This postcard is part of a collection made by Amy and Lindy Hall of West Maitland, New South Wales, between 1905 and 1925. Consisting of over 750 postcards, mainly of Australian and United Kingdom scenes, it was donated to the Museum by Cedric Bullard in the late 1960s. These postcards are among some of the earliest picture postcards produced by private companies in Australia. Even though the private printing of postcards was allowed in 1898, few were collected prior to the 1905 decision to divide the card, allowing a picture on the front and message and address on the back.

This change made it far more attractive to collect postcards and it is really from this date that Australian cards became part of the global trend of collecting and exchanging cards. The trend appears to have started during the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889, but these postcards represent the hey-day of early collecting in Australia. The collection contains examples published by well-known Australian photographers such as the Falk, Crown and Kerry Studios along with rarer examples produced by amateurs.

Geoff Barker, Curatorial, December, 2012

References
Picture Postcards in Australia, 1898-1920, David Cook

This postcard was sent to Mrs William Hall, c/o Mrs F. Gridland, Redfern, New South Wales, Australia in 1907.

A postcard, photo mechanical print of the Empress Falls in Wentworth Falls. The front of the postcard features an image of the Empress Falls surrounded by trees and rocks. There is text in black ink at the bottom of the image on the left reading 'Series 70-Wentworth Falls.' and on the right 'Kerry & Co. (Copyright) Sydney.'. In the 6mm white border beneath the image there is text in black ink in the centre reading 'Empress Falls'. Beneath this text there is one line of handwritten text in black ink from the sender. On the reverse of the postcard there is a message to the recipient 'Mrs W. Hall' from her daughter Anne. In the top right corner on the reverse there is a 1 pence New South Wales postage stamp in red featuring the New South Wales coat of arms.

Made: 1906

See Description.

96/150/1-18

1906

141 mm

92 mm