph the Sutherland Falls in Fiordland, but claimed he was tricked and frustrated by jealous rivals. In 1884 he went to Fiji and was disappointed to find that the Fijians had become accustomed to tourists and were camera-conscious. But the following year he had the good fortune to meet the surveyor John Rochfort at Wanganui. In the company of Rochfort and the painter Edward William Payton, he made a pioneer journey through the King Country during the months of May and June.

Burton found the Maori people of the King Country completely innocent of photography, and succeeded in taking a total of some 150 plates of genuine ethnographic significance. The value of these photographs was later recognised by museums in Europe and America. The title of Burton's catalogue of prints, The Maori at home , is fully justified for he made no attempt to pose his subjects or make studio portraits. He also published his journal of the trip, Through the King Country with the camera: a photographer's diary (1885), and although his account at times sounds far-fetched, Payton, in his book, Round about New Zealand (1888), confirms it. Payton emphasised that 'Scarcely a single white man had been through the heart of the King Country', and observed that the Maori people were fascinated by Burton's camera. Indeed, they were more interested in Burton's photographic rituals, although they did not see the result, than in Payton's drawing.

Burton's enterprise was unflagging; he sent his son, Harold, whom he was training to take his place, to photograph the aftermath of the Mt Tarawera eruption in 1886, and in 1888 to participate in a survey expedition to the Sutherland Falls. The following year Harold accompanied his father to Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau to take photographs in the winter. A photograph shows them in camp with a 20-inch by 18-inch Meagher plate camera.

Then tragedy struck: in 1890 Harold lost an arm as the result of a gunshot wound. A one-armed photographer was then a near impossibility, and George Moodie, who had been with the firm since the 1880s, took over much of the topographical photography. Moodie matched Burton in indefatigability; in a report he wrote for the New Zealand Alpine Journal in 1893 he described how he took the Meagher camera and a supply of the large glass plates for it on to the Tasman Glacier. Moodie also accompanied annual Union Steam Ship Company cruiser trips to the sounds, taking group portraits and photographs of scenery.

In 1898 Burton retired. Around this time Thomas Muir formed a new partnership with George Moodie, and the firm of Muir and Moodie entered very successfully into the postcard era. Their partnership was dissolved about 1916. Subsequently Muir maintained the studio at Invercargill until 1940. Later he acquired property at Broad Bay on the Otago Peninsula and died there in 1945.

For 16 years after giving up photography Alfred Burton was a teacher of elocution, with rooms at 5 Liverpool Street, Dunedin. According to an educational directory of 1913, he advocated 'the cultivation of the speaking voice in the pulpit, on the platform, and in the drawing room; by effective and graceful recitation, and by correct and picturesque reading.' He also taught elocution at Knox College.

Burton gave his energy to other pursuits: he was one of the founders of the Dunedin Shakespeare Club, and secretary of the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute. He was well known for his 'Evenings with great authors' and in 1897 he directed a production of Dion Boucicault's The octaroon for the Dunedin Amateur Dramatic Club. As well, he wrote The mining investor's guide to the gold dredging companies of Otago and Southland and the West Coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand , published in Dunedin in 1900--1901. Alfred Burton died in Dunedin on 2 February 1914. His elocution school was continued by his daughter, Oona Burton, until her departure to Auckland in 1925. Harold Burton had died in a riding accident in 1901.

During the latter part of his life Alfred Burton had not lost all interest in photography. In 1911 he had a montage of himself making 37 theatrical gestures produced by Charles Armstrong. He was ever a showman. His contemporaries remembered him as a tall, upright man, striding importantly along Princes Street

========================================================

HOW TO CITE THIS BIOGRAPHY:
Knight, Hardwicke. 'Burton, Alfred Henry 1833-1835? - 1914'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 July 2005
URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

The original version of this biography was published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume Two (1870-1900), 1993
© Crown Copyright 1993-2005

=============================================

The next article I will show 52 photographs I found from

BURTON BROS (1880s)NEW ZEALAND SCENERY ALBUM

Alot of these photographs appeared on later postcards by Muir & Moodie as they became historically important.

BURTON BROS (1880s)NEW ZEALAND SCENERY ALBUM

These are the 52 images from this album produced in thumbnail sizes - click on the links below each panel of images to view enlarged copies. A very rare book from the 1880s ( Probably one of only a few that exist today)

This photographer was one of New Zealand pioneer photographers - his photos appeared on alot of postcards a lot later when postcards were popular.

   

 Mitre Peak - Milford Sound

Pink Terrace

The Museum Chch

Bealey Gorge

   

Christchurch

Princes St

Frankton Arm Lake Wakatipu

Lennox and the Earnslaw

   

At Rotorua Area

Lake Wanaka

Kauri Point Mill

Wellington

   

Remuera

Catholic School Wellington

Queen St Auckland

Te Aroha

   

Auckland

Victoria St Auckland

Queen St Auckland

Savings Bank Auckland

   

Albert Park Auckland

Albert Park

Star Office Auckland

Mangere from Onehunga Wharf

   

Manukau Harbour

The Wharf North Shore Auckland

North Shore from Auckland Wharf

Auckland from summit Mt Eden

Part two - next article

BURTON BROS (1880s)NEW ZEALAND SCENERY ALBUM

These are the 52 images from this album produced in thumbnail sizes - click on the links below each panel of images to view enlarged copies. A very rare book from the 1880s ( Probably one of only a few that exist today)

This photographer was one of New Zealand pioneer photographers - his photos appeared on alot of postcards a lot later when postcards were popular.

PART TWO

   

Russell from the Wharf

From the North Shore

Shortland St Auckland

Waiwera

   

Waiwera

England St Ponsonby

Eascopa Church

Breakwater Oamaru

   

St Mathews Dunedin

Waiorongomai

Waiorongowai

Grahamstown

   

Taumaranui King Country

Chief Wahanui

Baptist Church Wellesley St Auckland

Surgeons Tabernacle Auckland

   

The Cemetery Auckland

British Queen at Port Chalmers

George St Dunedin

On the West Coast Road

   

Mongarewa Gorge

Queenstown

Queenstown-2

The Salvation Army Barracks

Make sure you click on the enlarged links below each panel of images to appreciate the beauty of photos taken of New Zealand locations almost 130 years ago

Stamp montage postcards as produced by Muir and Moodie -Additions

Here's a few more to add to our collection thumbnail images. Click on links below to view enlarge views. One is already listed.

Also to note it the New Zealand one issued without an image in the display panel. I believe that ( Having read it somewhere) that this available for sale along with all the ones designed ( and was targetted at the large number of postcards at those times)

   

And the New Zealand Card - This one I have shown here in its enlarged form

The top four enlarged - click on the links below

 Muir & Moodie Lake Te Anau Stamp Card  Head of Lake Te Anau.

Muir & Moodie Lake Wanaka Stamp Card  Glen Dhu, Lake Wanaka.

Muir & Moodie Mt McKenzie Stamp Card Mt McKenzie Clinton River.

Muir & Moodie Ngaporo Wanganui River

 

Almost all these cards appear in unused copies having been collected when published and not used in the post. Straight into collections. Somewhere there is a full list of the ones published (And probably full collections as issued)

Correspondence with connections to Southbridge - Geraldine - NZ

From:
Date: 08/20/06 08:40:51
To: JdPyle@xtra.co.nz
Subject: Old photo

Are you interested in an old photo given to me by a relative in Belfast N Ireland who knows my interest in family history?

viz Webmaster http://www.mccaskie.org.uk

This photo is of a lady and signed by her - Mina - on the back

On the front it has Winzenberg Masterton. There are another 2 photos which would appear to me to be of the same family - one of a man, wife and children and the other of two children in sailor suits.

The family in Belfast are called Tubman and they had relatives who went to New Zealand

If you are interested and you think that they might be of interest I will scan them. You may use them on your site if you like.

Heather

Date: 08/20/06 20:23:40
To:
Subject: Re: Old photo - Southbridge photos included

Hi Heather,

Always interested in early NZ photo (postcards) (Scans appreciated) I see that one of your relatives here in New Zealand also conducted a photography business. Some images included which may interest you.

John James to New Zealand & Elizabeth & David to USA

John James(1854-1939) emigrated to New Zealand on the maiden voyage of the Waimate.He left Gravesend 28/10/1874 Arrived Lyttleton 25/01/1875 after 89 days. Passenger list shows John McCaskey age 20. He married Mary Cosgrove on 1 October 1877 in Southbridge. She was born 24/2/1853 in Liverpool and went to New Zealand on the Waikato arriving 3/10/1875 after 98 days. John James had a photography business in Geraldine - later sold to the Willoughby family. Mary died 03/07/1929.

Geraldine Talbot St PHOTO of postcard
Interested in his activities.

From:
Date: 08/20/06 20:51:29
To: jdpyle@xtra.co.nz
Subject: Emailing: postcards

Thanks for the postcards. Here are the scans - only the one of the lady is annotated on the back "To Mrs Tubman - kind regards Mina" The others do not have Winzenberg nor anything on the front - we do not know who they are but they are all very dark haired people.

John James McCaskey - all I know about him is on my site. There is a lady in Timaru - without email - who is a descendant and might be able to help you if you are interested

Heather

Check out the rest of the postcards in the

Queen Victoria 24 November 1899 Postcards

This information is taken from the "The New Zealand Postal Stationery Catalogue" which was published in 1983 as a loose leaf binder.

 

To view the album this image is stored in click here (I am producing articles on the small images on the front of postcards - many done by private firms during this time - as this was the only way the Post Office regulations allowed them then

New Zealand Small Picture Frontal Postcards

There are a number of pages - just click on each thumbnail in the left hand column to view the enlarged image with its details.

This above series was issued 24 November 1899. Printed in green. View at lower left.

VIEWS (a) Bealey Terrace, Canterbury

            (b) Cathedral Peaks, Manapouri

            (c) Wanganui River (vertical view)

            (d) Customhouse square, Dunedin

            (e) Galatea, Auckland

            (f) Queens Wharf, Wellington

            (g) Where the Maori Loves to Roam (above illustration)

            (h) Wanganui River (horizontal view)

            (i) Princes Street, Dunedin

            (j) Lake Manapouri

The printing form contained 16 postcard impressions. In each group of 16 there were two cards with the views (a), (b), (c), (f), (g), and (h). The other views appeared only once in each group.

There is a variety with no stop after "side" which occurred in the following views: (b) (both cards on which this view appeared), (g) (one card of the two cards on which this view appeared), and (j). 

Subject: Dunnage Photos

Hi Jeff
i`m tring to get a copy of a Dunnage photo , on the photo is written Tararu-Thames Dunnage Photo 97 taken about 1923, i think, is it possible you may be able to sell me a copy or may know where either you or i may be able to get a copy.

I`m trying to get a copy for our Family Reunion to be held in Thames next year and in that photo are some of my Families Houses that they used to own.

Regards
Ron Lanning

Ron,

I constructed a couple of albums for you to go through for your family re-union to be held in Thames next year of postcards of Thames and just up the coast to Waiomo.

Click on the links to view - THAMES POSTCARD album
THAMES POSTCARD BOOK album.

Check all the pages out.

The postcards - I order on-line - Please select the items you would like and I will get them printed for you. (Or you can "save as" to your own computer and get them printed on-line) Copies will not be perfect as reduced pixels but very acceptable for display.

The Thames Postcard Book - I can run off an A4 copy of each - laminate and send you. They come out very nicely and make excellent display copies. After the event - I (You) can ring bind them into a small table top booklet.(Recommended) and will become a part of the event memories.Extra copies may be ordered for anyone that would like a copy for their own library.

Cheers Jeff

King Edward 1/2d and 1d AUCKLAND EXHIBITION POSTCARDS

Below I have listed the Official printed postcards to commemorate the Auckland Exhibition to commemorate this event. A large number of privately produced image postcards exist - an album I will construct and link to here for collectors.

On the Official cards - I have attached the information from "The New Zealand Postal Stationery Catalogue" published in 1983. for reference to collectors.

Colour of views - 1/2d black, purple brown, greenish blue

1d purple brown, black, greenish blue

VIEWS

(a) Fish-ponds and Entrance to the Exhibition

(b) Auckland Domain, showing Hospital

(c) Chief Post Office (Building on Left), Auckland

(d) Yachts on the Auckland Harbour

(e) Customs Street, Auckland

(f) Chief Post Office, Queen Street, from Ferry Buildings

(g) Queen Street, Auckland

(h) Auckland Harbour from Grafton Bridge

(i) General View of Exhibition from Fish-ponds

(j) Albert Park, Auckland, showing Guns which were in Action at Waterloo.

