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ISSUE 108 (August 2015)
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New Zealand Postcard Society (Inc.) Directory
| Patron | Geoff Potts | pottsfamily00@hotmail.com |
| President | Jeff Long | jefflong@xtra.co.nz |
| Vice-Presidents | Barry Longstaffe | barry.longstaffe@xtra.co.nz |
| Diane McKoy | diane.brian@xtra.co.nz | |
| VP Research | Bill Main | wmain@paradise.net.nz |
| Secretary | Gerard Morris | gerardmorris_nzkiwi@hotmail.com |
| Treasurer | Ross Alexander | rossalexander@xtra.co.nz |
| Sales Mgr/Auctioneer | Chris Rabey | ships.pubs@paradise.net.nz |
| Editors | Jeff & Jenny Long | jefflong@xtra.co.nz |
| Webmasters | Bruce King | blinking@vodafone.co.nz |
| Ross Alexander | rossalexander@xtra.co.nz | |
| Committee | Geoff Potts | pottsfamily00@hotmail.com |
| John Eccles | john.eccles@xtra.co.nz | |
| Bruce Isted | cartophilic@xtra.co.nz | |
| Leo Haks | info@leohaks.co.nz | |
| Glenn Reddiex. | grredx@hotmail.com | |
| Jenny Banfield | normanb@xtra.co.nz |
Life Members: Yvonne Coles, William Main, Geoff Potts, Chris Rabey, Doug South, Evie South, Ray Staal, Diane McKoy.
Correspondence: all enquiries should be made to the Secretary, gerardmorris_nzkiwi@hotmail.com or by post to P.O. Box 20, Wakefield, Nelson 7052.
The Society Website is www.postcard.org.nz
The Postcard Pillar magazine is produced four times a year under the editorship of Jeff Long and Jenny Long. Contributions are very welcome at any time - please email or post to Jeff Long.
Membership of the Society can be obtained by sending a cheque payable to N.Z. Postcard Society Inc. to the Secretary, with your name, address, telephone number, email address and collecting interests.
The Subscription for the July 1 2015 - June 30 2016 year for a NZ individual or family member is $45, or $50 for an overseas member. If you missed this deadline then PLEASE PAY PROMPTLY !!
Postcard Pillar Issue 108
Thanks to those who sent in articles, images or snippets. Keep sending them in, preferably in electronic format, but it is perfectly fine if this is not possible. The philosophy of the Editors is to get your words, images and research out to the membership of the Society.
The image on the cover from Leo Haks is both a puzzle and a greeting card. See page 24.
Included are significant research articles by Jenny Long, Donal Duthie, William Main and Bill Chrystall.
| Contents | |
| 1 | Directory |
| 2 | Society News and Snippets |
| 3 - 4 | Postmarks by Leo Haks, Colleen Dallimore & Alan Jackson Book Review by Jeff Long |
| 5 – 8 | Lewis Hotop Early Postcard by Jenny Long |
| 9 – 12 | Creating a Catalogue of the E.A. Phillips, Stewart Island Postcards by Donal Duthie |
| 13 - 16 | NZ Govt Dept of Tourist & Health Resorts, and National Publicity Studios (Part One) by William Main |
| 17 – 20 | Frederick Gradwell by Bill Chrystall |
| 21 - 23 | Wainoni Park by Jeff Long |
| 24 | The Anzacs and Armed Services Rugby by Brian G Vincent. |
| 25 - 28 | More on World War One Hospitals by Sue Claridge |
| 29 | The New Zealand Cyclists’ Touring Club Postcard (1897) by Leo Haks |
| 30 | ANZAC Day by Robert Duns |
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Society News and Snippets
2015 NZ Postcard Society Convention
Yes, this is planned for the weekend of Sept 12-13, 2015, at the Philatelic Centre, 67 Mandeville St, Riccarton, Christchurch. No doubt it is already in your diary but just to remind you: Saturday includes displays by members of items of interest, and their other collecting interests, followed by the AGM at 4.00pm. The dinner will be held at the same venue as the Convention and we have organized some evening entertainment!
Sunday will be busy with our Collectables Fair. Members will have ‘first look’ from 8.30 until 10am. A number of dealers have already confirmed their attendance, including some who you don’t normally see. This year, the club will run a ‘members’ sale table if there is interest. Members may sell their own material at no charge, but will have to assist in manning the table. Tick the appropriate box on the registration form if you are interested. Further details on all aspects of the Convention are on the flyer enclosed with this issue of the Postcard Pillar.
The Capital Stamp Show 2015
The next New Zealand national exhibition is the Capital Stamp Show 2015, in Wellington on October 23-25 this year. Entries have now closed, but if you have entered and want some ideas on exhibiting then there is plenty of information about exhibiting postcards on the Postcard Society website. Details about the exhibition itself can be found at www.nzpf.org/exhibitions. You should at least visit to see the material on display and to browse dealer stock, of course!
New Book on NZ Postcards
There is a full review of this exciting new publication in this Postcard Pillar. The book is authored by Leo Haks, Colleen Dallimore and Alan Jackson. It is fantastic. With some luck the first copies will be available at our Convention, in which case we can hopefully get copies signed by the authors. There is also an order form with this Postcard Pillar; we suggest you order using this form if you are not coming to the Convention, but if you are coming wait until you see if they have arrived in time for the Convention because then they can be signed. The price is reduced from $70 for members, to $50 if bought at the AGM, or $50 plus postage if bought online before publication.
New Collector for the Head of Lake Wakatipu Area
If you have any spare cards, feel free to contact Tony Ward at warm@bigpond.net.au
NZ Postcard Society Website Update
Both the Postcard Pillar and the Society website have been entered in a Literature Exhibition as part of the Capital Stamp Show 2015. Fingers crossed for encouraging results.
