Some time ago Ross asked for information about Selwyn Cox. It has taken some time, but here it is.
Selwyn Cox (1871-1941)
Selwyn Cox was a stationer and postcard publisher in Launceston. His obituary in the Launceston Examiner of 3 Dec 1941 gave an overview of his life:
"The death occurred at his residence, Trevallyn, yesterday, of Mr. Selwyn Cox, for many years a businessman in Launceston. Mr. Cox was born 71 years ago in Horsley, Gloucestershire, England, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cox. He was educated at the Amberley Church Grammar School and later at the St. Chloe’s Grammar School. He was apprenticed to W. Brown and Co., stationers, of London for a time.
"Mr. Cox came to Tasmania in 1891at the age of 21 and was employed in the wholesale warehouse of Godgshun and Co. until 1895, when he entered the services of Richard Gee as manager of his stationery department. He remained there for 10 years and then opened his own stationery business in Charles Street. He retired only a few months ago.
"Mr Cox had many outside interests. He was a keen churchman, first at St. John’s Church of England, where he was secretary of the executive committee of the extension building movement for about 14 years. He was also on the first Church Parish Council. When the St. Oswald’s Church, Trevallyn, was built, he became the superintendent of the Sunday school and a trustee of the church.
"He was the first secretary and one of the prime movers in the formation of Launceston Y.M.C.A., of which he later became president and trustee. He was also the first secretary and one of the original members of the Union Jack Gymnasium Society, and was elected a life member. For many years he was secretary of the Trevallyn Improvement Association. He was a member of the Parliamentary Debating Society. A short while after he came from England he won the Burnie Gift.
"Mr Cox had a great interest in Masonic work, being a member of the Lodge of Hope. He was master of the lodge in 1918.
"He is survived by his wife, six children (five daughters and one son) and a brother. The funeral will be private.
Selwyn Cox was a stationer, operating from a shop at 96 Charles Street, Launceston from 1905 until his retirement in 1941, a few months before he died. He sold a full range of stationery and associated items, as shown in his advertisement for Christmas of 1906 shown at left.
Cox published post cards from the start of his business in 1905. In 1905 he advertised the “Beautiful Tasmania” series, and in 1906 commenced the Wynphotoprint series of b&w cards. He sold imported British cards, probably as the majority of his stock, but offered cards with Tasmanian views from 1905. He continued advertising and selling postcards until the 1930s by which time the demand had declined. Late in his retailing career, along with standard stationery lines, he promoted fountain pens (ball point pens did not yet exist) and typewriters.
Selwyn Cox was not a photographer, and used images supplied by other photographers on his postcards. Exactly who those photographers were is not known, as he did not credit the photographers on his cards. Neither did he credit the printer of his cards. His b&w cards were printed by collotype, most likely in Germany, and his coloured cards were printed by collotype and photolithography, most likely also in Germany.
In 1910 and 1911 Cox appears to have been the force behind the Pictorial Postcard Co. This company operated from a different address from his shop at 96 Charles Street, but the similarity of its cards to the Selwyn Cox products suggests that it was a branch of his business. When it started up in 1910 it advertised “To the trade, large and small wholesale buyers”, offering postcards as well as general stationery, suggesting that it was his wholesale outlet. This venture did not last long, advertising a “Great Selling off Sale” in 1911.