(k) Remeura and Auckland Harbour from One Tree Hill

(l) Corner of Shelly Beach, Auckland

(m) The Aquarium and Government Court, Auckland

(n) Victoria Street, looking west

(o) Main Entrance to Auckland Exhibition

(p) Rangitoto, Harbour and City from Exhibition Buildings

(q) Kiosk, Auckland Exhibition

(r) Auckland Harbour

(s) Sunlight and Shadow, Auckland Domain

(t) Auckland City and Harbour from Grafton Bridge

 

According to Government Printing Office records 41400 1/2d cards and 20980 1d cards were printed. It is probably that a large number of cards, mainly of the 1/2d denomination remained unsold and were destroyed at the conclusion of the exhibition; both cards are scarce, the 1/2d being the scarcer of the two.

Early New Zealand Transport depicted in Postcards

The period of the early New Zealand Postcards (which were very popular to collect and trade with family and friends) actually recorded the historical events of the transport change over of one mode of transport to another here in New Zealand.

The horse and bullock had broken New Zealand in from bush to rural farms. It also carted all the timber, metal, concrete, steel and evrything else to build all the buildings in the towns (along with the scow) ( probably unique to New Zealand waterways)

In postcards - we see very few today existing of this change over - (especially good close-up views of them and people that used them) - more exist of the early vehicles that began appearing here in New Zealand - the trams, the trains, and the early vehicles (having been just produced - 1895 - 1910's - the same time as the craze of postcard useage and production)

Below I have shown some excellent postcards of the horse era - click on the links below the thumbnail panels to view the enlarged images.

To view the album of "Coaching in New Zealand" - click the link behind.

   

Horse Drawn Transport - Man on Gig in 1906.

Horse-drawn transport, real photo postcard

Horse and Coach Postcard

OLD KATUI POSTCARD, NORTHLAND, INDUSTRY

   

farming Horses & Clover Cutter Postcard

Horse and Coach Hawks Crag Buller Gorge Postcard

Horse and Coach Post Office Hanmer Postcard

Horse and Coach Buller Gorge Postcard

There are many more in this album - just a few to show just how to start your collection.

Queen Victoria 24 November 1899 Postcards

This information is taken from the "The New Zealand Postal Stationery Catalogue" which was published in 1983 as a loose leaf binder.

To view the album this image is stored in click here (I am producing articles on the small images on the front of postcards - many done by private firms during this time - as this was the only way the Post Office regulations allowed them then

New Zealand Small Picture Frontal Postcards

There are a number of pages - just click on each thumbnail in the left hand column to view the enlarged image with its details.

This above series was issued 24 November 1899. Printed in green. View at lower left.

VIEWS (a) Bealey Terrace, Canterbury

            (b) Cathedral Peaks, Manapouri

  Cathedral Peaks Manapouri

            (c) Wanganui River (vertical view)

            (d) Customhouse square, Dunedin

            (e) Galatea, Auckland

            (f) Queens Wharf, Wellington

            (g) Where the Maori Loves to Roam

  Where the Maori Loves to Roam

            (h) Wanganui River (horizontal view)

  Wanganui River

            (i) Princes Street, Dunedin

  Princes Street Dunedin

            (j) Lake Manapouri

  Lake Manapouri

The printing form contained 16 postcard impressions. In each group of 16 there were two cards with the views (a), (b), (c), (f), (g), and (h). The other views appeared only once in each group.

There is a variety with no stop after "side" which occurred in the following views: (b) (both cards on which this view appeared), (g) (one card of the two cards on which this view appeared), and (j). 

EARLY NZ POSTCARDS - Postcards in books

Today (and occassionally in the past) we see more and more books that have large numbers of early New Zealand Postcards. (especially ones dealing in historical matter - from thematic to local histories. Below I have listed a few (You can extend this list for other reads - just add the title and author and I will locate a image (possibly from my own large library I have assembled) and add an image (Please add a short description to help our readers)

I know there are alot of authors (and collectors out here) buying up specialised postcards to form collections in thematic, localised and historical and will be using them in their own forth-coming publications. This is because alot of those early postcards now have come out of the copyrights (which I believe is 70 years after publication) and are able to be used in publications to show those scenes. Excellent.

BOOKS

Auckland before the Harbour Bridge - Graham Stewart (photo in My-E Books - My New books 2004-6)

"Over 700 photos and illustrations (Probably half of these are early postcards) are depicted in this beautiful book)

Wellington - Portrait of the Region - Graham Stewart (photo in My-E Books - My New books 2004-6)

"Heap of photos and illustrations (Probably half of these are early postcards) are depicted inthis beautiful book)

Another localised specialised book dealing with an early look at this area)

Books on New Zealand Postcards (And collecting Postcards)

Strangely enough there are very few dealing with this specialised subject - see my own list below (which I have assembled over forty years of collecting- AND have built a large collection of books on New Zealand and many of its aspects. - Too be added in another article to come)

For the Railway Postcard collector - this book is the definitive handbook of

MAILS BY RAILS IN NEW ZEALAND - by Albert B. Johnson - Robin M. Startup - Edited by Allan P. Berry

(I personally know Robin and Allan (for years) and they have spent a lifetime studying and writing about NZ Postal History and many issues - including local histories)

You will find Robin has a long list of books published (Mostly by the NZ Postal Historical Society) and Allan was the editor of The Kiwi for almost 50 years before retiring back to NZ - Thames continuing his research and hobby.

EARLY NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY POSTCARDS

I collected these for forty years assembling a very large collection - along with postal issues and alot of research (alot of it to be found on my site - unfortunately the driving part of which is down at present due to the webserver breaking the backend while doing an upgrade - Fortunitely I have a full backup copy on my own computers) This collection was exhibited for only a short time (just small parts of it - with considerable success) before I sold it as one unit (It immediately went into one individuals hands and was immediately locked up as a family investment and has not appeared since - that ten years ago)

In the following articles - (I have broken them in different articles ) we will look at the various sections in more detail just on NZ Railway Postcards. The sections are (at present)

RPO and RTPO's on Railway Postcards

NZ Railway Engines (Trains on postcards)

Railway Scenes (Railway Viaducts - Constructions)

Railway Stations depicted on Postcards

(Special section - POST OFFICES in railway Stations - depicted on Postcards) This was my specialised area researching the histories and with the help of Trevor Terry of Hamilton assembled the histories (postmasters etc that ran these) obtaining information from material disposed of by the NZ Railways after it was taken over by the American Firm who immediately took all the archives and dumped them. This section of the Post Office was not under the NZPO as it was contracted out to the railways and run usually by the Station master who was also appointed as the Post Master with extra pay.

I spent forty years trying to get photos of those railway stations - ending up with very few of the 260+ that housed these Post Offices at one time or other. (This was how NZ was developed. The railway was construction and along the way railway stations - which became the center of those early centers - with the railway station the center of those communities. Only when roads and private transport improved sufficiently (the coming of the motorised vehicle saw the engine of the railway as the main mode of transport deminish) and the railway station as the center of the community, then moved the Post Office into its own building within the new towns., that were built in (usually raise) positions from the railway.

Special datestamps (railway) on Postcards

Historical (railway) events on Postcards

From the list above - collections can and have been formed on all sorts of topics on early NZ Postcards on a similar basis. Hopefully we will cover many of these over time and hopefully get others to contribute to this BLOG on these topics of EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS. If you have collections and are interesting in contributing articles, or series of articles to add to this blog - contact the owner (me JdPyle@xtra.co.nz) and I will arrange it so you can add the articles directly from your own computer. I will also assist you as much as possible to include images etc in the construction of articles for fellow readers.

All the histories of the above can be found in the book

MAILS BY RAILS IN NEW ZEALAND - by Albert B. Johnson - Robin M. Startup - Edited by Allan P. Berry

My own research notes on the Post Offices - I loaned to Allan Berry sometime ago - Hopefully he has recorded this to the archives for others to access and one day may be published along with postcards showing the various Railway Stations and scenes.

RPO and RTPO's on Railway Postcards

This article looks at what can be assembled on this topic from EARLY POSTCARDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

First of all you need a good guide on the various datestamps that was used by these RTP (Railway Post Offices) and (Railway Travelling Post Offices). Again you will need

MAILS BY RAILS IN NEW ZEALAND - by Albert B. Johnson - Robin M. Startup - Edited by Allan P. Berry

(In fact - get two copies of this publication from the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand - one for your library as a mint copy and one for your every day use (as you will wear out one copy over time referring to it)

You will find many other articles in various early publications (many are listed in my "Books on Postcards" article) but the recommendation for serious collectors is to refer to the above publication.

Once you have the guide to the various postmarks (and theres lots - many very very scarce (AND I mean RARE - 1 or 2 known copies left) you will then need to understand the routes and the opening and closing times along with the timetables used and the way the datestamps (indicated by the numbers within the d/s) were use (carried and used) to make this system work.

You have then advanced from just a postcard collector to a Postal History researcher and this will open a totally new outlook on the EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARD.

You will also see how you can advance any local history with the same methods to include the Postal markings of the area and the various inward and outwards of these postcards which then tie you into the local identities named on those postcards (and often the messages they wrote on the postcards. (Interesting - NOW you advance from a collector to Postal Historian to Local Historian - where the areas that the postcard was written from and sent to also become very important.

The full impact of each and every postcard then become apparent to you. Both sides of the postcard is now important - even the message on these cards - They are messages from our past (written at that time) and part of our history (They are important).

Not only this - the images on the postcard, the photographer, and the publisher - ALL are very important to our past history on New Zealand ( AND alot of this information is disappearing without being recorded or noticed. It is this I hope to make readers aware of and how important it is to our young country (New Zealand) and hopefully cover on this BLOG (with your help)

A FEW POSTCARDS - PART 1

EARLY WANGANUI POSTCARD SHOWS DUCK SHOOTING REAL PHOTO TYPE SENT TO BLENHEIM 19 DEC 1904 WANAGNUI G CLASS APPLIED WITH VERY NICE TRAVELLING POST OFFICE RAILWAY MARKED 19 DEC 1904 WITH BLENHEIN RCDS AS WELL.

EARLY MUIR AND MOODIE DUENDIN POSTCARD NO 3399 BACK AND FRONTS SHOWN,SENT TO KAPAONGA TARANAKI ,HAS PART A CLASS CANCEL FAIR[FIELD]WITH TRAVELLING RAILWAY CANCEL OUTWARDS WELLINGTON -WANGANUI APPLIED ,A G CLASS ELTHAM APPLIED 27 OC 05 AND WEAK KAPONGA AS WELL.

Cross creek 1904 Rail Card Rail post office - Note its journey via PMs

NZ 1905 Penrose Junction Railway Postcard - A very rare image of this suburban Auckland railway station - Penrose Junction in 1905.

NZ 1905 Penrose Junction Railway Postcard - Front view of card above

A very rare image of Penrose Junction railway station with the staff standing in the forecourt.

SECTION TWO to follow

RPO and RTPO's on Railway Postcards

This article looks at what can be assembled on this topic from EARLY POSTCARDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

More interesting selections noted recently

NZ 1912 Postcard Railway Officers Institute, RARE
A charming Christmas greetings card sent by a member of the Wanganui Branch of the Railway Officers Institute to the Frankton Junction Station Master on Christmas Eve, 1912. Judging by the signature, I'm picking this was sent by P. Keogh, Vice Chairman of the Wanganui branch.

1904. Travelling Post office New Plymouth. Also Petone and Cambridge cancels. Reverse is Sanatorium, Cambridge.

Italian postcard sent to Invercargill, cancelled overseas and with clear Travg. P.O. Invercargill 13 NO 03 strike.

Milford Sound postcard sent to Masterton from Dannevirke 24 DE 03 with Travg. P.O. Napier 24 DE 03 clear strike and Masterton 24 DE 03 receiving mark.

London postcard sent to Hastings, Hawkes Bay and redirected to Masterton.
Stamp removed leaving partial strikes of Richmond, Surrey and Dannevirke. Partial transit and receiving marks of Hastings 25 MY 04 and Masterton 26 MY 04.
Clear strike Travg. P.O. New Plymouth 26 MY 04.

Rotorua postcard sent to Cambridge 27 OC 05 with Travg. P.O. Thames - Auckland 28 OC 05 transit cancel and Cambridge receiving datestamp 28 OC 05.

CHRISTCHURCH POSTCARD 1906 SENT NEW PLYMOUTH G CLASS MARK TO THAMES,ON SENT TO AUCKLAND WITH NICE STRIKE TRAV.P.O. THAMES AUCK.12 MR 06.

