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 Linda Hall, West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia in 1907.

A postcard, photo mechanical print of Watson's Bay. The front of the postcard features an image of a bay with shrubs and trees in the foreground and buildings in the background. There are a few large eucalyptus trees on the left hand side. In the 12mm white border beneath the image there is text in black ink in the centre reading 'Watson's Bay.' and on the bottom right 'Kerry & Co. (Copyright), Sydney.'. On the reverse of the postcard there is a message to the recipient 'Miss L Hall' with 'Best Wishes for Merry Xmas & Happy New Year' from 'Rita'. In the top right corner on the reverse there are two half penny New South Wales postage stamps in green featuring the profile of Queen Victoria.

Made: 1907

See Description.

96/150/1-41

1907

88 mm

138 mm