tps.org.au

As other posts on the TPS BB attest, Selwyn Cox of Launceston was a huge producer of Tasmanian postcards
during the 'Golden Period'. Not only did he publish cards for sale from his stationery/bookshop business in Charles Street,
he also provided cards for other retailers (in smaller Northern Tasmanian town) with their business name printed on the back
as publisher.

I for one know little about this postcard publisher, his various trademarks such as 'Wynphotoprint", Wynbromoprint","Photoglase", etc.
and the length of period during which he produced and sold cards. Therefore, I thought this would be a good place to start accumulating
snippets of information, biographical in nature and see what we can compile, perhaps for future publication in The Courier on on the main
TPS website.

Here's my first contribution - a clipping from The Examiner dated 18th December 1905 which indicates that Selwyn Cox had just started
trading.
_______click on image to open completely_______ If you would like to make a contribution to this topic, please do!

The following information has been extracted from the ancestry.com site and while this information is probably correct, the original sources have not been viewed. Ancestry.com can be useful for finding basic biographical information especially residence and occupation information from electoral rolls for Tasmania for the first half of last century.

Selwyn Cox was born in Gloucestershire on 25 Nov 1871.

1885. He was appreticed to William Brown and Co Ltd, Manufacturing stationers and publishers of London.

1891. He migrated to Tasmania with other members of the family.

1899. Married Isobel Bushby.

1905. Opened his stationery business in Launcestoon, Tasmania.

1914 (and later). He resided at Trevallyn.

1941 Selwyn died at Launceston.

His son John Selwyn Cox also owned a publishing business in Launceston (possibly Selwyn's ?).

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.