The One Hour Postcard Challenge
At this year’s week-long Stamp Camp, mainly for youth collectors, in Hanmer Springs, Jeff Long organised a postcard challenge. Teams of four were provided with a stack of postcards, each organised by theme – Maori, Christchurch, Birds, Animals, West Coast, North Island Tour etc.
They were then give one hour to make up a story using the cards, type it up on computer, print and mount the cards (preferably with backing). Extra marks were given for technical knowledge. Each exhibit was to be at least 4 pages, and preferably 8 pages.
Encouragingly, each of the 7 teams managed to produce an exhibit within the time frame, and they were then judged. For those of us who take days if not weeks to produce a one-frame exhibit, take heart!!! The youth collectors can give you some tips!!!
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Post Marks - a book review by Jeff Long
Sub-titled The Way We Were – Early New Zealand Postcards 1897 -1922, this about to be issued book is authored by Leo Haks, Colleen Dallimore and Alan Jackson, published by Kowhai Media, and is endorsed by the NZ Postcard Society.
Following an introduction by Leo Haks, and an article by Alan Jackson on the early history of the picture postcard in NZ, the book is divided into four chapters.
- The Way We Were: includes picturing people, Alfred Burton in the King Country, faith & temperance, and World War I.
- The Great Outdoors: includes sport & recreation, tourism, and Antarctic exploration.
- The Fat of the Land: includes forestry, agriculture, mining, retail and exhibitions.
- The Building of a Nation: includes Post & Telegraph services, schools and transport.
While the reviewer has not yet sighted a completed publication, final proofs have been seen, all images viewed and a significant publication ‘flyer’ is to hand. Alan Jackson is a meticulous researcher and Leo Haks a very experienced publisher of a number of magnificent books on postcards and art, so this publication will be a significant addition to the small library of NZ postcard books. Colleen Dallimore has done a wonderful job on providing some background informing the image to just about every card illustrated, of which there are some hundreds, all in full size and full colour. The book is A4 in size, has a hard cover, is perfect bound, and contains a detailed table of contents, and a list of photographers and publishers whose images are included in the book. There are four gatefolds to enable the inclusion of panorama images.
The concept behind the book is to provide an introduction to NZ picture postcards, primarily photography-based, what they reveal about the country, as well as making readers aware of the socio-historic value of postcards. The book runs to over 325 pages, and each of the four chapters provide a focus for the major themes and help carry a storyline. Each card has some background information about the image, as well as a brief line or two of technical information, such as about the publisher or photographer.
Many of the images are not commonly seen, so there is plenty to hold the reader’s interest. You could read the book from cover to cover, or just let it fall open at any page, and you will see something of interest. Leo has largely steered away from images held by institutions in favour of cards that have been available at fairs and shops, and especially in online forums over the past eight years. In that time, Leo has regularly browsed every NZ card on offer, both in NZ and overseas, usually in the order of 10,000 cards each search !
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As well, Leo has tried to involve many collectors of NZ cards, and the book includes images from the collections of more than 20 people. It is to the credit of these contributors that they have been so willing to assist with relevant images. The NZ Postcard Society receives an honourable mention, as does the Postcard Pillar journal.
The book has been self-published, no small undertaking, so readers owe Leo a big vote of thanks for his willingness to provide a book which I am sure will be a valuable addition to the NZ picture postcard scene. As well, members of the Postcard Society can enjoy a $20 discount on the regular price of just under $70. An order form is enclosed with this edition of the Postcard Pillar. With some luck, the book will be available at this year’s Convention, so if you are planning to attend it may be best to hold off ordering until after that as I am sure the authors would be willing to personally sign copies at the Convention.
This book has been some years in the making, and it will be great to have the final published version on our bedside cabinet, and also in bookshops promoting our hobby.
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Lewis Hotop Early Postcard - by Jenny Long
In April I was at a philatelic exhibition in Sydney, and, as you do, wandered around the dealers. One dealer had a very good selection of New Zealand postcards as he was Sydney based, and did not trade on the internet.
Amongst his stock I found the postcard below, with a message, in German, dated January 4th 1899. It was date stamped at Dunedin on 7th January 1899, again in transit Sydney at noon on 17th Jan 1899, and at the receiving office Hunter’s Hill, 17th Jan 1899.
This is the earliest date recorded for a commercial postcard in New Zealand. Previously, the earliest known publicly recorded postcard is dated 27 December 1899, also from this series.
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This series of postcards must have been printed in 1898, a year at most after the first Government pictorial postcards were issued by the NZ Post Office and Telegraph Department in December 1897.
The postcard was probably printed in Germany, as on the address side New Zealand is misspelt as New-Seeland, a German spelling, and the majority of postcards were printed in Germany until just before World War One.
Note the writer has hand corrected the spelling.
The postcard is No 9 in this series. The cards were printed on blue card as well as cream. The series extends to at least No 11 below, showing two views, of Queenstown, and of Bowen Peak. No 10, of Arthur’s Point is the only other card known from this series.
These postcards can be attributed to Lewis Hotop by a pattern of images repeated across three series of postcards, two of which have no attribution, and a third series which has Hotop’s Series of Lake Views, Queenstown N.Z. running vertically up the left hand side of the address side.
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The two postcards below are from a second series. There are several cards in this series both in blue and cream card.
The bottom right image of the top card is a repeat of the image on postcard No 11 from the first series on the previous page.
The image of the paddle steamer, S S Mountaineer in the second card is repeated in a postcard from a third series shown on the next page, which does have an attribution to Lewis Hotop running up the left side on the reverse side. Hotop’s Series of Lake Views, Queenstown, N.Z.
Initially from Germany, Lewis Hotop settled in Australia and was naturalised in Australia in 1866, before moving to Queenstown in 1867. He became a NZ citizen in 1870. He worked for Hallenstein & Co, and in 1873 bought their pharmacy business on the corner of Ballarat and Rees Sts, and also set up as a bookseller. In 1878 he was appointed manager of the Wakatipu Steam Navigation Co. He was mayor of Queenstown three times between 1880 and 1906. He sold the pharmacy to Victor Wilkinson in 1920. Lewis Hotop died in 1922.
