A Postcard Exchange Club?

[Des_Beechey]

In the early 1900s when postcards were booming, there were postcard exchange clubs. You occasionally see cards with the name of the club clearly spelt out, or with some obscure codes. Members liked the stamp on the front so it could be seen with the card in a display album

Below is a card that may have been sent by a member of an exchange club. The rubber stamp imprint on the back, being the only correspondence, makes it look that way. And, never having seen this card before, I suspect it was produced by P.F. Lonergan for his own exchange use.

Does anyone recognise the card or the rubber stamp imprint?

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[Ross Ewington]

P.F. Lonergan was a local Esperanto enthusiast and prolific correspondent. I think the handstamp relates to his language hobby rather than to a postcard club.

I have illustrated this card elsewhere on the online forum ..... there are examples overprinted by aspiring politicians, etc. I think the card was
a J.W. Walch publication but I'll have to have a look and return to this post with some information later.

[Des_Beechey]

Thanks Ross - most interesting, for two reasons.

Firstly, the circular stamp on my example says "Registered/ Hobart/ 13 Jul 29". I take it that this was a private stamp applied by the sender also?

Secondly, the card itself : you show another example in the same series elsewhere on the forum. What other cards were in the series?

Des

[Ross Ewington]

The postmark is definitely "official" (used at Hobart G.P.O.) ... I think Lonergan mailed this card to himself

To the best of my knowledge, this card was a "one of" (i.e. not from a series) and dates from around 1907

[Des_Beechey]

You illustrate a similar card on the BB in "Postmarks & Postal Merkings to 1912"

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Des Beechey

[Mike]

I have only seen 2 cards from this series. My 5 cards are all postally used in 1906.

Interestingly one of the cards has "Series F 1905 J.Walch & Sons, Wellington Bridge, Hobart" printed on the back of the card.

Have scanned an example used for political purposes.

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