The script on this card was "ROTORUA POSTCARD 1908 SENT TO AUCKLAND FROM THAMES HAS AT LEAST THREEQUATER P/M STRIKE TRAV.P.O.THAMES -AUCK.13 MR 08."

In fact this is inwards to Thames - see address - Also the datestamp 3 indicates this also - compare that to the above Thames TPO d/s - No.1 (outward)

Tourist Dept. postcard showing Lake Manawapouri, sent from Hastings 11 JE 04 with Dannevirke transit 11 JE 04, travelling P.O. outward Christchurch - Dunedin 14 JE 04 strike, and card received in Orari 14 JE 04.

As you see by the above selection a very interesting and postal historical collection can be assembled for display along with diagrams of the mail routes and even postcards showing the mail trains.

To view other card in the album click - SPECIAL RAILWAY POSTCARDS and view the others I have selected.

 

NZ Railway Engines (Trains on postcards)

Here's an interesting collection from the same album on TRAINS. I'm not the specialist on the actual trains - so information from images collected.

ROYAL TRAIN AT CROSS CREEK 1953, Photograph

RAILWAY LOCO AT CROSS CREEK PHOTO

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPH

NZ Locomotive

Black and white photographic card of an early steam train. The message on the back indicates the train is probably from Dunedin. The gentleman in front of the train is also writer of the card.

Black and white photographic card of an early steam train. The address on the back is to Waikouaiti, Otago.The background of the card looks like Dunedin. The card features the steam train with 5 men in Railway uniform posing on it.

loco 589 with railway staff - Real photo card, possibly taken at Waiouru c1912.

N.Z.R. Loco 612, Clutha - postcard

Real photo card.

New 90 ton Engine, N.I.Main Trunk Line - postcard

Aldersley Series real photo card.
Not postally used but message on back dated 1910.

**JOSEPHINE STEAM TRAIN**
From the Otago Settlers Association Collection Dunedin.
Josephine on a trial run in 1872.

Ka Loco, Exhib

Auckland Express Train at Wellington Postcard

 

Railway Stations depicted on Postcards

Just a small selection of interesting Railway Stations depicted on Postcards.

To display this collected you need to add historical notes about the life of the station and possibly some details of the staff that operated each station. This brings to life the times and actions of those times.

Auckland Railway station Rotorua express postcard

Cross Creek Railway Rimutaka Incline Postcard

Eketahuna Railway Station - c1905

Foxton Railway 1911, reproduction postcard

Kauri Logs, Whangarei

MASTERTON RAILWAY STATION 1908 postcard

NEW PLYMOUTH RAILWAY STATION POSTCARD

OLD TE PUKE POSTCARD, RAILWAY STATION & TRAIN

Railway Station Bluff Postcard

Railway Station Wanganui Photo of Postcard

RAILWAY STATION, HAMILTON

WAIHI Railway Station postcard

Others may be viewed in this album SPECIAL RAILWAY POSTCARDS

Railway Scenes - Comical Postcards

As in any theme (This one being NZ Railways) you will find various special comical cards were issued. These can become a special chapter in your display and often shows the humour (what people laughed at during that time)

Below I have selected a few cards that depict this. It even brings into the humour of the actual construction of this main mode of transport at that time and how they laughed at themselves to overcome the problems faced when constructing the Main Trunk Line that joined Auckland with Wellington etc.

As you can see  - " I came here for a change and rest. The girls got the change and the landlady got the rest. All that I have left is a ten day ticket AUCKLAND TO WERE I COME FROM"

And another hand sketched comical MAIN TRUNK CARD

This laughs at the MAIN TRUNK SPIRAL - which was and still is a master piece of engineering to overcome a major obsticle on this route. This map of that shows why and how.

THE GREAT RAURIMU SPIRAL N.M.T.R. SHOWS A PLAN OF THE SPIRAL ,FGR NO 2888.

To finish off this article - An arrival card - Quite a few are still able to be found of various destinations like this one of Wellington

The window (Case ) opens out to show small miniatures of the area - this being Wellington.

 

Railway Scenes (Railway Viaducts - Constructions)

The construction of New Zealand Railway lines right from the very early private lines to the national routes saw obstacles and scenery opened up to the traveller absolutely unique in the world. Some of the problems faced by the early construction crews, designers and builders saw and this is recorded by those early postcards - some harsh conditions and some magnificent feats/ constructions achieved.

These in themselves - form an intricient part to anyones collection.

Heres just a small selection

Broken River Railway Bridge (new route to W.Coast)

CUTTING ON RIMUTAKA INCLINE  - Gold Medal Series

Greymouth,Ch Ch express Grey Gorge RP dixon

REAL PHOTO SHOWS A PASSENGER EXPRESS CROSSING THE RAILWAY BRIDGE WAIKATO RIVER.HAMILTON.CARTWRIGHT PHOTO.

A bit of research turns up interesting facts and history of building these structures. Take a look and try and find this through your search engines.

THIS CARD SHOWS A GREAT VIEW OF A STEAM GOODS TRAIN AT KAKAHI PASSING OVER THE VIADUCT [MAIN TRUNK]TOURIST SERIES CARD 1548,REAL PHOTO CARD. - Another interesting location and history to research

Real Photo Huge Grip Rail Railway Postcard

Tucker Series.G Hardy Photo - Another piece of engineering wizardry unique to New Zealand - look up the history of this - you will become engrossed in what these early pioneers achieved and made work for more than seventy years before the tunnel went through this area.

Rimutaka Incline, beginning of centre rail  - Another view of this master-piece of railway engineering.

Taonui (Mangaweka)? Railway Historic P/Crd

Looks as though the viaduct is not finished, note camp at far end and the ladies on the bridge. Card posted on 30 March 1911 from Mangaweka.

What makes this photo interesting - a beautiful curved viaduct in the middle of New Zealands bush at the base of the Central Plateau Mountains - Take a visit there if ever around this region - (Its off the beaten track but is beautiful and well worth the time and effort)

VIADUCT PICTON MABEL ISLAND POSTCARD - Another interesting postcard with a remarkable history.

To finish off this article - two cards of a special gold-mining area of NZ - Waikino - which today is completely different - But recommended visiting to walk around - AND it FREE., with many of the attractions being re-opened to the public. There you can now just visualise just what it was like over 100 years ago.

Photochrom no. 11. Approaching Tunnel Karangahake. - Take a walk through this tunnel and visit the gold mines and private railway lines of here. It is magnificent even today.

Railway Scenes (Railway  Construction Crews and special openings)

Here's a special contribution to those people that did the work in building NZ Railways - and the occassions to mark those achievements.

RAILWAY WORKERS REPAIRING TRACK - UNKNOWN AREA

Railway Workers & Engine, real photo postcard

Workers Camp Makatote Postcard

Road at Oio N I M T Railway Postcard - Workers Tents

Black and white photo entitled-
The late Mr Seddon wheeling a barrow of clay at the turning of the first sod of the Lawrence- Roxburgh Railway Works.
Photo is by Guy.

Richard Seddon was the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the time of alot of the major construction of New Zealand Railway network. This card was released after his death.

The “Last Spike” Obelisk.
N.I.M.T.L. Series No. 8.
“Opposite the spot where the Rt Hon Sir Joseph Ward P.C., K.C.M.G. drove the last spike of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 6th November 1908.

Take time and visit this on your journeys - interesting and still right out in nowhere.

Whangarei and Social Scenes of the early 1900's

I was born in Whangarei and grew up in this area - so naturally collecting postcards of this area would be of interest - knowing the area of what it was like 50 years ago - can look back 100 years via these postcards and see what my parents saw.

Below I have selected a nice selection of that time in what I think are beautiful postcards (images) Enjoy my selection

Whangarei FGR 316 - A fine print by Frederick Radcliff

Whangarei Falls & Tourists

WHANGAREI - Coastal Steamer Approaching Wharf. FGR 744

river below whangarei falls - postcard

FGR 5251 - The Impressive Wairua Falls near Wangarei

Whangarei Creek Postcard

Aubrey Island Whangarei Heads 35 FGR

Natural Wharf Whangarei Heads 256FGR - There is a Maori Fable to this scene. (read about that) Will be added later.

Parua Bay Whangarie 284FGR

Whangarei Heads - Paradise of the North Is FGR 273

Whangarei Heads from Ross Island Parua Bay FGR 1383

Whangarei Heads FGR 22

Wairua Falls - Kauri Logs  FGR 58 - This waterway was used extensively to float Kauri Logs down for export from Dargaville. A now lost era hardly remembered.

 

Scow Alma

THAMES - Scow Alma Unloading At Puru. Real Photo.

Dunnage Photo. no.74.

This real photo postcard showing the Scow Alma unloading at Puru is postally used in 1910

Alma is the last large deck scow afloat in New Zealand.  She is a 78 foot long, 26 foot wide kauri ship. Built in Auckland in 1902 she has world heritage status,

Name Alma
 
Built 1902 by GT Niccol, Auckland, New Zealand
 
Original owners Ada Beatrice Niccol
 
Present owners Graeme David Darroch
 
Propulsion Sail, schooner rig; 1924 auxiliary schooner; 1937 diesel motor; 1946 twin-screw diesel
 
Tonnage 63.02 gross
 
Measurements L 79.6ft/24.26m; B 25.6ft/7.80m; D 3.6ft/1.09m
 
Materials Kauri wood
 
Original use Coastal cargo carrier
 
Photos of her are to be found in the hard back book of 167 pages, " Phantom Fleet " The Scows and Scowmen of Auckland, was written by Ted Ashby and published by A.H. & A.W. Reed in 1975 as a 1st Edition. Excellent book on this type of boat that established the coastal fleets of New Zealand with its very shallow draft - was used extensively in developing early New Zealand. Now almost disappeared from existence and with very little written of them., and even fewer good photos of them.

Dunnage Photographer - I have seen only a few copies of his photo postcards - But all are of this quality and all featured scenes of that early era.

Puru - on this postcard is now known as Te Puru - north of Thames. The hills in the background are the Coromandel Ranges. Not sure what she (the Alma ) is loading - but the early days saw scows loading kauri spars for mills in Auckland, single for the roads and foundations of many of the early main street buildings still standing in Auckland and spall for the wharf areas and roads. From Auckland they often brought supplies for the locals, the farmers, and even mail. And was used for private transport to family and friends.

A Superb Historical photo of a long lost era. These early vessels all relied on their sails and wind to navigated into little bays and shallow rivers by the skills of their Captains and few crew all along the coast of New Zealand. A fine early photograph of her fitted out as a schooner.

YACHTS ON EARLY NZ POSTCARDS

New Zealand has thousands of miles of coastline all of it handy to all parts of the inland making it one of the main relaxation areas and occupations for all New Zealanders. So all New Zealanders grow up with the experience of the sea and surf and conditions of the weather and the effects of it on the sea. Because of this - New Zealanders are renown for their seafaring abilities and are / have become some of the best users of it in all sea using tracts., becoming sort after for all types of competitions associated with the sea all around the world. - from the Americas Cup to sailing yachts to captaining large sea-going vessels.

With that I have constructed two specialised ablums on early postcards taken of this field - too view click the links below

YACHTS

SHIPWRECKS

As you will note - the photographers of these postcards left us with some beautiful images of early New Zealand and yachting and also captured some of the memorable events when vessels came to grief on our also dangerous coasts - which often are beaten by storms and bad weather.

Here's just a small selection from the album - click the link above

Auckland Yacht racing

Auckland Harbour regatta

Racing Home

Sailing Ship in Queen Charlotte Sound - Gold Medal Series

Wellington Harbour in full sail

Yachting on Windermere

Yacht becalmed in Dusky Sound

Yacht in full sail

Just a few of the 42 postcards you can see in the album

SHIP WRECKS OF NZ ON EARLY NZ POSTCARDS

 

I have repeated my quote for yachts - article here - BUT this one covers the SHIPWRECK album also

New Zealand has thousands of miles of coastline all of it handy to all parts of the inland making it one of the main relaxation areas and occupations for all New Zealanders. So all New Zealanders grow up with the experience of the sea and surf and conditions of the weather and the effects of it on the sea. Because of this - New Zealanders are renown for their seafaring abilities and are / have become some of the best users of it in all sea using tracts., becoming sort after for all types of competitions associated with the sea all around the world. - from the Americas Cup to sailing yachts to captaining large sea-going vessels.

With that I have constructed two specialised albums on early postcards taken of this field - too view click the links below

YACHTS

SHIPWRECKS

As you will note - the photographers of these postcards left us with some beautiful images of early New Zealand and shipwrecks and also captured some of the memorable events when vessels came to grief on our also dangerous coasts - which often are beaten by storms and bad weather.