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This letter card from Hotop’s Series of Lake Views, Queenstown, also repeats the image from the second card shown from the second series.
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Creating a Catalogue of the E.A. Phillips, Stewart Island Postcards - by Donal Duthie
In 2002 a small convention of Stewart Island postcard collectors was held on the Island. Those present had a great day perusing through the assembled collections, comparing the cards and the photographers. There was a general consensus that E.A. Phillips was the best of the photographers. There was also comment, that for the serious collector, the Phillips cards were perhaps the most elusive of all to find. Occasionally a rare Phillips card might be seen in a museum or in an archive collection, but it was most unlikely to find a duplicate in any of the usual postcard outlets or on Trade Me. A lot of them almost seemed to ‘one offs.’
'Retired Whalers', Patterson's Inlet, Stewart Island NZ. No. 1033. E.A Phillips Photo
It was suggested that when Phillips produced a card, it was only in very small numbers. This was because Phillips was using the Real Photo process where cards were made by him or his staff in his own darkroom rather than the specialised lithograph method where cards were made in a huge printing press usually in large numbers. Phillips’ postcards covered the 1920’s and 1930’s when the great postcard era had already passed. Phillips himself had been through hard financial times and it seems likely that he didn’t want to waste money with stacks of surplus postcards cluttering up his studio. Furthermore, postcards were a minor side of Phillips photographic business. They brought in little money compared to his advertising work, studio portraits, and school photos etc.
To try and make some sense from this elusive but widespread selection of cards, it was agreed to create a catalogue of the known Stewart Island Postcards of E.A. Phillips. Nearly all his cards had a number as well as his tell tale signature. As long as you had a computer with a database programme it seemed a reasonably simple task.
The Phillips catalogue consists of three columns for the cards. They are; the first column for the Phillips number, the second, for the title as given by Phillips and the third for description and any comments. There were then a further six columns showing current ownership of the cards. This was later extended to eight when two more collectors indicated they would like to join. The eight owners, all made it clear that they did not want their names published and although the catalogue has been published several times, the portion showing the ownership, remains strictly with the owners.
As the information came in, it was clear that this was a large collection. The numbers started at 20 and there were several over 1000. The Catalogue of E.A. Phillips Stewart Island Postcards was first published in Postcard Pillar, issue No 64, which came out in November 2003. See p. 3 & 4. It showed that there were 127 different Phillips Stewart Island postcards accumulated between eight collectors.
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There was some speculation about the numbers for which there was no known postcard. It was a tantalising thought that there might be 921 different Stewart Island Phillips postcards lying around in dusty albums and second hand dealers’ shoe boxes, just waiting for an eager collector to gather them up.
The numbers started at 20 and ran through to 1048, and as well as that, there were 9 without numbers. It had been suggested that the numbers would be sequential. That is; No 20 was his first and No1048 his last. It soon became clear that this was not the case, for example, No 20. SS “Wairua” was a ferry many years later than another ferry No 410 TMV “Southland”
Perhaps they might be numbered according to geographic locations? A quick glance shows that locations are well scattered. Golden Bay first shows at No 108 and runs in intervals right through to No 1022. The scattering of geographic locations probably occurred because Phillips had many trips to Stewart Island and went to the same locations several times.
Oban, SI. NZ. No 511. EA Phillips Photo. Dunedin.
Oban at the head of Halfmoon Bay was not the first settlement on Stewart Island, but as time progressed it became the only township. Today the name’ Oban’ is little used. The school and post office are both called ‘Halfmoon Bay’ and most residents use that name. The sender of this Phillips postcard says, “This is the main street.” It is very difficult to date this photo other than saying ‘c1920’s.’
I think the reality is we will probably never solve the mystery of the Phillips numbers and how he used them. I also think that possibly many of the missing numbers were negatives that just didn’t meet his standards and were simply discarded. It seems rather obvious that a place like Stewart Island with relatively low visitor numbers was never going to be the market for a huge selection of over 1000 different postcards.
How did we know that the numbers stopped at 1048? Well it was very simple, in that nobody has ever reported a Phillips Stewart Island postcard over that number.
What about E.A. Phillips postcards that were not of Stewart Island? There were not many. It appears that a set of about ten postcards depicting aspects of Dunedin was produced. I have one of Otago Boys High School, one of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, and another of the hotel at Wanaka. I think I may have seen one or two others. The Otago Boys High School card has the number 148 and I note on the Stewart Island catalogue that No148 has no card entry. It would seem that perhaps Phillips used his numbering system for all his postcards and not just the Stewart Island ones.
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One noted difference between some of his non Stewart Island cards, is the change of signature. Some are signed simply ‘EAP’ instead of the usual E.A. Phillips.
In compiling the Phillips catalogue, as well as postcards, the Stewart Island postcard collectors reported some interesting panorama photos signed by Phillips. In “Brief Biographies of Dunedin Photographers” Hardwicke Knight says Ted Phillips used a Kodak Cirkut camera and took it to Stewart Island in 1933. In all, seven Stewart Island Phillips panoramas were reported. They were numbered 2 to 6 and there were another two with the distinct Phillips signature but no number. In more recent times a number of Phillips panoramas have been displayed at the Owaka Museum. Only one of them is of Stewart Island and it depicts approximately 100 people attending the Otago Farmers and Women’s Division visit to Stewart Island in March 1936.
Crusing (sic) at Stewart island No. 208. EA Phillips Photo.
Tourist launch “Lena.” These passengers are in appropriate holiday attire and two of them are using their cameras to photograph cameraman Phillips. Difficult to date, but about 1930’s by the clothing.
Several times I have tried to date the Phillips postcards and found it was a most challenging, if not impossible, task. Many of his scenes of beaches and natural vegetation are timeless. Some of those with the different ferries can be reduced down to within a few years. Those with buildings known to have a final timeline such as ‘Greenvale House’ which was destroyed by fire, can clearly be dated as pre fire. There are a number with people, particularly women, where the style of clothing and swimwear gives a clue, but even then, it is only possible to say 1920’s – 1930’s.
