Burke Series of RP cards with West Coast Views

[Ross Ewington]

I am unfamiliar with cards from this series (or by this publisher) - does anyone have any information?
The card below is numbered No.9 and there must be at least 8 others ... more likely to be 10 or a dozen.
If you have any other views, please post the images on this thread (if you do not know how to upload an image
to a bulletin board, please contact me for assistance. - Ross

P.S. judging by the fact that there are no motor vehicles in the street, this photo could possibly pre-date the opening
of the West Coast Road in 1930s.

[Mike]

Can add 4 new cards to the Burke Series of real photo postcards.

No1 Queenstown Tas.
No2 Ore Street and Mt Owen Queenstown
No4 Loading ore Queenstown
No17 Snow covered Queenstown and Gormanston Road

As the highest number is 17, perhaps there is 18 or even 24 cards in the set.
All my cards are unused, with what I would call a poor quility printed back. The words "Post Card" are into centre with "A Genuine Photograph" underneath. There are no lines to divide the back of the card.
The Tasmanian Trade and Business Directory for 1951 lists Burke's Newsagency in Orr St Queenstown. They were authorised newsagents selling stationary, fancy goods, toys, sporting goods and a variety of modern books. No mention of postcards. I would guess that Burke's commissioned the postcards for sale at their newsagency. The photographs could of been taken by either T Nankivell or Robert Ralph who were both active photographers at that time.
There are cars in card No2, in the distance. c1945 - 1950perhaps ? The mining truck and shovel (card No 4 ) could give clues to dating.

[Mike]

Scans of Burke cards. Card numbers 4, 2, 17 & 1.

[Ross Ewington]

Just came across another example recently purchased by a collector
from a Victorian postcard dealer.
[attachment=0]p473.jpg[/attachment]
Mechanical Shovel, Queenstown / Burke Series No.13

[Mike]

This advertisement appeared in the "Tasmanian Trade & Bussiness Directory" 1951.

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[Hobbit123]

I have consulted my listing and can claim to have two cards, #8, Queenstown, Gormanston Road and #16, Mt Lyell with Road to Queenstown. As ever, I cannot readily lay my hands on them for which I apologise.

[Ross Ewington]

I have just purchased a copy of "Memories of Tasmania's West Coast" by L.J. Morley (Wellington Bridge Press)

On page 89 appears a reproduction of Burke Series No.5 entitled "Mt Lyell Ore Truck, Queenstown" - sorry that I can't
provide a scan but I may break the binding in the process of obtaining one.

[Ross Ewington]

I have just located card #18!! ...."Queenstown With Mt. Owen In Background"

(to view the whole card, please "click" on the image once)

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[John Campton]

It is just the thing you dont want to happen. Find something that you think is new and the ebay seller fails to send it, even when it is tracked mail. I found and purchased a No. 12 Burke series RPPC "The smelters and reduction works, Queenstown".

The interesting and new part is that the back is divided by the words " This is a real picture postcard" and the fact that it is a Valentines postcard (noted on reverse only).

Des Beechey has been a great postcard mentor and has helped me on many occasions. Seeing this postcard with the Valentines back would mean that it is a new Real Photo Series similar to his Series 17 Ansett Travel Services series (in his booklet "Valentine's Tasmanian Postcards" - recommended)and would advance his research. I believe that Valentines purchased the rights to the Burke postcards in the same manner that Nu Color Vue purchased the rights to Robert Ralphs postcards.

Prima facie it would appear that Burkes postcards morphed into Valentines and Ralphs morphed into Nu Color Vue.

I am asking members to look at the reverse of their Burke series postcards of Queenstown and see if any of them have Valentine backs and note them on the BB.

My apologies to Des for not contacting him with this "discovery" but I have waited in vain for the mail to be delivered but the seller has not lodged the tracked item with Australia Post yet. Frustrating!!

Hope you can help. Regards John C

[Ross Ewington]

It may be prudent to make a screen capture of the card image from the eBay listing while it is still available

RE

[Ross Ewington]

I think this card is "new" to the listing...

LYELL HOSPITAL, MT. OWEN IN BACKGROUND · BURKE SERIES No.6

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[John Campton]

Yes Ross this is a new listing for the Burke Series of postcards of Queenstown. I have been researching this series for the last year and ascertained that there are 18 postcards in the set. The only ones that remain unknown at this stage are Nos. 3, 7, 10, 11,14 and 15. As noted on your TSA site they are harder to come by despite their relative youth as a postcard (1950's).

Nine of the Queenstown views in this series were used in a "Queenstown Tas. Photographic Booklet" published by Valentine Publishing Co for Burke's Newsagency circa 1955 (I have a postaly used booklet with the Type 5(i) Queenstown cds dated -9 SE 55). This is possibly about the same time the postcards morphed into a new Valentine Series with the typical Burke front but Valentine back.

Not only were there two types of postcard, Burke and Burke with Valentine back, and the "Photographic Booklet" there was a set of souvenir view cards 90mm x 70mm. These souvenir views are identical in format to the postcards but with a blank back.

Of the six unknown Burke postcards I can name three that have presented as either part of the photographic booklet or the view cards. They are "The Recreation Ground", "Post Office" and "Truck Loaded with Ore Queenstown". When more is known about the Series with the Valentine backs I would like to submit it for publication in the Courier but there is still more questions to be answered. Can smell a Courier article here.

I hope this has helped with any queries anyone has. If anyone knows more or can fill in the blanks please post a reply. Happy hunting. JC

[Mike]

This is the Burke's Photographic booklet published by Valentines Publishing Co. Ltd which John refers to.
The 9 views are,
1 Ore Street and Mt Owen
2 Queenstown and MT Owen
3 The Recreation Ground
4 The Smelters and Reduction Works
5 Queenstown - Gormanston Road
6 Post Office
7 Lyell Hospital, Mt Owen in the background
8 Queenstown
9 Loading Ore.

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[Ross Ewington]

BURKES SERIES No.8 - QUEENSTOWN - GORMANSTON ROAD, TAS

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[Mike]

I do not think this card has been listed before, Burke Series Number 10. "Looking Toward Smelters, Queenstown, Tas."

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[John Campton]

Thanks Ross, this is a new one to add to the list. Only Nos. 3, 11 and 15 to go now.

Does it have a plain back or a Valentines back? Just keeping a record of those known and format used.

JC

[Mike]

Hi John, It has a Valentine back.

[Mike]

For the record, Burke Series No 12, The Smelters and Reduction Works Queenstown. I don't think it has been shown here but has been listed.
It has a Valentine back.

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