Below I have selected just a few postcard images from the album of 42 cards - Enjoy

Lauderdale ashore at Greymouth

 

S.S.Devon on Pencarrow Rocks

Shipping p/c: S.S. Devon on Pencarrow Rocks
Aldersley Series. E. Walker real photo card.
Unused.
Slight corner wear , and some blemishes in sky area.

SS Devon 25th August 1913, Steamer, Wellington Harbour
Struck rocks at Pencarrow Head when en route from Auckland to Wellington. The remains are now a large mass of rusting plates, but the odd crayfish makes this an ideal dive.
Books
The Wreck Book
New Zealand Tragedies: Shipwrecks & Maritime Disasters

Arahura beached at Gisborne

 Shipping. Arahura beached Gisborne.

S.S.Arahura beached at Gisborne 2/3/17. published by Ellerbeck Studio, Gisborne.Unused in good condition.

S.S.KOI shipwreck at Nelson

Real Photo by F N Jones Jr - postally used to Richmond.

The S.S. Koi was
built in Scotland in 1906 of 53 tons and assembled in NZ. Sank
after being swamped at the entrance to Nelson harbour in 1910
. Refloated and repaired and then converted into coal hulk in
1930 sank Picton

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/tarrant/thequay/general/wreckinfo.htm#k

Koi 5th May 1940, Coal Hulk, Marlborough Sounds
This vessel was scuttled in 11 metres of water after an eventful career that saw her start out as a steamer and finish her days as a coal hulk.
Books
The Wreck Book

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

Fact file

1. The kauri gum industry peaked in 1900 with the export of more than 10,000 tons, largely for use in the manufacture of high-quality varnishes

2. As the fields were worked out, mechanical diggers amd washers were introduced.

3. The declining industry received a boost in 1910 when a new market was found, for previously wasted gum chips, in the manufacture of linoleum.

A number of interesting books can be found on this topic. Heres a few

Gumdiggers of the North - Bert Hingley

The Gumdiggers : The Story of Kauri Gum - Alfred Hamish Reed

History of Alfred Hamish Reed (click here)

A few interest cards below

Specimens of Kauri Gum, . Northwood w2

This vintage ,real photo postcard is postally unused and in good condtion.
This is a very early photoghraph
by pioneer Photogragher Arthur James Northwood who was born in Kaitaia in 1880
Mt Camel, Hoihora Harbour, NZ

My wifes family who settled here in 1806 and were heavily involved in this industry one way or other - traders and transporters of the kauri gum from here to Auckland etc.

NORTHLAND Reprint - Seven KAURI Gum Diggers

Other information can be founded in the earlier article. Cheers

GOLD - GOLD MINING IN NZ on Early NZ Postcards

Although there is a wealth of published information on this topic as New Zealand has a long and varied history of gold and gold mining (continuing even today) - very few postcards actually exist on this topic. You will find most of them of images of the towns and locations that rapidly grew up around these discoveries - very few of the actual operations or individuals searching for it.

That said - It is an interesting topic with heaps of books to read - alot of places here in New Zealand to visit and see and a past that built New Zealand. Below I have shown just a few of those early postcards.

Gold Dredge, Buller River - postcard

 F.T. Series 193A printed photo.

OLD WAIHI POSTCARD, GRAND JUNCTION BATTERY

Photocom #29

THAMES GOLDMINING, CALEDONIAN & GOLDEN CROWN 1868

To view the GOLD album - click link

SEMCO SERIES POSTCARDS

Heres an interesting series of views on NZ early Postcards - which I can find little about - Number of cards in series or even information on this Wellington Firm. Anyone knows add the information.

Four cards displayed to start the series. They are interesting as they show the map of NZ with the early photograph view behind the torn out hole in the map.

Buller Gorge - see the coach coming through the tunnel in the Gorge.

I have added two more cards of this same tunnel taken by different photographers from different sides of the tunnel. (Interesting early views - probably not there now with road development for vehicles?)

Lake Manapouri - Spelt with the old version of it Manawapouri Fiordland The original name of the lake was Moturau: lit motu: islands; rau: many or a hundred. Manapouri it a corruption of Manawapore or Manawapopore

Sutherland Falls - History of this is in a previous article

MILFORD (inside map of N.Z.) postcard

Semco Series real photo.

 

BULLER GORGE NZ Map postcard

A Bit of the Dominion. Semco Series.

Buller Gorge Muir & Moodie Postcard

5450. Fern Arch. Undivided back.

Buller Gorge The Tunnel Postcard

Real photo. F G R 6543. (Radcliffe)

Lake Manapouri - Spelt with the old version of it Manawapouri Fiordland The original name of the lake was Moturau: lit motu: islands; rau: many or a hundred. Manapouri it a corruption of Manawapore or Manawapopore

A BIT OF THE DOMINION - SUTHERLAND FALLS

SEMCO Series (Wellington based company) card with map of New Zealand and embossed central part with a real photo view of the Sutherland Falls.

History of EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS

Information has been sourced from "NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS - RATES & REGULATIONS TO 1939" by Alan Jackson published by the Postal History Society of New Zealand - June 1984

These are quick notes for purposes to list the events and timeframes of these early postcards of New Zealand for this blog

From 1st October 1939 - Post Office regulations killed off the postcard as cheap means of communication (Typical NZPO) so this handbook covers the earlier period that saw the creation of the postcard collecting mania - the rise and fall of this era.

1 Nov. 1876 - New Zealand's first postcard was issued, imprinted with the current 1d Queen Victoria stamp design. The card was intended for inland use only (the basic existing letter rate was 2d.)

Between 1st Nov.1876 - 31st December - 92,500 had been sold to the public (How many exist today - c 12?)

In the first 5 years - the Government Printing Office produced approximately 2 million cards (sold)

Private postcards were allowed at the 1d rate only if officially imprinted by the Post Office (details in book) except this facility doesn't appear to be have been used. Private postcards (without the imprinted 1d cost 2d to post (ordinary letter rate -which explains why many were written on and then posted in a letter) (no postage or cancellation on) - However - a private postcard could be used with a 1d stamp attached provided it conformed to the restriction of then (Guide No.12 Oct 1876 - which was basically a note on postcard)

1 Nov.1889 - The imprinted 1d postcards could now be sent to Australia, Fiji, Samoa, New Hebrides,and 'South Sea Islands'

1 Oct 1890 - Postcards with written messages could now be sent to UK at 2d, as opposed to the basic letter rate of 2 1/2d (also introduced on this date)

1 Oct 1891 - NZ joined the Universal Postal Union - Postcards could now be sent to all UPU countries for 1 1/2d (1d continued for Aus - Pacific Is)

1 Jan 1898 - Special issue of postcards bearing pictures of NZ scenery on back - sold for 5d for 4 - 1d imprinted. 7d for 4 of 1 1/2d - Limited to printing 250,000. Replaced (others sold out) 24th November 1899 by a series of 10 green cards with small indistinct vignette views in the lower left corner.

Over the next short time - There were alot of regulations added which controlled the size, the cost, what was printed on postcards, how it was printed etc etc. (One needs to read the book to follow the sequence to understand the various changes that where addressed.

27 Dec 1899 - Earliest postmark known on a privately-published New Zealand pictorial postcard. This card is one of a short series, each card showing two small views of the Queenstown district. The series is believed to have been published by a Queenstown newsagent or photographer and printed in Germany.

1 Jan 1901 - New Zealand introduces "Universal Penny Postage"' that is the basic inland letter rate was reduced to 1d.

At the back of this book in APPENDIX -1 there are the list details of Postcards sent and received through the Post Office which is very interesting - below some

Postcards Posted in NZ Postcards received from abroad

1894 1,248,819 5,021

1899 1,605,383 37,668

1905 2,942,953 708,074

1906 5,109,754 683,054

1907 6,091,748 630,268

After that with the change of regulations of the Post Office and their method of counting - these charts show a decline to the almost disappearance by 1939.

This book then covers the heaps of circulars to the various change of regulations of the use of postcards etc etc and one needs to review that to follow how and why these changes eventually killed the postcard and collecting craze.

One other note of interest is the 1 April 1903 circular for "Sale of Tourist Department's Pictorial Postcards"

Sold at 1d each first issued in late 1902 in a set of 10 different featuring chromolithographed views of New Zealand Tourist attractions, based on originals by the artist Benoni White. The cards were produced for the Government by the Wanganui printer A.D.Willis. In early 1904, a different design for the address side was issued - this featured a scene of "Mt Earnslaw, head of Lake Wakatipu" the first had featured an ornate engraved design in red of a Maori carving, the royal coat of arms, and a scene with 3 Maori canoes.

In 1907, a new series of 10 cards were issued, this time featuring coloured views based on photographs. (All probably withdrawn at the start of WW1.)

An interesting and necessary book for NZ early postcard collectors.

Crombie, John Nicol 1827 - 1878

This photographer (I have shown here at least 12 postcards (actually were Graphic stereo card - which I have scanned to a single image) history is below from the dnzb site (see citation)

CARDS - Click on links below to view enlarge images

    

1. Clinton Valley  2. Whangarei Falls 3. Harvest 4. Sutherland Falls

   

5. Bowen Falls 6. Glimpse of Sutherland Falls 7.Stranded Whales Coromandel 8.Mt Skelmorlie

  

9. Dunedin Botanical Gardens  10. Crossing Arthur River 11. View from Glade House

QUOTE:

Crombie, John Nicol 1827 - 1878

Photographer, businessman

John Nicol Crombie was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 August 1827, the son of John Crombie, a weaver who later became a grocer and merchant, and his wife, Margaret McKellar. Emigrating to Melbourne, Australia, at the height of the goldrush in 1852, Crombie was unable to find work in his trade as an engineer and instead took a job with the American photographic firm of Meade Brothers. In 1855 he arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, where he opened a studio in Shortland Street.

This lively and entertaining man had a penchant for gaining publicity, and through numerous advertisements and reports in local papers it is possible to trace his meteoric rise as a professional photographer and a member of the business community.

In January 1856 Crombie offered 'every man, woman and child an opportunity of procuring a portrait which for artistic finish and mathematical correctness is not to be surpassed'. Mounted in handsome cases or gilt frames they were 'calculated to deck a cottage or adorn a palace'. The advertising succeeded: Crombie claimed that during his first 15 months in Auckland he took over 1,000 portraits.

From September 1856 to September 1858 Crombie toured the 'Southern Provinces', advertising his 'royal photographic gallery' (he claimed that Governor Browne had permitted him to assume the designation 'Photographer to His Excellency') in Canterbury, Nelson and Napier newspapers. In 1859, after his return to Auckland, he moved his premises to Queen Street, and maintained that they were now equal to any in Europe - 'a most perfect studio of photographic art'.

Despite this assertion, in May 1862 Crombie returned to Europe partly to learn about the latest developments in the photographic field. While in Scotland he gave an address to the Glasgow Photographic Association, discussing photography in New Zealand and claiming that only a handful of photographers had been there before him. He described how he first used the daguerreotype process to produce portraits. As each image was unique, the process was expensive and limited to those who could afford a guinea or so for each likeness. Nevertheless Crombie claimed to have made just over 1,000 images in Auckland in one year, and Nelson had responded with 450 commissions during his six month stay. He explained how in 1857 he had changed to the production of glass positives (ambrotypes), and then to paper positives from wet-collodion plates. Before returning to New Zealand in 1864 Crombie married Harriet Berry on 23 May of the same year, at Yarpole in Herefordshire, England.

Crombie was one of the first photographers in Auckland to record outdoor scenes. One panorama from Point Britomart won a medal at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. Always with an eye to publicity, Crombie also covered events that had caught the public's imagination and the photographs now constitute a valuable photographic record of Auckland between 1855 and 1869. Subjects include the injunction case over the Commercial Bay embankment in 1859, portraits of 12 Maori chiefs at the Kohimarama conference in 1860, portraits of the members of the House of Representatives in 1861, the collapse of Sibbin's building in Queen Street in 1865 and the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1869.

By the mid 1860s Crombie's carte-de-visite trade was flourishing (in 1865 he received an order for 1,000 prints for the actors Mr and Mrs Case), and at 9s. a dozen it can be seen that he was fast becoming a wealthy man. He invested his earnings in real estate in Auckland, and in mining operations in the Thames-Coromandel area. In 1871 he was elected chairman of the Caledonian Gold Mining Company which two years earlier had paid out over £½ million in its first year of operation.

In 1872 Crombie decided to leave New Zealand for good and return to England. Selling his photographic equipment to J. Cater, Crombie left most of his other investments intact. In a typically flamboyant gesture he and his wife gave a farewell ball in the Auckland town hall. In 1878, on the return journey from England to Auckland to look into some of his interests, Crombie died in Melbourne on 15 December. He was survived by his wife and five of his seven children.