Not many Phillips postcards have a message on the reverse and even when they do, a date is rare. Of my own cards, only 3 have dated messages. The first is 1928 then 1935 and the last in 1948
There is one card I feel reasonably sure of the year and that is card No 414 TMV “Southland” This Bluff Harbour tugboat – Stewart Island ferry was only in service from 1927 until 1930. In the Phillips postcard, “Southland” is depicted steaming at speed out of Bluff Harbour. With coloured bunting flying from the mast, it seems reasonable to predict that this is the inaugural crossing of Foveaux Strait for “Southland” on the 10th of December 1927.
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The one thing that does stand out is that the Phillips postcards covered a span of at least 20, perhaps 30 years. This was nothing like a week or a fortnight flying visit, taking some photos for use as postcards. This was, a compilation of many visits over a long period of time. I get the feeling that Ted Phillips really enjoyed his frequent trips to Stewart Island. He would have been well known to the Stewart Island residents and I think he would have had many stories to tell as well as his photographic memories of Stewart Island. I can not imagine him making repeated visits on his own. However, I have never found any clue of how he went or who he went with. When he was single I think he probably would have taken a friend or friends. After marriage he probably took his wife, but that is just guessing.
TMV “Southland” No 412. EA Phillips Photo
During his tenure in Winton which started in 1922, Ted Phillips produced a soft covered booklet of his Stewart Island photographs. The booklet is titled “Stewart Island. The Pride of the Southern Seas.” It was published in 1926, by E.A. Phillips, Winton, N.Z. and printed by Coulls Somerville and Wilkie, Ltd, Dunedin. There are 23 of his best Stewart Island photographs in a large 4 x 6 ½ inch size, as well as 2 small photos. Phillips deserves credit for a well presented little booklet, but thinking of profit, I would have thought that sales would be reduced to the small number of tourists visiting Stewart Island and it is unlikely Ted Phillips made much money from this venture.
Like all postcards, the Phillips Stewart Island postcards fluctuate in price. Occasionally one may appear on Trade Me and the seller has unwittingly not stated Phillips as the photographer. If the buyer is quick and discreet they may get it for a low sum. However most sellers are well aware of the demand for Phillips cards and make sure his name is prominent in the blurb for the card. If it is one of the rarer cards, it will sell at a very high price, particularly if there is more than one collector chasing the card. I am not sure if Ted Phillips would be pleased or not, to know that several of his cards have sold for over one hundred and twenty dollars in recent times.
One dealer is currently selling reproductions of an E.A. Phillips postcard on Trade me. If more of this were done, it might perhaps, take the heat out of the sales.
A special ‘Thankyou’ to the collectors who contributed to the E.A. Phillips Postcard Catalogue.
Note: For ‘Catalogue of EA Phillips Postcards of Stewart Island’, see ‘Postcard Pillar’ No 64. November 2003, p 3& 4. And the members only section of the Society website.
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NZ Government Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, and the National Publicity Studios (Part One) - by William Main
Anyone setting out to collect New Zealand postcards today, might not recognise how fortunate we were at the beginning of the 20th century to have publishers who were determined to promote us as a desirable tourist destination. Before I begin to explain which of these entrepreneurs impress me the most, I have to say that if it hadn’t been for their desire and commercial necessity to accumulate and acquire a selection scenic illustrations or photographs, we would undoubtedly be all the poorer and have little cause to see our name up with the best of them when it came to displaying our country’s potential to attract tourists to visit our shores.
Before I start describing some of the circumstances surrounding the establishment of a Government Department which went about this business of promotion, Tourism and Health Resorts, and venture into editions of postcards which began to appear in the first decade of the 20th century, I would like to explain something about the first director of the business who amassed the wonderful archive of views which survive to this day, and form a valuable part of our National Archives.
The first director appointed to run this organisation was an Australian called Thomas Edward Donne, who entered the civil service in New Zealand in 1875 as a cadet in the Telegraph Department in Wellington, then quickly switched roles to become a station master and postmaster in various South Island towns. In 1885 he suffered a serious accident in Gore when he was thrown beneath a train. After he recovered from this traumatic experience, he continued to rise in the Railways Department until he left to take up a position as undersecretary in the Department of Industries and Commerce in December 1900. His input into this new job saw him rise quickly until he held the position of General Manager in this new department, where Tourism and Resorts required someone with inspirational input to fill the role.
The outcome from this initial move was a release of New Zealand picturesque postcards in 1902. These were illustrated by the artist Benoni White, printed in Wanganui by A.D. Willis, and were sold at post offices throughout the country for several years.
N.Z. Government Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. The artist responsible for this lithographed view of Lake Manawapouri (sic) was Benoni White.
They were followed by another lithographed edition in 1907, printed in Germany and featured views from an ever growing file of photographs which were beginning to be accumulated by the Department of Tourism and Health Resorts.
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N.Z. Government Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. This elevated view of Dunedin, was issued in 1907
It must be acknowledged that at the time Donne made a great impression on this organisation with an enthusiasm for the task involved. For instance, shortly after his appointment, he undertook an extensive tour of New Zealand to see for himself its scenic potential in attracting tourists to our country. Accompanying him on this fact finding tour, was a photographer who recorded Donne’s tour of mountains, lakes and fiords, with some photos from this tour ending up being issued by postcard companies including Fergusson & Taylor, The ‘N.Z. Graphic’ Series and Littlebury.
F.T. Series 317 “Lake Te Anau, looking towards Worsley Valley”. The man about to board the boat is thought to be Thomas Donne.
