H.J.Hellessey · Real Photo Cards including Postally Used

[Mike]

The real photo postcards of H J Hellessey are not often seen. The quality of the photographs is extremely good.
All of the cards that I have seen have a blank back, ie there is no printed "Post Card" or any lines to divide the
message side from the address side. Many postcard collectors dismiss these cards as tourist type photos and not
worthy of collecting. This card proves that Hellessey cards were postcards and they were accepted by the post office.


This card was posted from Devonport on 24/3/48 to Cygnet with the correct postage rate for a postcard.

[Mike]

Not postally used but a good view of the old Fern Tree Hotel c 1950's. Plain back as per all Hellessey postcards. Card is number 185. This could indicate a rather large set of these rare cards ?

[Ross Ewington]

I just found an unused card with a printed Kodak Austral postcard back ...first example
that I have seen! Although most of the cards by Hellessey that I have handled (and that's not many)
date from the immediate post WWII period, this card which is a sepia print, may be from much earlier
than this.

IN NEWDEGATE CAVE HASTINGS

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[Hobbit123]

While they are scarce, I have managed to accumulate 41 of them, with numbers from 1 to 193, and including two numbered 3 (Mt Wellington, showing University; Bridge at Orford). Only two of them are used; No. 127, River Derwent at New Norfolk and No. 193, In Newdegate Caves, Hastings. Seven of them have no number. If you wish, I am happy to edit this contribution to include a list of my holding. I have noted that No. 126, Huonville, is marked on the back "Stride's Stores, Huonville", and that No.94 New Norfolk from the Rocks "was Synnott 133". I only have one (unnumbered) Synnott card of the same subject.

[Ross Ewington]

Here are two cards by Hellessey that pre-date WWII (unusual?), both with a Kodak Austral postcard back (also unusual?)
Both cards have a "To /From" greeting on the back dated '1937'. Neither are numbered as are most if not all cards by Hellessey
post-dating WWII.

ANDREWS BRIDGE BOTHWELL

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BOTHWELL FROM BARRACKS HILL

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[Ross Ewington]

I am unsure as to how early H.J. Hellessey produced photos for use as postcards but everything I have seen to date
appears to be from the late 1930s through to the late 1940s. This card looks like a "1940s production" by Hellessey (it was
definitely printed then) but closer inspection indicates that the photo was taken in the mid 1920s at the latest.

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Note the Bellerive/Sorell railway jetty in the foreground...

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There are rails and rolling stock thereupon!! This indicates that the photo had to be taken in 1926 or earlier as the
railway was taken up in that year. I have seen a postcard view of the jetty area dating from 1927/28 with a huge pile
of railway lines stacked up awaiting departure for Strahan where they were 'recycled'.

[Ross Ewington]

I haven't seen a card by Hellessey for a while - this view of "Murray Street Showing Hadley's Hotel Hobart" turned up earlier today. Different from the majority of Hellessey's cards, this one has a 'postcard back' (Kodak Austral stock used in the 1930s)

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P.S. I wonder what happened to the fine clock outside the Victoria Tavern (Hotel)

[John Campton]

Hellessey View folder 1st view .jpg (212.31 KiB) Viewed 9715 times

Hellessey 12 views folder.jpg (221.02 KiB) Viewed 9715 times

It has been a while since H.J. Hellessey has had a mention but his RPPCs turn up from time to time. I have a few in four different formats as regards postcard title. Most have postcard backs and three different types are postally used in 1940 and 1941.

Now for something different I have acquired a black and white "12 Souvenir Views of Hobart Tasmania The New H.J.H Series. Printed by the Mercury Press Hobart 46/855 it is not designed for postal use but the views inside may help others with answering some questions they may have re subject matter.

The views are
Hobart from Knocklofty, Franklin Square Hobart Tasmania, Government House Hobart Tasmania, River Derwent Pontoon Bridge Hobart Tasmania,Road to Pinnacle Mount Wellington Hobart Tasmania,Hobart from Pinnacle Mount Wellington Hobart Tasmania, Mount Wellington from Bellerive Hobart Tasmania, Mount Wellington from Domain Hobart Tasmania, Mount Wellington from Sandy Bay Hobart Tasmania, Wrest Point Riviera Hotel Hobart Tasmania, Macquarie Street Hobart Tasmania,Elizabeth Street Hobart Tasmania. All have H.J.H. after the description.

Has anyone seen a view folder before?