During his 18 years in New Zealand Crombie not only provided a colourful addition to Auckland's social and commercial worlds, but also did much to elevate the art of photography from that of a street pedlar to that of a respected professional.

WILLIAM MAIN

Main, W. Auckland through a Victorian lens. Wellington, 1977

Mogford, J. 'J. N. Crombie, photographer'. Photographic Art & History No 4 (March 1971): 18--20

'More on J. N. Crombie'. New Zealand Photography No 7 (Oct.--Nov. 1971): 22-23

HOW TO CITE THIS BIOGRAPHY:

Main, William. 'Crombie, John Nicol 1827 - 1878'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 April 2006

URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

The original version of this biography was published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume One (1769-1869), 1990

© Crown Copyright 1990-2006. Published by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. All rights reserved.

Valentine & Sons - Postcard Producer of early New Zealand Postcards.George D Valentine - A 19th Century Photographer in New Zealand - Ken Hall

This book covers George D. Valentine's history and especially the time he stayed in New Zealand - the 320 approx. prints he produced - his exploits and his very short life he lived and the successful enterprise he left behind. (Recommended you obtain a copy to fully understand this photographer, his photos and postcards he left behind.)

Pink Terraces Lake Rotomahana, January 1885

George Dobson Valentine was born on 3 June 1852, the eighth child. His father, James Valentine (1815-1879) was an engraver, pioneer photographer and social reformer had established in 1851 (one year before George was born - one of the largest photographic publishing enterprises in the world. in Dundee, Scotland.

Tattooed Rocks White Terrace, 1885

George joined this firm (Valentine & Sons) in late 1860s. - married Williamina Arnot Stirling Smith on 4 November 1876 at nearby Stonehaven. His father died in 1879 - both sons who were equal partners took over the firm. In 1882 George was to receive the news he had tuberculosis of the lungs which forced his leaving cold Dundee for warmer climates finally leaving the shores on 25 November 1883, for New Zealand reaching here in late January 1884 to be joined later by his wife and children.

Fumarole Peaks and Site of White Terraces Rotomahana, c 1885

His life in New Zealand last only five years - but he left behind a legacy to be remembered. His photos show the 'G.V' signature and number on the front of the image. This book covers in depth his life and travels in New Zealand during this historical time and his recording of this turmoil time - the Tarawera Eruption, the Hot Springs, Rotorua opening up to tourists, Waitomo Caves.

 Auckland Harbour from Remuera, c. 1885

On 26th February 1890 at his Parnell residence, he passed away, tuberculosis claimed him at the age of 38 years old. His NZ estate was worth up to 3,500 pounds and his Scottish one not exceeding 1,700 pound - no small fortune at this time.

Rotomahana Looking to Site of Pink Terrace, October 1886

A Catalogue of his photographs are on P125-127 - many still to be found

Waikite Geyser Whakarewarewa, October 1886

Following Valentines departure to NZ - the family firm grew to employing over 700 people in England by 1904 and over 1000 people in 1908 to 1200 following the war with an annual output of 45 million postcards. Valentines of Dundee made their exit from the postcard market in the early 1970s, but continue today in the manufacture of greeting cards..

In the Waitakere Bush, 1885

 

Tarawera Eruption 1886

- Burton Photos

Extract taken from the book " Burton and Muir & Moodie of Dunedin : Their Photographs and Postcards" by Alan Jackson

Burton Brothers real photographs, from 1886 depicting artist impressions of the Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The one with the lightening bolts and Maori house, is numbered 3998, the other 4000. No sign of artist sig. Both images measure 5-3/4" by 7-3/4", on 9" by 11-1/2" card, signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

Page 8

TARAWERA ERUPTION, 1886

In October 1885, Burton undertook another trip north, this time to Taupo, Tongariro, and Rotorua districts. Another 200 scenes were added to the catalogue from this trip (Nos. 3709-3933)

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA BURIED WHARE 1886
an intrigueing old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Buried Whare Wairoa" depicting an old Maori gent Rewiri outside his home just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. Apparently he refused to leave his home and locals were offered 1 pound reward to any man who could get him to leave, in the end Rotorua Police tied him up and removed him by force. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4066. Image measures 6" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.
======================================

His activity in the Rotorua region at this time turned out to be particularly fortunate, because just 10 months later, on 10th June 1886, Mount Tarawera exploded, burying beneath layers of mud, rock,and ash some of the areas he recently photographed ( including the famous Pink and White Terraces0, and totally transformingthe landscape almost as far as Rotorua itself. As soon as Burton heard of the disaster, he realised what a great oportunity it presented for himself. He set off for the area once again as soon as he could, leaving Dunedin on the S.S. "Rotomahana" later in June. He was not the first photographer on the scene, however. Some newsmen and press photographers from Auckland (agmon them the subsequently celebrated cartoonist William Blomfield) had reached the area of the eruption within four days. But Burton knew what he was about. He methodically rephotographed from approximately the same viewpoints all the scenes around Lake Terawera that he had taken a few months previously ( - he probably took with him for the purpose prints of all the original scenes.) He concentrated in particular on the area around the Maori village of Te Wairoa, which had been particularlly obliterated by the fallout, and where about 100 people, mostly Maori, had been killed. With the new photos, he was then able to publish"before" and "after" shots of the same scenes. These of course were a great success. The post-eruption views were allotted the following number in the catalogue: 3992-4000 (various), 4061-4137 (Te Wairoa and environs), and 4138-4165 (Rotorua area).

                                                 ====================

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA CAPTAIN WAYS HOUSE
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Captain Way's House Wairoa" depicting the house half buried and smashed from the back, among trees stripped of foliage, with footprints in the ash in the foreground. Taken just after the Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4062. Image measures 5-3/4" by 7-1/2", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.
                             ================================

In the LOCALITY CATALOGUE Page 52

LAKE TARAWERA (Incl. TE WAIROA)

304 (Waimangu, Dec 1903), 1324 (1884), 1378-1379 (Waimangu Geyser), 3843-3861 (Te Wairoa, 1885), 3867-3869 (portraits of Maoris at Te Ariki, 1885) 3992-4000 (aftermath of eruption of Mt Tarawera, June 1886), 4061-4137 (ditto), 4551-4556 (Te Wairoa, Dec, 1887), 5702-5705 (te Wairoa), 5836-5837 (Te Wairoa)

                                     =====================================

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA LAKE 1886
an eerie old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Tarawera lake" showing a field of half buried trees with a lone footprint trail leading down to the Lake, taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. It is numbered 4077. Image measures 5-7/8" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

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The pictures on postcards were almost invariably based on photographs taken earlier. These photographs where not only sold as special photograph prints (These are a few them that exist today - great to add to ones collection - then the similar view produced on postcard) but would have been produced later as postcards for mass sale.It is therefore important to record the actual via - as it should exist somewhere as a postcard.

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA McRAES HOTEL 1886
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "McRae's Hotel Wairoa" depicting the Hotel in the centre, with ash covered roof in the foreground, and a tree full of mud and ash, with numerous town folk. Taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4061. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA McRAES HOTEL 1886
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "McRae's Hotel Wairoa" depicting a different view of the Hotel with a gathering of town folk. Taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4075. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA McRAES HOTEL BACK
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Back of McRae's Hotel Wairoa" depicting the Hotel's demise in the Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4062. Image measures 5-3/4" by 7-1/2", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA OLD CHURCH 1886
a neat old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Old Church Wairoa" depicting the remains of a church half buried in ash, just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4064, the white writing is hard to make out bottom left because of the colour of the foreground but you can just see the title and Burton Bros. Image measures 6" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA OLD MILL 1886
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "Old Mill Wairoa" showing the remains of the half buried local mill, taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. It is numbered 4075. Image measures 5-3/4" by 7-5/8", on 8" by 10" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

This looks at a small collection (115 postcards) I have assembled from my image library on one of New Zealands oldest parks (ALBERT PARK album - click here to view album) from postcards that are still very reasonably priced. From a collection like this you can do an indepth study via a timeline - Just look carefully at the postcards and you can easily see the different sized trees and shrubs - and from the different photographers that visited it over the time - capturing their images for their postcards.

A bit of research (see below for a small selection) you can see when various statues got added - changed or moved - even looking into the background of postcards you can see the skyline of Auckland and the changes over the time. Enjoy. A very colourfully and entertaining collection can be assembled and made into an Exhibition collection - go for it.Comments/descriptions are from the owners of the cards and add to the information on them for researching.

The rotunda was built in 1901, design by James Slater the winner of the original design competition for Albert Park. It replaced an earlier bandstand which was located at the site of the current Queen Victoria statue.

There is an unexpected relationship between the rotunda on the surface and the air raid shelters underground. Tunnel 1 intersects the paths around the rotunda like a spoke (normal to the circle) and stops directy under the rotunda

Two cannons point over the city, they were brought to NZ in 1879 during the Russian threat. Originally they were set up at North Head and Point Resolution. They were mounted in Albert Park in 1905 along with a number of other artillary pieces.

During the construction of the air raid shelters it was believed the cannons might attract attention of enemy aircraft and so they were all buried or shifted. They remained buried until 1977 where the two present cannons were dug up and restored.

This statue was erected in 1902 as a memorial to the troops of the 5th NZ Contingent who died in the South African War between 1899 and 1902. It is made of marble and used to house a drinking fountain.

GEORGE GREY STATUE

George Grey, the former governor of NZ, superintendent of the Auckland province, a member of the house of representatives, and Prime Minister for a short time. He donated many of the original plants including some exotic and rare ones. This statue was erected in 1904, 6 years after his death. It was originally situated near the Town Hall on Queen Street and it was moved to its present position in 1922 when the roads were widened

This was erected in 1897 to commemorate the 60th jubilee of her reign. It was to symbolise the strength of the colony's patriotic feeling. It was created by FJ Williamson and was the first statue of Victoria in the country.

Tarawera Eruption 1886 - Charles Spencer Photos

At the same time (more or less) Charles Spencer also photographed various scenes of the destruction - Below are what I believe are four of his photos. (Not sure if these were also produced as postcards - more research/ information is necessary

REAL PHOTO CHARLES SPENCER TARAWERA HASZARD 1886
a fantastic old Charles Spencer real photograph, titled "Miss Haszard (Clara) & Blythe & Lundius & Fowl House where they took Refuge on the night of the Eruption" just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. Blythe & Lundius were house guests who dragged Clara from the school house through a broken window to the foul house. Only 3 out of 8 Haszard family members survived. Image measures 5-1/4" by 8", on 9" by 11" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

REAL PHOTO TARAWERA HASZARD HOUSE RUINS 1886
a fantastic old real photograph, titled "Ruins of Haszards House" just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. There appears to be a photographers name in script bottom left but we cannot make it out. Only 3 out of 8 Haszard family members survived. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8", on 9" by 11" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

REAL PHOTO TARAWERA HASZARD HOUSE RUINS 1886
a fantastic old real photograph, titled "Ruins of Haszards House" just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. There appears to be a photographers name in script bottom left but we cannot make it out. Only 3 out of 8 Haszard family members survived. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8", on 9" by 11" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

REAL PHOTO TARAWERA McRAES HOTEL BACK #2 1886
an old photograph taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. It is untitled and with no apparent photographers name, but we suspect by the Burton Brothers who where in the area after the eruption or perhaps Charles Spencer, depicting the Hotel's demolished rear with a group of town folk looking on. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8-1/4", on 8" by 10" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

Winkelmann, Henry 1860 - 1931

Bank clerk, photographer

Queen Street Auckland Winkelmann Postcard

Henry Winkelmann was born on 26 September 1860 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, one of eight children of Louise Schüller and her husband, Peter Winkelmann, a stuff and yarn merchant. He spent parts of his childhood in nearby Gomersal, Bramley and Manningham and appears to have attended school in Doncaster, and in Neuwied, Germany. He played the piano, the organ and the zither.

Henry's younger brother died in infancy and his father died in 1877. His elder brother, Charles, had sailed to New Zealand in 1875, where he became a schoolteacher then later a chemist and photographer. In October 1878 Henry arrived at Port Chalmers on the sailing ship Calypso. His mother, Louise, and five sisters came to New Zealand in the mid 1880s.

maori Carved House Auckland Winkelmann Postcard

In 1881, unemployed and living in Auckland, he took a job with a fellow boarder, Harold Willey Hudson. The two men were to claim uninhabited Jarvis Island near the equator (valued for its guano), in the name of Thomas Henderson of Henderson and MacFarlane. They sailed on the schooner Sunbeam , which dropped them off in August, intending to return at the end of the three-month period necessary to validate their claim. However, when the ship failed to arrive, the men had to struggle to survive. They built a still, caught turtles and preserved and ate birds' eggs. They were finally rescued by Henderson's firm in March 1882.