In this respect, I’ve been very fortunate in obtaining what I think show Donne in the field holding an ice axe as a sort of ‘badge of office’ in a camp set up for his comfort and benefit, plus another where he is about to board a boat to take him across a lake. When I originally acquired these I had no idea who this person was with a wide brimmed hat. While I’m prepared to be challenged regarding this
assumption, I can’t help feeling the person featured is none other than Donne himself!
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F.T. Series 2348A “An Alpine Bivouac”. Donne was accompanied by a guide and a photographer on his tour of N.Z.
Regarding the lithographed editions of postcards mentioned at the beginning of this article, I should explain that these have already been written up in detail by Alan Jackson, who originally described them in a 1976 article to be followed several years later in a redrafted version called The Tourist Department Postcards. This was published in two instalments of the Postcard Pillar and in an abbreviated account of these can be found in Wish You Were Here.*
N.Z Graphic Series 2348A "On the Hochstetter Ice Falls, N.Z".
While it might disappoint readers not to see any further mention of these two editions of Tourism & Health Resort postcards in this article, I feel Donne’s enthusiasm for his job out-weighs other important events during his management of the Department, with the completion of Rotorua’s sanitorium and his enthusiasm for the job working wonders on the Department’s Senior Executive.
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During the lead up to the beginning of WW1, in New Zealand the demand for postcards was experiencing a slight downturn. By 1909 Donne had established himself in London with the role of Trade and Immigration Commissioner where he had also played a role of observing various International Exhibitions that were being staged in Europe and America by assessing their potential to sell New Zealand goods and produce. His most valuable contribution as far as postcards were concerned may have been to assist the Emigration authorities at the consulate in London providing suitable New Zealand photographs for a series of cards printed by the Tella Camera Co., which were being put up for sale and distributed at functions like the “Festival of Empire” Exhibition at the Crystal Palace Building in 1911. Incidentally, some of these cards turn up with a captions carrying a French translation.
Littlebury’s Series No.24. “Whares at Pipiriki, New Zealand”. P.U. 26 December 1904
Donne and his impetus assisted in advertising our country, during the lead-up to the commencement of the first World War and its immediate aftermath, came to an end in 1923 when he retired, carrying on in a voluntary capacity with the New Zealand Court at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembly in 1925. In retirement he retained some involvement in a number of cultural enterprises adding many items to his personal collection of Maori artefacts by hunting them down in Europe for his collection. These ended up joining those which he had acquired in New Zealand. On his death in 1945, a large portion of these treasures were purchased by museums and art galleries in New Zealand.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, at the conclusion of the Dunedin South Seas Exhibition in 1926/7, promotional fairs at an international level slowed down during a period that was known as the ‘Great Depression.’ This was followed by a gradual return to normality which was capped off in New Zealand with a Centennial Exhibition staged in Wellington in 1939-1940 celebrating as it did 100 years of organised emigration and settlement to New Zealand.
The return to something resembling normality at the end of the Second World War also witnessed a very important turning point concerning New Zealand postcards, and should be acknowledged with a better understanding of why it came about when it did! It involved the production of a series of real photo New Zealand postcards which had begun in the mid-1930s, by the Publicity branch of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Health Resorts. The release of these cards onto the market by a rejuvenated National Publicity Studios. This will be covered in the next edition of the Postcard Pillar.
* A book on New Zealand Postcards called Wish You Were Here which was written by Alan Jackson and Bill Main was published by the Society in 2005. The articles in the Pillar can be found in issue numbers 63 and 64.
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Frederick Henry Gradwell by Bill Chrystall and Karen Williams
(Biographical notes adapted from Karen Williams, researcher for the Taupo Heritage 2000 project. Postcard list from Bill Chrystall. Images from Doug South)
Frederick Henry Gradwell (FHG) was born c.1882 in Waipawa, and died aged 73 in Taupo on 13 September 1955. (Obituary published in Taupo Times, 16 September 1955)
He shifted to Taupo in about 1910 from the Makaretu area in Hawke's Bay. His father had been a builder and Fred had completed his building apprenticeship in Waipawa for Cole Brothers. His first job in the Taupo area was to build a homestead at Poronui in 1910/1911.
Fred married Jessie May Elbourne in the Hawke's Bay and they had three children: Frederick Louis Norman Gradwell (Fred Jnr.), born 16 June 1915, Basil Wilfred born 26 April 1917, and Edward Francis born 26 April 1925.
Sometime around the First World War his parents purchased the Bungalow Hotel, located on Tongariro Street in Taupo. Fred added a 14-room annex onto the hotel, and the family lived in a house at the back of the Bungalow for about a decade.
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Fred Jnr remembers going to the pictures in Rickit's Hall - they'd go and watch the Westerns. He says some of the old Maori women liked to sit really close to the screen and they'd smoke away enjoying themselves, so everyone watched the silent movies and in black and white through a hazy fog.
Fred built the shed for the little powerhouse below Huka Falls to provide power for the Wairakei Hotel probably about 1923 or so. A young man of Hawaiian blood would dive into the Waikato River and Fred captured this on film. The man who was working with Fred, perhaps an engineer, had done it for fun and had repeated the feat three times - with a rope tied around his waist so he couldn't be swept away by the torrent. When Fred Jnr was about 12 his mother took him and Basil to Masterton for their schooling, and the hotel was leased out during this period. There was no High School in Taupo, so Fred Jnr attended Tech in Masterton for a year or two. The family all moved to Napier around the time of the 1931 earthquake, for a short time before coming back to Taupo to live. FHG took dozens of photos of the earthquake damage.
An advertisement in the NZ Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Review, dated 25 October 1928 shows Mrs F.H. Gradwell to be the proprietor of The Bungalow private hotel. The same sequence of advertisements shows F.H. Gradwell to be running the Lake Front Store in Taupo, located on the corner of Ruapehu Street and the lakefront, and built in about 1925. In later years FHG was involved in land development, subdividing an area known as the Gradwell Estate on the south of the early Taupo township.
