Tasmanian Private Lettercards

[Hobbit123]

I have recently set about writing up the handful of Tasmania Private Lettercards that I own. They come in two basic types but with variety within the types. All have an address panel on the front and a picture on the back when folded.

The first type was produced by Walch & Son, and it is referred to in Owen Ingles' 1967 article in PfA. The Lettercards are headed 'Picturesque Tasmania Letter Card', and I have found them on blue stock and cream stock, with different sizes (folded) for each.

The blue stock cards (Type 1) measure 129 x 86 mm and the cream stock cards (Type 2) measure 120 x 94 mm. These dimensions do not take account of the selvedge (on three sides) that has been removed, and I have not seen a mint example. There is a sheet stapled within the cards. In the case of Type 2, this is a blank lettersheet. Type 1 has two alternative layouts. One has a blank lettersheet with four small pictures on the inside of the card outer and the other has a blank interior to the card outer but four larger pictures on the stapled interior.

Type 1 Lettercard

Private LC02.jpg (404.96 KiB) Viewed 2685 times

Type 1 interior - 4 small pictures

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Type 1 interior 4 large pictures

Private LC04.jpg (690.06 KiB) Viewed 2685 times

The second type was produced at the 'Examiner' office in Launceston and opens out to show a central letter sheet with four small pictures on the 'wings'. I have a few examples on cream stock and a single example in pale green with a pink tinge to the interior.

Type 2 Lettercard

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Type 2 Lettercard - Interior

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All my dates of usage are in the 1902 to 1905 range.

I hope that the attached illustrations will clarify any points that I have not made clear.

I would be interested to hear of any other variants and the pictures that are inside.

I have also some 'Souvenir Lettercards' from Launceston that I will not describe here. Too much for a single post!

Patrick

[Mike]

An example of a mint copy of Type 1 Private Lettercard.
Inside views are

Mt Wellington from Huon Road.
Cape Raoul
Tessellated Pavement, Eaglehawk Neck
Port Arthur.

Notice "No2" top left corner.

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tc2.jpg (169.1 KiB) Viewed 2657 times

Type 2 Lettercard, postally used 5/10/03

Views
Back, Hobart from the Bay
Inside.
In Franklin Sqare, Hobart
Govenment hOuse, Hobart.
Mount Wellington from Huon Road.
River Derwent at New Norfolk.

[Hobbit123]

Mike

Are the dimensions of 'No. 2' (minus selvedge) the same as the one that I illustrated?

Patrick

[Mike]

Hello Patrick
My Type 2 Tasmanian Letter Card on creme stock has the demensions of 114mm x 92mm. A little smaller than your card. There is no selvedge as such but has a stick down flap along the top only. This flap is about 20mm in depth x 114mm wide (ie the width of the card).

Regards
Mike.

[Ross Ewington]

I noticed this lettercard for Furner's Hotel, Ulverstone was offered on eBay during November 2010
[attachment=0]furners lettercard.jpg[/attachment]
I can't recall having seen one of these before. Does anyone have another or similar example?
I am unaware as to whether there was any additional text or images inside.

Footnote: there was no text or images inside the card - it sold for AU$79.88. There were 16 bids from eight
different bidders so interest was 'strong'.

[Hobbit123]

Re: Furner's Hotel, Ulverstone Letter Card
Do we know the possible date of this card? It was after 1901 as it is marked 'Commonwealth Letter Card', but do we know when R W McGowan was proprietor? Would that information be in a Walch's Almanac?