Maori Carvings

That year Winkelmann joined the Bank of New Zealand. He worked in branches in New Zealand, Fiji, and Sydney, supplementing his income by teaching the zither and playing in concerts. He began his photographic career in 1892, purchasing a Lancaster Instantograph camera. His income as a photographer was at first inadequate, for he continued his work at the bank until 1895 and then left to farm at Great Barrier Island. He also bought and sold land, played the sharemarket, and by 1897 had begun a customs and indent agency on Queen Street wharf, Auckland. In 1898 he became secretary of the Coastal Steamship Company.

Kawau Island Auckland

In 1901 Winkelmann left Queen Street wharf and set up his photographic studio in Victoria Arcade. His photographs were published in New Zealand periodicals and overseas publications. They were often successfully exhibited. At home he won the New Zealand Graphic photographic competition in 1895 and the Auckland Weekly News competition in 1908. Overseas his most notable award was the grand prix at the Panama--Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915.

large Sailing Ship Auckland Winkelmann Postcard

Henry Winkelmann's photographs covered a wide range of topics. He photographed well-known individuals and their families and residences, workers and their workplaces, and significant events. His pictures sometimes showed humour, as in his portrait of Captain John Whitney at Wenderholm with a dog wearing spectacles. Perhaps best known for his maritime scenes, Winkelmann photographed yacht race days and often climbed the masts while sailing, for aerial pictures. He photographed New Zealand while on yachting, launch and steamer cruises and journeys throughout the country: in 1899 he travelled overland through swamp and bush from Whakatane to Rotorua. In 1903 he accompanied, as photographer for the Auckland Weekly News , a party of members of the General Assembly visiting New Zealand's Pacific islands territories. He was also photographer on expeditions to view solar eclipses at Flint Island in 1907 and 1908, Port Davey, Tasmania, in 1910, and the Vava'u group, Tonga, in 1911.

Quay Street and Parnell Auckland

During his peripatetic lifetime, Winkelmann joined a number of organisations. He was a member of the Canterbury Freehold Land Association, the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, the Auckland Savage Club, the Auckland Yacht Club (later the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), and the New Zealand Power Boat Association. He was also a Freemason.

North Shore and Rangitoto - Auckland

In 1928 Winkelmann sold his Auckland city negatives to the Auckland Public Library. He retired to Swanson and Ponsonby, and died at Mount Eden on 5 July 1931. He had never married. In his legacy he left his extensive collection of photographs and glass-plate negatives to the Auckland Institute and Museum. Meticulous and thorough, he had recorded the dates of his photographs in accession registers. His pictures are therefore valuable, not just for their technical excellence, creativity and artistry, but as a precise visual record of the past.

 

Mokoia Island Rotorua H Winkelmann Postcard  - Whangarei, Boat etc (Winkelmann) P/Crd

VIVIEN EDWARDS

Edwards, V. Winkelmann. Auckland, 1987

Winkelmann Images of Early New Zealand

Main, W. Auckland through a Victorian lens. Wellington, 1977

Vintage New Zealand Launches - A Winkelmann Portfolio

 

HOW TO CITE THIS BIOGRAPHY:

Edwards, Vivien. 'Winkelmann, Henry 1860 - 1931'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 7 April 2006

URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

The original version of this biography was published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume Three (1901-1920), 1996

© Crown Copyright 1996-2006. Published by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. All rights reserved.

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1906 Christchurch Exhibition

Postcards

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITIONS AND POSTCARDS ISSUED

Over the years - New Zealand has had many, many Exhibitions - with alot of them producing postcards (and other items) for fund raising purposes - PLUS others that where produced by firms and individuals in association with these exhibitions etc. A large collection of postcards can therefore be assembled on these exhibitions and with data that is available - An interesting and historical exhibit can be assembled.

Just a few Exhibitions, I have listed below - many of them I have been associated with and enjoyed.

Zeapex, Welpex, Capex, Tarapex, Panpex,Palmpex, etc etc (Hope someone can spend some time and give us a full list of these - their locations, and dates held - PLUS postcards issued for other collectors. (I may add more on these in another article later.)

What I am going to look at is the Christchurch 1906 Exhibition (Postcard Issues) as its centenary is on the 1st November 2006 and to commemorate this occassion - Another exhibition is being held (which I hope to be attending)

 

The exhibition will be known as Kiwipex 2006 and is being held to celebrate the centenary of the 1906/1907 New Zealand International Exhibition - held in Christchurch.

to view the details and their Newsletters - go to this website. KIWIPEX

Most of the details I have here concerning the event and postcards - I have quoted from this knowledgeable site. To read the full story - I recommend you visit this site and support them by either visiting the Exhibition or buying their fund raising issues to add to your own collections.

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To view the album - click here CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION ALBUM then click on thumbnails - or move to next page (use your back buttons to return to here)

the 1906 Christchurch Exhibition. The main exhibition buildings were the length of four city blocks extending from Armagh Street to Salisbury Streets in Christchurch’s Hagley Park (ref 1).

The building was huge with a ¼ mile long front - and covered an area of about 14 acres (or, for those not familiar with the Imperial units of measurement - an approx 400 metres long frontage with an area of almost 5.5 hectares)! Today the only remnant of the 1906 exhibition is Lake Victoria, in Hagley Park, which was used for the water chute attraction.

The foundation stone, after several delays was eventually laid by the then Premier of New Zealand, R J Seddon, on 18 December 1905. The total cost of construction of the exhibition building amounted to £87,732.

At the time of the 1906 exhibition New Zealand’s population was around 975,000 of whom some 68,000 lived in Christchurch. The number of persons entering the exhibition grounds was 1,967,682 - or about 30 times the city’s population!

Today, New Zealand’s population is a little over 4 million, of whom approximately 365,000 reside in Christchurch.

A railway branch line was built from Riccarton railway station into Hagley Park and the exhibition grounds for the carriage of building materials and exhibits only. Electric trams were driven over new track especially laid for the exhibition which travelled from Victoria Street, along Peterborough Street, on to Park Terrace, out along Salisbury Street and back to the main line on Victoria Street.

The exhibition was opened on Thursday 1 November 1906 by the then Governor General of New Zealand, Lord Plunket, and the Christchurch International Exhibition closed for the last time on 15 April 1907, having incurred a substantial financial loss.

A post office was opened on the exhibition site on 22 October 1906 for the convenience of the exhibition staff and exhibitors, but the 1906 Christchurch Exhibition stamps were not released until November. The ½d (green), 1d (claret), 1d (vermilion), and 3d (brown and blue) stamps were issued on the opening day 1 November 1906; whilst the 6d (pink and olive green) stamp was not issued until 16 November 1906.

Some 60,000 sets of four Christchurch Exhibition stamps exist (only 60 are reputed to exist of the 1d claret, which was an error of colour) - these were New Zealand’s first commemorative stamps, as they each bore the inscription COMMEMORATIVE SERIES OF 1906.

Reference used: 1 The Great Exhibition Christchurch 1.11.1906 to 15.4.1907, by A de Kort, 1985.

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In their Newsletters are interesting description on various events at this Christchurch Exhibition - I have extracted and quoted parts of them as they describe the postcards on display from the memoirs of a youngster there. To read the full article - click on KIWIPEX link above and read their Newsletters

 

In that park, the most prominently displayed piece of amusements and displays was the Waterchute. It was run by men in Sailor’s uniforms, and the uniforms did give those men a more sailorlike appearance, especially as they had to man the boats, which held about twenty passengers on each trip.

At the bottom of the chute was a small lake, the boats assembling on it, and an endless chain with grips towed the boats to the top where there was a platform.

That pull up, to the uninitiated, resembled somewhat a ski tow, excepting that the boats were pushed up from underneath, and the ski tow works from the top.

All the passengers for the ride down in the waterchute boat had to assemble at the bottom of the large frame which carried it all. They were carried up to the top in a small carriage like affair that ran on rails. It too was pulled up with an endless wire rope that ran continuously, and when enough people were at the top, the sailors ushered them into the boat for the run down.

The boat was pushed by men at the top on to the steep slope, and with one sailor, who was in charge, standing in the stern; it took off at a high speed down that steep grade until the flat bottom hit the water at the bottom. That quickly reduced the speed, the sailor then taking over and paddled the boat to a small platform for all to get off, or disembark, and then off, adults had had their shilling’s worth and those under fourteen their sixpence worth.

Another of the more prominent amusement places was the Toboggan, it working on lines similar to the waterchute, but it did not go to any water, having instead the up and down run which eventually brought the passenger carriages to a stop. Again, priced one shilling, children half price.

There too was the Katzenjammer Castle. It was a spooky place, and its motive was to give its patrons thrills, and in lots of cases it did. There were dark places in it, other parts had shaking floors, and other places winds of gale force coming round the corners. It was a recognised place for pick pockets to work in, and they did

There were several other amusement places of the nature described, but one of the most interesting and educational displays there, was the Battle of Gettysburg. The building in which paintings of The Battle of Gettysburg were housed was one of the most elaborate there. It was large and circular, and had paintings covering a lot of the inside was among the most wonderful one could imagine or see. They appeared to be real, and would be practically a true scene of what happened at Gettysburg during that Civil War. The lifelike pictures of soldiers in battle, some of them wounded, and others for whom all of the fighting had ended, the guns and cannons in action, and the surgeons at work on the battlefield as all of it was said to have happened. The Surgeons were at work in the middle of it all. They were to be seen most plainly using saws and knives doing amputations, and to the ones, who were not physically fit or disliked seeing anything of that nature, that battle scene was most unsuitable.

The seating accommodation was ample for all that wished to see what the battle was like. With the use of electricity which had in some way been connected on the guns and rifles a flash was created when they were fired, at the same time the bangs from them were as real as to make one believe he was there in the middle of the battle.

At the Exhibition there were displays of all kinds and stalls to suit everyone. Most agricultural and pastoral efforts were there. Grains of all kinds. The largest wheat grains I had ever seen were there, nor have I come in contact with any that could come anywhere near them in size or quality since. Wool, cheese and butter were on display, as were root crops or samples taken from them were there for all to see too.

Model Maori Pas were there too, as were villages from the Islands. Samoa had a model village, and it was inhabited with people from there. It would be safe to say that there were displays that would suit everybody, yet after a few months of its existence the whole place was dismantled when it ended, and very soon no trace of where that Exhibition had been could be seen.

The two days for us at the Exhibition were most pleasant ones, but all the same we young ones at the end of that time made no protests when it was time to go home.

All of us were very tired, but not so tired that we would not go back the next day if we had half a chance.

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Further extracts worthy of note - below

The 1906/7 Christchurch International Exhibition

(Thanks to Laurence Eagle for supplying the following snippets of information:)

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At a time when exhibitions were in vogue, Christchurch staged the New Zealand International Exhibition in 1906-7. Sponsored by the New Zealand Government, the exhibition was the biggest to be held in the country. Huge halls were constructed on a 5.6 hectare site in Hagley Park, and a branch railway line was built from Riccarton to service the complex. Exhibitors included the United States, South Africa, Canada, the UK, Fiji, Australian states, and even the Straits Settlement.

In 1903 Mr Seddon, New Zealand’s premier, suggested that it was time for a great exhibition. There was little enthusiasm. In 1904 the St Louis Exposition opened - with NZ exhibits.

Mr Seddon stated in 1904 that time was opportune and that 'I am still of opinion that the most fitting place is Hagley Park, and I hope to see the matter taken up with vigour'. £1000 was granted to meet preliminary expenses, and in November Seddon met with citizens of Christchurch. Committees were appointed during early 1905. The government appointed Mr. G.S. Munro as executive commissioner and Mr. E.J. Righton as secretary. Munro convinced Seddon that the government should finance the whole scheme.

On 18 December 1905 the foundation stone was laid by Mr Seddon, who gave a moving address, recounting Canterbury's and the nation’s progress, to date. This was regarded by many that attended, to be Seddon's greatest political speech. As one paper reported after the event: 'It was generally agreed that Mr Seddon never spoke with more effect to the people than on that occasion. The scene was picturesque. He stood bareheaded on the platform, with the flags of many countries flying above. The people were gathered in front, and behind them was the great stretch of Hagley Park, flowing away in beautiful undulations. The grey-headed premier, grown old in the country's service, spoke with exceptional warmth and hope for the future of the Colony he loved.'