According to Fred, the store had been added onto an old house with the shop entrance being on the corner of Ruapehu Street. It was a typical country store selling a wide range of goods. Among the items for sale listed in the advertisement was KODAK Films, no coincidence as Fred was a keen photographer.
Fred Jnr said his father didn't smoke or drink and photography was one of his main pleasures. "He was as close to a photographer as you got in those days. He always had a good camera, big box cameras and he made glass plates. He also had several collapsible stands, a bit like tripods, made out of boxwood. I can remember hanging around when he used to work in his darkroom. I think he converted a little garden shed into a darkroom at the back of our property in Tamamutu Street, where we had about a half-acre property. I've still got the Zeiss Super Ikonta camera, which was the last camera Dad had. Apparently it came from a German officer originally and someone who had served overseas bought it back to New Zealand after the war and Dad bought it.”
The Bungalow Hotel was sold during the Second World War, and it burnt down on 22 November 1949.
Fred Jnr came down from Auckland to visit around New Year 1949. He and Bernie Fletcher had been out on the town drinking in the back bar of the Spa Hotel. When returning home at around 5am with his head hanging out the window to clear his head Fred Jnr saw what he first thought was steam coming from the Lake Hotel. It was quite a while before he realised it was smoke. He woke his father and told him the Lake Hotel was burning. FHG took some great photographs of the old hotel burning (early morning 29 December 1949) and Fred Jnr believes he sold one of the better photos he took with the Waitemata sign surrounded by flames to Kelleher of Lion Breweries for about £30.
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Fred has supplied a good photograph of Darkie Wright the policeman. He said Darkie was a friend of his father’s. Darkie Wright was in Taupo from about 1917 to 1924.
The Crows Nest geyser was in the Spa Thermal area, and FGH took some amazing pictures the geyser. Fred Jnr says the guides would place 4 gallon tins into the geyser and when it blew the tins would be shot up to 80 feet at times!
Postcards of Frederick Henry Gradwell, Photographer
Known images as at 1/1/15 from the Taupo Museum Collection, and added to by Bill Chrystall, Stan Goodwin and Doug South
F.H.G. 1 “Lake Taupo and Mountains from Terraces Hotel”
F.H.G. 3 “Taupo Township”
F.H.G. 4 “Birds Eye View of Lake Taupo and Mountains”
F.H.G. 6 “Taupo Township Showing Tauhara Mountain & Source of Waikato River.”
F.H.G. 7 “View of Lake Taupo + Mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro”
F.H.G. 9 “Terraces Hotel. Onekeneke.”
F.H.G. 10 “Onekeneke Hot Water Falls, Terraces Hotel.”
F.H.G. 12 “Looking Down Waikato River (from Taupo)
F.H.G. 13 “Taupo Township.”
F.H.G. 15 “Taupo. The Spa”
F.H.G. 19 “Taupo School. Children and Teacher 1917”
F.H.G. 22 “Mail Leaving Taupo P.O.”
F.H.G. 24 “View fromTaupo Wharf”
F.H.G. 25 “View of lake Taupo and Mts Ruapehu, Ngarauhoe, and Tongariro”
F.H.G. 26 “Huka Falls near Taupo.”
F.H.G. 29 “Onekeneke Valley. Terraces Hotel. Taupo”
F.H.G. 29 “The Bungalow Private Hotel. Taupo.”
F.H.G. 30 “Onekeneke Valley, Terraces Hotel Taupo”
F.H.G. 34 “Finish of Shot from Crowes Nest, Spa Taupo”
F.H.G. 45 “Glimpses of River Road & Nunnery Bridge Napier-Taupo Road"
F.H.G. 46 “The Double Crossing, Napier Road”
F.H.G. 50 “The Spa” ', Joshua’s, Taupo. NZ” (Unsigned - Attributed)
F.H.G. 50 “From Titiokura to Turanga-Kuma. Napier-Taupo Road.”
F.H.G. 51 “Tarawera Hotel & Valley. Napier-Taupo Road”
F.H.G. 53 “Looking Towards Napier from Petone Hill”
F.H.G. 57 “The Spa” Taupo. NZ” (Unsigned — Attributed)
F.H.G. 54 “Joshua’s Maori House, ‘The Spa’, Taupo, N.Z.”
F.H.G. 55 “From Turanga. Kumo to Tarawera Napier-Taupo Raod”
F.H.G. 62 “Marshalls Crossing”
F.H.G. 63 “Whanganui Waterfall - Lake Taupo”
F.H.G. 74 “The Wharf. Taupo.”
F.H.G. 75 “W. Riley diving into Huka Falls”
F.H.G. 76 “Lake Taupo + Mountains in Distance”
F.H.G. 77 “Huka Rapids and Bridge”
F.H.G. 80 “Dividing strip between Hot + Cold Lakes Rotokawa.”
F.H.G. 84 “Reflections. Lake Taupo”
F.H.G. 86 “On Lake Taupo”
F.H.G. 93 “Lake Hotel, Taupo”
F.H.G. 96 “Looking across Hotwater Lake Rotokawa.”
F.H.G. 100 “Bungalow Private Hotel, Taupo”
F.H.G. 104 “Waikato River Taupo. Showing Cherry Island + entrance to Devils Gate”
F.H.G. 105 “Huka Falls”
F.H.G. 112 “The Witches Cauldron. Spa Hotel”
F.H.G. 130 “Terraces Hotel.” Lake Taupo.”
F.H.G. 134 “The Wharf. Taupo. Showing Mt Ruapehu.”
F.H.G. 136 “Waikato River. Showing Mt. Ruapehu.”
F.H.G. 138 “Dining Rooms. Spa. Taupo.”
F.H.G. 139 “Dining Room. Spa. Taupo.”
F.H.G. 141 “The Spa Taupo”
F.H.G. 351 “Maori Carving, Joshua’s Spa, Taupo. NZ” (Unsigned — Attributed)
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Note on Members Handbook now available on the NZPC website
This is a 20 page booklet prepared by Bruce Isted for members of the Postcard Society.
