POSTCARDS PUBLISHED by T.E. BARKER, FURRIER, HOBART

[Ross Ewington]

I have just seen this particular card for the first time today. It has an undivided back indicating that it
dates from before 1905 and features a view of Tasmanian Troops returning from the Anglo-Boer War in 1902.
The card probably dates from that year.
[attachment=0]barker ppc.jpg[/attachment]

If you have images of other cards published by Barker, please post them in this topic.

If you have any Tasmanian postcards that relate to the state's participation in the Anglo-Boer War, please
start a new topic and I will duplicate this post therein. It would make an interesting new thread .... there's
cards featuring views of the Hobart and Launceston statue/monument for starters.

[Mike]

The only information that I can find on T.E.Barker (Thomas) is that he operated from 7 Murray Street Hobart (Tasmanian Post Office Directory 1904).

All my cards are unused, so no dates but all have undivided backs, so c1903-04. All the Hobart area cards have red writing on the backside. The North East cards have light green writing on the backside. 2 sets perhaps??

I can list the following 11 cards. Is there 12 cards to the Hobart set?

HOBART AREA

Wharf and Ferry
Cascade
Cape Roul
River Derwent
New Post Office (what date was the "new" Hobart PO opened? Should be able to date these cards by the opening of the new PO)
Hobart
Silver Falls, Hobart
Tasman Arch
Government House
Fern Tree Bower
Return of troops to Hobart

NORTH EAST AREA

The Gum Avenue, St Mary's
New Golden Gate Gold Mine, Mathinna
Bridge over Esk, Mathinna.

[Ross Ewington]

Thanks Mike ... that's a very useful list.

Re the opening of the Hobart GPO, here's a link to a newspaper clipping covering the opening
that I have just posted elsewhere on this BB

http://tps.org.au/bb/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=285#p1190

A few questions from me:

- do any other T.E. Barker card have a green tint like the one of the returning troops I posted above?
- do the postcards back have a similarity to those of J. Walch & Sons printed during the same time?
- I note your cards (above) do not have space for a message at the base whereas the one I started this topic with
does .... could this indicate different series (like a green tint may do also)?

I can feel an article in The Courier "coming on".

[Mike]

I have now found a used Barker card. Posted Hobart 24/11/05. Fern Tree Bower with red writing.





The North East cards have green writing on the back. Note that the "New Golden Gate Gold Mine" card does not have "T.E.Barker, Furrier, Hobart" printed on the front. The card is the same on all other repects.

I assumed that the "Return of Troops" had a red back writing not green, ( I should never assume) so it does not belong to the Hobart area set I listed above.
Note the different symbols under the under the 2 lines on the red and green backs.

The backs have no similarity to Walch issued cards

[Mike]

Can add another Barker card to the list. See page 9 "Collecting Australian Postcards" by Nick Vukovic 1983.

King Billy and Truganini.

It has a large space for the message under the picture. So perhaps green writing on the back? I think the "large space" for writing cards might be slightly earlier than the most of the Hobart area cards I listed.

I would consider the King Billy card rare. I have not seen one before in the "flesh". Perhaps Tasmanian Aboriginal cards would make a good new thread?

[Hobbit123]

I can add one more to the (Hobart Area) list - Sunrise on the Derwent.

[Mike]

Have sighted "King Billy and Truganini" card. It has a red writing on the back. Postally used at Launceston 11/5/05

[Mike]

I have sighted another which card be added to the list,

"Group of Aboriginals. Tas"

Has a red writing back, postally used but the stamp has been removed, so date is lost.

This makes 12 cards with a red writing on the back, thats if Hobbit123 card "Sunrise on the Derwent" has red writng on the back. Perhaps Hobbit123 can confirm this? So perhaps a set of 12 ??

[Mike]

Another card for the list

Bellerive, Tas.

Green writing on the back. Postally unused.

[Hobbit123]

After checking my listings, I can record used examples of the following:

Cape Raoul
Cascade (Brewery)
Silver Falls.

When (if?) I get round to reorganising my collection by publisher/category I will be able to answer questions about what the backs look like! Sorry.

[Mike]

Can confirm that "Sunrise on the Derwent" has green writing on the back.

[Des_Beechey]

I am wondering if any more information has become available about cards that look like T.E. Barker cards but have no indication of the publisher? Here is an example:

3908F.jpg (134.74 KiB) Viewed 1828 times

3908B.jpg (81.64 KiB) Viewed 1828 times

Here is a similar card published by T.E. Barker, Furrier:

3651F.jpg (101.93 KiB) Viewed 1828 times

3651B.jpg (47.34 KiB) Viewed 1828 times

Any suggestions? I don't have enough of them to know if the pictures on the two styles are the same.

Des Beechey