The immense buildings were soon erected, and it was not long before the whole face of the northern part of Hagley Park was entirely changed.

The grandiose buildings included machinery, produce and concert halls, and in the south tower visitors took an electric elevator constructed by Turnbull and Jones, to ascend for the view from the top.

Attractions included a model Maori village complete with geyser, poi dancers and 'model Rotorua'. A ride on the water chute gave boatloads of screaming visitors a splashdown on to what is now called Victoria Lake. Amusements included the Laughing Gallery, Rocky Road to Dublin, Katzenjammer Castle and a Cyclorama depicting the Battle of Gettysburg from the American Civil War.

 

Sadly, Mr Seddon, died at sea on 10 June 1906 - five months before the Christchurch International Exhibition, opened to the public on 1 November 1906. It was open for five and a half months and closed on 15 April 1907. Registered admissions totalled 1.8 million whilst New Zealand's population at the time was about 900,000 and that of Christchurch was only 68,000.

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To view the full album - click on the ALBUM Link above

 

EXHIBITIONS - PHILATELIC EXHIBITION Postcards

The 1906 Christchurch Exhibition was a diverse exhibition of exhibits and products of New Zealand. This produced a number of postcards. Other similar EXHIBITIONS held throughout New Zealand over our nations history have also produced many other postcards and I don't believe anyone has attempted to catalogue postcards to be found from all the various exhibitions over time.

PHILATELIC Exhibition list can be found of the various staged Exhibitions - AND these almost always produced some or many postcards which can form the basis of a magnificent collection of postcards with data/information also to be found on the items (postcards) produced and sold. What many collectors don't realise is that even though they used postcards for fund raising - to find many left today is becoming difficult and would appear much rarer than collectors fully realise.

EG. Data from Page 19 Zeapex '80 Magazine One - there is an article on the previous Auckland Philatelic Exhibitions.

 

" The first philatelic exhibition to be held inNew Zealand, was opened on the 1st December, 1913.

The Exhibition, which was non competitive, was staged inconjunction with the Industrial Agricultural and Mining Exhibition. (four stamps were overprinted with "Auckland Exhibition 1913" which were the denominations of 1/2d, 1, 3d, and 6d - unlike the Christchurch Exhition Issue, would be classified as "Locals"

The next exhibition was staged by the Auckland Philatelic Society, was held in the "Hall of Industries", Queen Arcade, Auckland. This Exhibition was non-competitive, opened by Mr.A.J.Entrican (Deputy Mayor) on the 18th September 1931 ran for 1 week.

Commencing 18th September 1932 the Auckland Philatelic Society, at the request of the Curator of the Auckland Museum, Mr Archey, staged a non-competitive Exhition in the Museum. This also ran for one week.

In July 1947 a small Exhibition was held in the Seddon Memorial Technical College in aid of funds for their War Memorial.

In response to an invitation from the New Zealand Federation of Philatelic Societies Inc., - the Auckland Philatelic Society agreed to hold an International Stamp Exhibition to celebrate the Centenary of New Zealand's first postage stamp, from 16 to 22 July 1955. Held in the Town Hall with the Governor General of New Zealand - His Excellency Lt. Gen. Sir Willoughy Norrie Patron and who declared the Exhibition open.

The Auckland Philatelic Society celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the Great Barrier Island Pigeongram Service with a special Stamp Exhibition held in the Farmer's Trading Company's bulding, Hobson Street, Auckland commencing on the 19th November 1958. This exhibition also ran for a week.

FROM THE ABOVE LIST OF EXHIBITIONS - ONE CAN FIND POSTCARDS ISSUED OR ASSOCIATED WITH THESE EVENTS.

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From the "CATALOGUE OF PANPEX '77' which was an International Philatelic Exhibition -held in the Horticultural Hall & C.S.A. Gallery, Christchurch - 5-12 March 1977 from the article "A folly so pestilent" by R.D.Samuel onpage 31 - there are ten major exhibitions (philatelic) (his description - competitive) up to including PANPEX '77 he lists. They are

1926 The Third New Zealand Philatelic Exhibition - Dunedin

1938 New Zealand Air Mail Exhibition Christchurch

1940 New Zealand Centennial and Ninth Australian Wxhibition - Wellington

1950 Canterbury Centennial International Philatelic Exhibition ("Canpex") Christchurch

1955 New Zealand International Exhibition - Auckland

1961 New Zealand National Philatelic Exhibition - Christchurch

1967 New Zealand National Philatelic Exhibition - Whakatane

1969 Cook Bi-centennial National Stamp Exhibition - ("Tarapex") New Plymouth

1972 New Zealand National Philatelic Exhibition ("Welpex '72") Wellington

1977 Pan Pacific Philatelic Exhibition ("Panpex '77") Christchurch

There have been many more held since - and at almost all souvenir postcards and postcard issues where produced and sold. Again making excellent material for a postcard collection.

Again I have yet to see a collection made up or catalogued on these various postcard issues - Anyone with an article or catalogue - contact me for publishing here for other collectors. I will add separate albums for various Exhibition Postcards of their thumbnail images I have on my database in a future article - watch for these.

John Mitchell Cantle - Information from family

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for your reply.

John Mitchell Cantle was the 6th of 7 children of William Cantle, engineer, (born 1811 Bristol, England) and Mary Ann Taylor b 1811 who arrived in Sydney in 1836

John Mitchell Cantle was born on 24th October 1849 in Sydney NSW, Australia He died 11th June 1919 in Petersham, Sydney, NSW. He was married to Jane Florence Mason.He had 3 sons and a daughter.

John was considered a better painter of Australian birds than his contemporary John Gould, without receiving the same recognition.

Attached is a photo of JM Cantle.

My wife is JM's great granddaughter.

I don't suppose you are interested in his birds or Australian cards, so here are the NZ ones I can email to you if you wish. Let me know which ones you don't have.

Lake Manapouri

Lake Te Anue

Milford Sound

Milford Sound 2

Some I may have obtained from you, thank you.

As family we are always interested in locating any works by JM. If you come across any more, please let us know.

JM Cantle painted many watercolours of birds but I feel he did not make a living from them. So many of his originals are now in the hands of his many descendants. I have 4. Having them used as postcards may have been some reward. (Did he do NZ Birds - as I have a number of Postcards images of NZ Birds (no sign of painters signature) that appear in his style?) If so - we should show and record them here for him.

The National Library of Australia has many many examples of how he earned a weekly wage drawing Real Estate posters for new subdivisions as a draughtsman, obviously a profession he must have trained for. These are available online.

Try clicking

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA - ONLINE. - CANTLE - results

(hope that link works) (link works)

Anything more, just ask .

Regards,

Ken Hambly

Thursday, 20 April 2006 9:16 p.m. (If anyone would like to contact Ken with other information - his email may be obtained from me -Jeff)

EXHIBITIONS - PHILATELIC EXHIBITION Postcard ALBUMS - 2

I have constructed a few albums on the various NZ Exhibitions you can assemble from POSTCARDS

Click their links to view

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION - 1913

   

26 images in this album at present

CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION - 1906 (NO.2 ALBUM - DIFFERENT FROM OTHER)

   

53 images inthis album at present 

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION - 1926

   

27 images in this album at present

OTHER EXHIBITIONS - This has a variety of postcards in from A & P Shows to Overseas Exhibition that NZ Exhibitions where held (Just a few to wetyou taste buds)

   

21 images in this album at present

PLEASE NOTE - The link to each album shows the thumbnails down the side - To view enlarged copies click on the thumbnail to view - Also use the page links at the top to scan through the full album - Cheers Jeff

POSTCARDS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT (BUT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY)

POSTCARDS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT (BUT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY)

Find or Place here for us to try to identify.

At times all of us will come across a POSTCARD that looks like is from our region or collection area - yet we can not clearly identify the location, the event or prove it is what we think it is as it has little or no means of identification on the front, no publisher (or one we have never heard of or can find) or photographer or again one we have not heard of.

To illustrate this - Here is a postcard - that I thought was of early Waiuku - Buildings look similar to my own research library information (see scans) The event could have been - except - seems too important and has Maori contingent - is going the wrong way to the local cemetery - and from close studying by other long time residents from the area - believe it is not of Waiuku.

Question - What town is it? What is the important event? What town of this time looked so much like our town. Can you help?

 

 

If you have a NZ (early) postcard that has stumped you - send a copy to me and I will post it and see if others can identify it - Or add information about it.

Cheers Jeff - Heres one I would like to identify

Funeral Street Procession. Maori. Band.

no printed or written details. Crowd, band and clergy seem to be almost all Maori. Casket is on a 2 wheel cart. if anyone knows the event I would welcome advice! Unused real photo card has some adhesion on back. An undivided card. Front is in very good condition.

Is this Waiuku? If so What/Who is the Special Funeral Procession for?

You can read my details here FUNERAL STREET PROCESSION

You can also see other views of early Waiuku images in the next article

INTERESTING HISTORICALLY EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS

INTERESTING HISTORICALLY EARLY NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS

We all have or have come across very interesting POSTCARDS on early New Zealand.

Here's one I think is a beauty of my local area.

Waiuku Waterfront - Only wish they (the local stupid Council) had maintained this waterfront in a manner it should have to be like that today (They were responsible and elected to care for our local assets - they should be liable for costs to restore it) - Instead of listening to the GREENIES

and allowing it to deteriorate to the mangrove infested useless asset we have today. (Which is going to cost a fortune to restore - all out of local rates)

No good farmer would have allowed his prime asset to deteriorate like this - he would have improved it and upgraded it for him and his family - Why not this treasure?

If you have a Postcard you would like to display and discuss - send (a copy of the scanned image) it to me with the details and your comments - I will then display as an article here. Cheers Jeff

The top one is my choice - Others are of our town in its early stages of development.

Waiuku Wharf - Passenger boats and clear waterways add to the beauty.

Postcard - Main Street - Waiuku


Real photo - "Main Street, Waiuku" (Annotated in pen on front)

Looking down the street "Cave & West" building on the left. Photographer unknown.

Divided back with message, posted from Waiuku 19/5/08/

Queen Street Waiuku


Unused vintage real photo postcard showing horse & cart plus motorcar in Queen st Waiuku. Dated 26/8/16

WAIUKU COL REAL PHOTO CARD 1912 MAIN STREET

Postcard - Waiuku Post Office

Scarce real photo of the Waiuku Post Office & Bridge.

Annotated on front in black ink pen, "Bridge & Post Office, Waiuku".

Divided back with message. Posted from Waiuku, 1908.

This card also has me wondering as I cannot find any reference or images to match this postcard. Perhaps some old resident can clearly show where this was in relation to today.

NEW ZEALAND POSTCARD HISTORY

NEW ZEALAND POSTCARD HISTORY - by Jeff Pyle

From my research and years of collecting and exhibiting New Zealand Postcards - I have come to the conclusion that New Zealand was and has always been in the forefront of all the developments of Postcard, their useage and types, their first trials - AND the reason for this was:-

New Zealand was the NEW FRONTIER - she was a new far away country with unique scenery, newly found race of peoples, novel views and she attracted firstly pioneers covering all types - To record these amazing people, scenery and events, - some of the worlds finest photographers and their family firms adopted New Zealand as its own. - They then inherited (New Zealand - on moved here to live ) along with the ability to grow through the arrival of wealth tourists who saw these events and travelled to these romantic NEW places in New Zealand; -Who then wanted to send home (to family and friends) what they saw - through the POSTCARD. This created a large demand for the best the world could offer in the way of the POSTCARD. - SO the photographers of those times (had to keep up) with the very latest developments of what could be photographed and produced to satisfy the demands of those tourists. - Then local pioneers used these postcards (as it was a cheap form of communication to spread the word (so to speak) around the world.

1840 saw the development of New Zealand as a nation under the Treaty of Waitangi - Prior to this from 1796-1840 (she) New Zealand had been basically a "Wild West" type of country. Sure the pioneers (and that included my family ancestors who first arrived in 1796 - before settling here in 1803) pioneered this country on a strong foundation to bring it to what it is today. A country that still has unique beauty, raw scenery, and some of the nicest people in the world - who believe in freedom and the quality of life.

The 1860s-late 70s saw a civil war of its own - (very poorly recorded then) - today more is being written and understood of those time - and from which New Zealanders gained the qualities of superb fighting men - recognised by the rest of the world during the Boer War of 1899-1906 followed by WW1 and WW2 from the spirit of living for freedom and standing up for their rights within their own country.