The purpose of the booklet is to provide members with a range of information useful to members and collectors. The information includes the following headings, and a lot more!
- Brief history of postcards
- Information about the Society including its history, constitution, auction rules and awards.
- Collector information such as a glossary of terms, advice on pricing postcards, and how to grade the quality of postcards
- Information on New Zealand and Overseas postcard dealers, overseas postcard societies, and online postcard auctions.
- A reading list providing further information on postcards and collecting
If you have not already learned how to log onto the NZPS website and access the Members Only section, then this publication should encourage you to do so.
Go to www.postcard.org.nz , click on “Members Area.” If you have not logged on before, you will be invited to click onto and then fill out a form, which is automatically sent to the webmaster. He checks if you are a member, and then approves your application on the website. It is very easy.
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Wainoni Park, Christchurch - by Jeff Long
This article was prompted by finding an advertising card for this park, addressed to the Yaldhurst School in 1908, providing free entry for all children and adults 4d entry fee. Of special note today, is that special trams would meet the train and take you straight to the Park. Integrated transport ! What a good idea !
The story of Wainoni Park has been very well written up in 2004 by Tim Baker, a real estate agent who lived and worked in the area at the time. (Title: Professor Bickerton’s Wainoni. Privately published in 2004 ISBN 0-476-00423-3)
The Park occupied an area of about 20 acres, largely both sides of what is now a residential area centred on Bickerton St, which runs between Pages Road and Wainoni Road.
Bickerton was a Professor at Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury) who came from England as the University’s first Professor of Chemistry in 1874. Bickerton was somewhat of a ‘showman’ as at one stage he had offered courses in chemistry and physics in Chelsea (London) on a fee-paying basis. He had to attract students to make a living, so he adopted the techniques of a couple of preachers at the time. He learnt that you must make your classes “as entertaining as a music hall and as sensational as a circus.”
Bickerton liked having space so purchased a block of land on some scrubby sandhills east of Christchurch. Early on, it became a focus for University students for parties and social life. Students used to drive, ride, travel by tram or row down the Avon River to the Wainoni landing stage. A grand garden was in the beginning stages, and sometimes there was a fireworks display, a dance, or a play in the small theatre.
In 1904, the New Brighton Consumption Hospital was opened by Sir Joseph Ward on land owned by Professor Bickerton. It was called the Avon Pine Sanitorium (image at left). Consumption was a major killer at the time, killing about 70,000 in the ‘old country’ the previous year. The facility was only a few minute’s walk from the Nurse Maude Sanitorium in Breezes Road. Facilities were fairly primitive with patients living in tents, but it served the purpose until the first brick sanitorium was built in Cashmere in 1907.
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By 1903 Bickerton was no longer working at the University, and he opened the gardens to the public as a commercial enterprise. Activities grew rapidly. There were merry-go-rounds, side shows, shooting galleries, a skating rink, a social hall for dances, refreshment stores, tea rooms, Punch and Judy shows (see card at bottom), boxing, brass bands, conservatory, an art gallery, a planetarium, and the list goes on.
To give some idea of scale of Wainoni, the amphitheatre could accommodate 7,000 people !
The zoo included lions, bears, a tiger, and 40 monkeys (which all escaped one day and had to be rounded up from all over the neighbourhood.)
Mock naval battles (see card on next page) were held, usually as part of the fireworks display.
Thousands of people visited every week, but Bickerton was not really a commercial entrepreneur, so income was limited, and he was still working on his theory of what today we might call the ‘big bang’ theory of the earth’s formation.
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The Professor died in January 1929, although the fireworks factory in Ottawa Road continued until 1936.
T J Edmond, a friend of the Bickertons, had already donated the band rotunda on the banks of the Avon River, but in 1930 he gifted a section of land on the corner of Avonside Drive and Wainoni Road, just across the road from the Bickerton home and park. The land was to serve as a memorial to the Professor, but other than some plantings there was nothing to mark the spot until 2004 when a Bickerton Reserve sign was erected and the whole area was tidied up.
The Professor’s ashes were placed into the wall of the Great Hall at Canterbury College. His memorial plaque reads “much loved for his warm sympathies and admired for his daring flights of thought.” Part of the Rutherford’s Den area includes a lecture theatre where Bickerton used to deliver his lectures, and where you can listen to an imitation of his lectures.
One day, when earthquake repairs are completed, we may be able, once again, to visit these areas.
During the mid-1960’s, the Bickerton home was demolished and the land developed. Te Rama Place (lamp or light) and Tahuna St (lighting of fire) provide a link back to the days of the fireworks factory, but the main street is named Bickerton Street.
There are many postcards of Wainoni Park, a few of which have been used to illustrate this article.
Page 24
The Anzacs and Armed Services Rugby - by Brian G Vincent.
The World War One commemorative issue of Postcard Pillar – a most interesting issue - reminded me of one particular postcard in my rugby collection.
This is of the Anzac rugby team pictured in Paris 1917. The message on the address side reads “Lost by 3 points after a great game…”. The final score was actually Paris Reps 9 Anzacs 6 (three tries to two) after a half time score of three all. The match was played in January after a heavy snowfall hence the rather cold looking players and snow on the ground.
This postcard was published by R Fargeix of Paris. I have not seen any other Anzac rugby postcards and would be grateful to learn of any that may be in existence.
An Unusual Postcard - by Leo Haks (Postcard shown on front cover)
The recipient of this postcard, Major General Horatio Gordon Robley had been a military man most of his life and, while stationed in New Zealand, he took a particular interest in Maori culture.
He collected many items, including Toi moko (preserved heads). His book Moko: The Art and History of Maori Tattooing, published in 1896 is a classic, and many of his paintings and drawings are held in major museums in New Zealand and overseas.
William Francis Robert (W.F.) Gordon responded to a card he received from Robley with an unusual artwork using Maori related pictograms reading: ‘l wish you a Pa tiki larly mere New Year also’. Gordon's drawings are also to be found in several major museums.
