'THE LAST OF THE RACE' CARD by A.H. SMITH

[Ross Ewington]

This composite real photo has just arrived on my desk on it's way to auction. I think it's fascinating and thought I'd like to share the image
[attachment=0]the last of the race.jpg[/attachment]

The card has been postally used from Launceston to West Devonport ..... the date is a little distinct but I am fairly certain that the card is from 1907
or slightly earlier. The portraits of 'King Billy' and 'Lalla Rook' (Truganini) appear to be photographs of photographs from a printed book.

As to the words across the base of the card "Drooped Before The White Mans Breath & Died" being in quotation marks ...... who was being quoted here I wonder?

The quality of the photography and especially the tinting is very amateurish.

The attribution in the lower right corner reads "A.H. Smith Copyright".

Chris Long in "Tasmanian Photographers 1840-1940" records and A.H. Smith as being a photographer in Hobart with premises in Collins Street during the 1940s
......... could this be a 'juvenile work'?

Has anyone any other cards by A.H. Smith or 'King Billy and Truganini' cards of a similar nature?

[Mike]

Another copy of "The Last of the Race" postcard. This card confirms that each card was individually hand tinted. Notice slight differences in tinting between each card.

C.N.Southley has claimed to be the photographer! I agree that these are photos of photos. The card is printed on English stock, ie half penny stamp for inland etc.

All Tasmanian aboriginal cards especially real photo cards must be considered to be scarce to rare.

abo1.jpg (383.1 KiB) Viewed 926 times

abo2.jpg (137.32 KiB) Viewed 926 times

[Ross Ewington]

thanks Mike ..... your card is in very nice condition.

Here is the back of my example ..... I note different RP postcard stock that the "Southey card".
[attachment=1]the last of the race 2.jpg[/attachment]

Here is an enlargement of the attribution printed in the LR corner of the card...
[attachment=0]last of the race 3.jpg[/attachment]

Chris Long cites Southey's 'dates' as being 1917-1923 so this is probably another example of a
'same photo, different photographer card' i.e. Southey purchased the glass negative and permission
to publish it from Smith.

How does that sound?