From the study of Early New Zealand Postcards - you will see superb useage (and in almost every case FIRST useage world wide of all the various types of developments used on them (Postcards) You can try this - find a postcard from another country that claims to be the first useage of that type - eg. You will find French cards that claim they were some of the first to used with the use of colour photography (during WW1) - take a look at early New Zealand postcards - you will find cards being produced in colour many years before them. Go back further - through the postage rates etc - you will find almost always New Zealand had introduced this first to the world. AND was probably the country that stopped the Postcard collecting trade by introducing them as the same rates as letters - in effect killing the use of the Postcard as a cheap form of communication.

Even the very earliers POSTCARDS came off photographs by photographers who had dragged (And I mean dragged - just look at the size and weight of their photography equipment and their portable studios they needed to take photographs of this "Wild West" back country of New Zealand during those times) had to use the very latest equipment available to achieve those images that remain today. Their quality being the top of the range to last over a hundred plus years. These early photos then were used on postcards - many 40 - 50 years after they were taken - because the country was still being developed and people want to share what their earlier families tackled.

The type of card these postcards were printed on were also the best and newest (at the time) available (often the first to be trialled with) because of our own harsh weather, and useage conditions. Material - (Card) was imported from the best country producers (Germany - Austria) that produced the finest papers (card) to print them on. Most of the time - the postcard was printed in those countries by the latest printing presses. (Always in small runs compared to the larger countries that introduced Postcards - such as the USA) These cards were probably more expensive in New Zealand than inother countries - but were treasured in collections because of their rarity and uniqueness which has made them readily to be found in collections today. (A point here - is alot of those postcard produced were in very small production runs - sometime as few as a couple of hundred (200) - but can still be found in surprising numbers: compared to the production runs of postcards produced for USA and GB (England) which are recorded in their millions (Yet appear as scarce as the New Zealand postcards)

The difference was - the New Zealand Postcard was treasured - and saved - the GB or USA card was often produced in inferior quality and discarded into the trash (like our Junk mail today)

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If you have comments or information - or would like to expand this topic - I welcome your emails and will publish this to our blog for others. Cheers Jeff

OTHER POSTCARD HISTORY - FACTS AND DETAILS

POSTCARD COLLECTING

Quote:

A brief history and fun facts about postcard collecting.

Deltiology

Deltiolgy, the formal name in the U.S. for postcard collecting, is currently the third largest collectable hobby in the world. It is surpassed only by coin and stamp collecting (in the U.S. baseball collecting is greater, but that is a national past-time not worldwide).

This article goes on to describe and illustrate most of the types that have been used (to USA)

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Grading Postcards, Postcard Preservation & Terminology

Deltiology - This is the study of postcards; the person doing the research, a deltiologist. Randall Rhodes of Ashland, Ohio, first used the term. It means (from the Greek) the science or study (logos) of small pictures or cards (deltion).

This article covers all the terms and types of Postcards you may come across and is well worth viewing (make a copy for later reference) and it even has some tips for looking after them (storage)

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Postcard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the art world the postcard can also be translated into an art object. The art form is called mail art.

 

The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology.

 

Some activists create oversized postcards on poster boards urging action on a particular issue and mail them to public officials' offices. The idea is that it stands out and cannot be filed away in a folder somewhere.

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Brief history of postcards in the United States

The first postcard in the United States was created in 1893 to advertise the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly thereafter the United States government, via the United States Postal Service, allowed printers to publish a 1-cent postcard (the "Penny Postcard"). A correspondent's writing was allowed only on the front side of these cards.

 

1901 brought cards with the word "Post Card" printed on the reverse (the side without the picture). Written messages were still restricted to the front side, with the entire back dedicated to the address. This "undivided back" is what gives this postcard era its name.

 

The "divided back" card, with space for a message on the address side, came into use in the United States in 1907. Thus began the Golden Age of American postcards, which lasted until about 1915, when World War I blocked the import of the fine German-printed cards.

 

The "white border" era, named for obvious reasons, lasted from about 1916 to 1930. The "linen card" era lasted from about 1930 to 1945, when cards were primarily printed on papers with a high rag content. The last and current postcard era, which began about 1939, is the "photochrome" or "chrome" era. The images on these cards are generally based on colored photographs, and are readily identified by the glossy appearance given by the paper's coating.

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Click here to view a very nice page on USA POSTCARD HISTORY

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The World in a Postcard - Another fine article to reveiw

Cheers Jeff

John Mitchell Cantle - Information from family - Part 2

Here are some other POSTCARDS that were produced - painted by J.M.Cantle - supplied by Ken Hambly

Yellow Breasted Thickhead painted by J.M.Cantle

 

The Bird of Paradise painted by J.M.Cantle

NZ Birds - The Long and Short of it - painted by J.M.Cantle

Lake Te Anue - New Zealand painted by J.M.Cantle

If you have any others - Ken would sure appreciate a copy or be able to add them to the Family Tree collection. Please contact me and I will forward to Ken.

ANZAC - New Zealand PostcardsSurprising enough - wartime postcards are quite scarce - due to most of these collections being retained by family and very few collections actually coming onto the market. I believe there were not as many produced as one would expect - most of those produced were of the groups of fighting men, their transport and hospital ships and comic cards.

From our image gallery I have constructed an album for reference that may be of interest.

Click here to view the album - GALLIPOLI - ANZAC album then select the thumbnail and click to see enlarged postcard - or use the nextpage button at top to continue through the album - Cheers

    

Thats a small selection of the 29 images I have at present which also include some book reference title images

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise POSTCARDS and associated cards

I believe there were at least two series of Postcards produced (One in blue captions -One red captions - different views entirely) Anyone with full details or additional information - I would welcome the information to add for our readers.

Here is a few to illustrate - to view the enlarged image click on the postcard title below

   

   

   

   

 

1. Catherine Bay, Great Barrier Island - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 3 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

2.Crocodile Rock, Whangaroa - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 12 printed photo by Winkelmann.

3.Horsemen, On the road to the Bush, Whangaroa - p/c

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 9 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

4.Kawau Island Auckland Winkelmann Postcard (Associated Postcard)

5.Mangonui Harbour - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 12 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

6.Mushroom Rocks, Whangaroa - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 10 printed photo by Winkelmann.

7.Okahumoko Bay, Whangaroa - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 11 printed photo by Winkelmann.

8.Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 6 printed photo by Winkelmann.

9.Picnic Party at Whangaroa Heads - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 4 printed photo by Jones & Coleman.

10.Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 7 printed photo by Winkelmann.

11.Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 2 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

12.Quay Street & Parnell Auckland Winkelmann Postcard (Associated Postcard)

13.Russell, Bay of Islands - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 2 printed photo by Winkelmann.

14. S.S. Ngapuhi at Kawau - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 1 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

15.Whangarei - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 8 printed photo by Cowdell.

16.Whangarei Creek - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 5 printed photo published by Jones & Coleman.

17.Whangarei Falls - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 2 printed photo by Winkelmann.

18.Whangaroa - postcard

Northern Steam Ship Company's Annual Summer Cruise No. 9 printed photo by Winkelmann.

 

Use the links above to view enlarged images.

HISTORY OF THESE POSTCARDS

Read these links for full details of the birth and life of this NZ Ship Enterprise. (RECOMMENDED)

The Birth of the Northern Steam Ship Company

Shaky Beginnings 1881-1887

The Ranson Period 1887-1921

QUOTE: In 1904 the Company decided to introduce a new attraction - the Annual Summer Cruise. This was very popular up until 1908 by which time the novelty had worn off.

The development of railways in New Zealand during this period had an effect on the nature of the Company's services. For instance in 1908 the Main trunk railway between Auckland and Wellington opened and this caused a decline in passenger traffic on the New Plymouth service. The Northern Steam Ship Company and Union Steam Ship Company agreed that there was not enough traffic for two steamers on this service and decided to continue it as a joint service.

The Excursion

QUOTE:

Around the turn of the last century, excursions and picnics were a favourite pastime of the citizens of Auckland. From the 1890s on, people were more prosperous and had a little more free time and money to spend enjoying themselves. The Victorian work ethic was left behind for the more liberal Edwardian era. The population of Auckland in 1904 was 80,000 and each weekend several thousands of those would head out of town on an excursion of some kind. The wharves would swarm with people dressed in all their finery fighting their way onto the numerous steamers berthed there.

The Northern Steam Ship Company played a large part in delivering people to all points of the compass for the day, the weekend, or longer. There were various trips that one could take on one of their steamers.

The Round Trip consisted of three days in the north at a cost of £2. At that time, the roads and railways in the north were few and far between. Steamer and horse and cart were the only way to go. Passengers left Queen Street Railway Station and headed for Helensville. From there they took a Kaipara steamer (eg WAIRUA) up the Kaipara, and then up the Northern Wairoa River to Dargaville. There they would stay the night then catch a river steamer (eg OMANA) and continue upstream to Tangowahine. There they joined a coach and headed to Whangarei where they had another overnight stop and joined a steamer (eg NGAPUHI or MANAIA) at Onerahi for the trip back to Auckland.

The Summer Cruise began Friday night and went through to the next Saturday and cost £7. The first summer cruise was held in 1904 and they continued until 1908. They were truly the high point of the summer, combining picturesque scenery with activities, excellent food and entertainment. On-board facilities included a library and a darkroom for processing photographs. The NGAPUHI was used for this venture, normally on the Whangarei run carrying passengers and cargo, but spruced up in preparation for the Summer Cruise. The cruise took in Great Barrier, the Hen & Chicken Islands, Whangarei, (including trips to Whangarei Falls and the Kamo Mineral Pools), the Bay of Islands, Whangaroa Harbour, Totara North, Mangonui, Doubtless Bay, Kawau Island, Waiwera and home again.

Gulf excursions were a popular service provided by the Company. Around the turn of the century, there were thriving steamer services taking the citizens of Auckland around the harbour. The Northern Steam Ship Company steamers however, also took people a little further afield. Popular places included Waiwera (for its hot springs), Mahurangi and Kawau Island. The three large vessels NGAPUHI, CLANSMAN and NGATIAWA were known to carry passengers to Kawau on the same day. The Northern Company ships also went to Motutapu Island, various points all around Waiheke Island, and Browns Bay. In 1903, 10 steamers ran 15 trips from Auckland to Motutapu Island for the annual Manchester Unity of Independent Order of Oddfellows Picnic, carrying 12000 to 14000 people.

The Passenger Carriers

Working for the Northern Steam Ship Company

Depression and World War II

Post-War and Containerisation 1950 - 1968

The Twilight Years - Sailing into the Sunset

To finish - there is an excellent section on all the vessels with photos and details - From these one can collect other views of ships for this collection.

Also you will note that the postcards produced for the Northern Steam Ship Company were done by prominent postcard photographers ( alot we have covered here in this blog) You will also note that they also produced a number of photographs from those cruises which also should be added to this topic.

FLEET LIST (Click on the vessel name for a photograph and for more details. )

BURTON PHOTOGRAPHS TO Muir & Moodie Postcards issued later for postal use

The pictures on postcards were almost invariably based on photographs taken earlier. These photographs where not only sold as special photograph prints (These are a few them that exist today - great to add to ones collection - then the similar view produced on postcard) but would have been produced later as postcards for mass sale.It is therefore important to record the actual photogrpah - as it should exist somewhere as a postcard.

Here is a typical photograph done exactly as that

The BURTON PHOTOGRAPH

 

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS TARAWERA McRAES HOTEL 1886
an old Burton Brothers real photograph, titled "McRae's Hotel Wairoa" depicting the Hotel in the centre, with ash covered roof in the foreground, and a tree full of mud and ash, with numerous town folk. Taken just after Mount Tarawera eruption June 10 1886 that led to the destruction of the Pink and White terraces. The Wairoa mentioned was destroyed and is not the Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay. It is numbered 4061. Image measures 5-1/2" by 8", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West.

And here is the postcard - It is still numbered the same - except if you look closely you will see the description in the lower left has been scribbled out.

Wairoa - Mcraes Hotel after the Eruption

AND ANOTHER

Wairoa Hotel Before Eruption

REAL PHOTO BURTON BROS WAIROA HOTEL B4 ERUPTION
2 neat old Burton Brothers real photographs, titled "Wairoa Hotel" and "Wairoa" showing the hotel and surroundings before the Mount Tarawera eruption. They are numbered 3848 and 3849, and we think taken late 1885. Images measure 5-3/4" by 7-1/2", on 9" by 11-1/2" card. Card signed Herbert H. Smith Auckland Iron Works Victoria Street West. Both stamped on back Photographic Depot No 6 Victoria Arcade Queens St. W R Robinson.

And that photograph produced as a postcard

Wairoa Mcraes Hotel before

TIP: Always look closely at old photographs in second hand shops - You may find them produced as postcards in your collection and are an important addition to your collection.