The Postal Stationery card on which the drawing was made comes from a series known as the ‘The 1900 Boer War Postcards, printed in Brown’. This was card number 10, entitled ‘First Contingent entraining at Capetown’.
The card was posted from New Plymouth to London on 19th January 1901, while the Boer War was to continue for another 16 months. Artwork on postcards is not unusual, but it is unusual is for a postcard to carry actual artwork on it.
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More on World War One Hospitals - by Sue Claridge
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army that provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace.
Unlike the medical officers in some other countries, medical officers in the RAMC do not use the ‘Dr’ prefix, in parentheses or otherwise, but only their rank, although they may be addressed informally as ‘Doctor’
Embroidered postcards from World War I are generally known as ‘WWI Silks’. They were first produced in 1914, produced through to 1918, and declined thereafter.
The cards were generally hand embroidered on strips of silk mesh with as many as fifteen on a strip and produced by French and Belgian women refugees who worked in their homes and refugee camps, and then the finished strips were sent to factories for cutting and mounting on postcards.
Real Photo of the 30th Section of the New Zealand Medical Corps 1917
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EGYPT
Orwa El Woska
During World War One many establishments in Egypt, such as hotels, colleges and stadiums, were requisitioned and turned into military hospitals. Orwa El Woska was one such hospital.
Close to the station in the Greek community, the Abbasia School, in the Moharrem Bey part of Alexandria was converted into a fully equipped military hospital for the reception of wounded in April 1915. There were nearly 800 beds made ready for patients. The entire establishment was under the care of the British Royal Army Medical Corps. Nurse Pinsent was the Matron.
Greeting card from Orwa el Woska. Divided back. The photographer and publisher are unknown.
Message on the reverse reads “this is the hospital I was in with dysentery. Tom” Produced by Cliché L. Papazoglou.
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Victoria College Hospital, Alexandria
The foundation stone for Victoria College was laid by Lord Cromer in 1898. The buildings were funded by money raised by subscriptions from British subjects for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and opened in 1902.
Divided back postcard shows some of the nurses working at the hospital, and is endorsed “This is the night sisters going off duty and back to the hotel for breakfast.”
In Egypt during World War I the British military requisitioned the college for their wounded troops, becoming the British Army’s 17th General Hospital unit.
The size of the classrooms and dormitories and kitchen made it easily adaptable as a hospital.
The Citadel, No 15 General Hospital
Some of the first contingent of nurses worked in the British Military Hospitals throughout the Gallipoli campaign. The No 15 General Hospital was situated at the Citadel. Nurses who worked their described it ‘as a magnificent building’ and their other postings were never quite as interesting. The Citadel was the original hospital used for the Army of Occupation. The ancient palace was once used by Napoleon. The number of beds eventually reached 775.
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Luna Park No 19 General Hospital
The No 19th General Hospital was the Imperial Infectious Diseases Hospital, and was originally built by Germans and staffed by German deaconesses.
It was taken over in June 1915 and was originally for 1,000 patients.
Seasons Greeting card from No 19 General Hospital. Divided back, publisher and photographer unknown.
The real photo postcard below shows staff of the hospital photographed outside main entrance.
The author seeks any information on the Royal Army Medical Corps ‘season greetings’ postcards producers or photographers – information please to sueclaridge@xtra.co.nz
Page 2
The New Zealand Cyclists’ Touring Club Postcard (1897). NZ private postal stationery - by Leo Haks
In early 1897, the NZ Cyclists’ Touring Club, established in Wellington, had a postcard published for its organisation by the NZ Post Office. By itself this was neither unusual nor unique. Austin Walsh & Co., a tobacco, cigar and cigarette manufacturer in Auckland, had already done so in 1892.
What distinguished the touring club from other clients was that their postcard was printed by the Government Printing Press on paper provided by the club, a deep carmine pink coloured paper stock. The printing of the 2155 cards included a 1d, Queen Victoria, blue postage stamp, unique in itself. The size of the card (8.2 x 12.7 cm) was smaller than the postal stationery of the period.
Edmond T. Sayers, the Secretary and Editor of the touring club must have been an enterprising individual as he used the cards as official club stationery to convene club meetings and inform its members of forthcoming tours. In this instance the card was used as an enquiry card, sent to district representatives to enquire about the condition of the roads for an upcoming tour.
On the message side of the card is an another item of interest; a club logo, showing a map of the North and South Island, well-positioned on a bicycle wheel with the letters C T C for Cyclists’ Touring Club placed in a triangle.
Every aspect of this card shows an energetic spirit at work, most likely that of Mr Sayers.
The first of these cards has been recorded as sent in March 1897; the current card being posted on 8th of December of the same year and the last was recorded as sent on 14th September 1901. This card had the name of Mr Sayers erased and substituted with the name of the current secretary, E.G Pilcher.
Ref. R. Samuel. ‘New Zealand Postal Stationery, Part I – Postcards’. Shades Stamp Publications, 1988.R. Samuel. ‘The Postage Stamps of New Zealand, Volume IX’. Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand. Wellington, 2006. Chapter 1.12. Printed to Private Order Postcards, page 71.
Even though the title does not mention postcards, this book presents a detailed description of early
postcards produced by the Post Office and printed by the Government printer.
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Anzac Day - by Robert Duns
This a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and originally was to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallpoli against the Ottoman Empire in World War One.
It now encompasses all New Zealanders and Australians “who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, and the contribution and suffering of all who have served”
On 30 April 1915, when the first news of the landing at Gallipoli was received, a half-day holiday was declared and impromptu servies were held.
The date of 25th April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, and was gazetted as apublic holiday in 1920.
Message on reverse of card, “To my Soldier FRiend Leonard, with best wishes from Millie” posted Carterton 31/10/16.
Message on back of card, “This is our ANZAC card and it will show you some beautiful parts of Wanganui, New Zealand”
Back Cover
