Aldersley real photographic post cards (RPPC) are much admired by New Zealand postcard collectors for their clarity, detail and subject matter in the photos. David James Aldersley was the man behind the camera and was responsible for producing many outstanding photographic postcards. He was born 2nd February 1862 at Keighley in Yorkshire England. He married Maria Hodgson in 1884 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Temple Row in Keighley, Yorkshire. David (or Jim as he was known) worked in the family china business in Yorkshire, but he and his family left England for New Zealand to be closer to his father Nathan already in New Zealand. David, Maria and their children, Marian, Reginald Thomas, William Arthur and Eric Aldersley were passengers on the ss Rimutaka which arrived in Wellington, New Zealand on 8 October 1895. Aldersley was trading as a photographer soon after arrival and established a studio at Tasman Street. The family soon settled at 20 Moir Street, Wellington, and later moved to “Ingleboro” in High Street, Lower Hutt. The “Ingleboro Series” was recorded on some of Aldersley’s photographic postcards. The numbering sequence of the postcards produced by Aldersley would suggest over 8,000 cards were made available for sale. Aldersley died on 30 June 1928, age 66 years at his home at 181 Main Road, Lower Hutt. His postcard legacy lives on, and his photography is well sought after by collectors to this day.
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Further Reading
Postcard List
PUBLISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER – David James Aldersley
PRINTED – Printed in New Zealand
CARD SERIES & NUMBER – card no. A3734
OTHER CARD FEATURES – entitled “Norwich Quay, Lyttelton”
Aldersley produced hundreds of individual postcard titles in his career. A small selection can be seen in this GALLERY
Walter J. Kramarski – David James Aldersley – Postcard Pillar Issues 75 & 76
Check out the progress our members have made in compiling this comprehensive postcard list of David James Aldersley cards.
Should you have any updates to make to this list, please contact our Secretary secretary@postcard.org.nz