H. W. Grattan cards.

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Colin Salt

H. W. Grattan cards.

#1 Post by Colin Salt » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:52 am

This postcard of King's Bridge Launceston is the first I have seen by H.W. Grattan.
There are no postal markings but the brief message on the back is dated 13.12.1904.
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King's Bridge, Launceston..jpg
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Hobbit123
Posts: 149
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:39 am

Re: H. W. Grattan cards.

#2 Post by Hobbit123 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:23 am

Colin
I have a fair number in my collection. I append a list below. If memory serves me right, he was also photographer for part of a further series of cards. I will attempt to find them!

Alexandra Bridge, near Launceston
Alexandra Suspension bridge, Cataract Cliff Grounds
Beauty Point, River Tamar
Brisbane Street, Launceston
Cataract Gorge from Bridge
Crusoe Hut and Pavilion, Cataract Cliff Grounds
Eden Holme on Hebe Reef, Jan 7th 1907
Esk River, Belle Vue, Epping
Evening calm on the Tamar
Fern Tree Bower, Denison Gorge
King's Bridge, Launceston
"Larroo" near Newstead
Prince's Square showing Fountain & Cong. Church
The Basin of the Tamar and King's Bridge

I am sure that the serious postcard collectors will have many more!

Hobbit123
Posts: 149
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:39 am

Re: H. W. Grattan cards.

#3 Post by Hobbit123 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:39 am

I have managed to find some more from the Examiner Series. They are:

H W Grattan Alexandra Bridge, near Launcestonj
H W Grattan Cataract Gorge
H W Grattan Launceston Centenary
H W Grattan TSS Loongana

That is my lot!

Mike
Posts: 458
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:55 pm

Re: H. W. Grattan cards.

#4 Post by Mike » Wed Sep 05, 2012 1:38 pm

An inside view of H.W.Grattan's Shop.
scan0288.jpg
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Ross Ewington
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Location: Hobart
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Re: H. W. Grattan cards.

#5 Post by Ross Ewington » Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:15 pm

thanks Mike ... I've been looking for an image (or preferably an example) of this card for years.

In my opinion, it would have to be in the "All Time Top 10" of important Tassie PPC's ! :)

Des_Beechey
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Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:31 am

Biography of H.W. Grattan

#6 Post by Des_Beechey » Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:23 am

I have investigated the background of the Launceston publisher H.W. Grattan in preparation for making an entry for him on my website. The most difficult part was working out what the W in his initial stood for!

Henry Washington Grattan, 1872-1949

H.W. Grattan was born in London in 1872 and came to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1877. He married Mary Ann Nankivell in Melbourne in 1896. In 1903 he was in Launceston, and advertised as a photographer specialising in outdoor photography, with "the largest and best variety of Tasmanian views" on sale, suggesting he had been photographing in the state for some time. In 1903 he had a shop at 40 Brisbane St, Launceston.
In 1906 he had a shop at 179 Charles Street, which is shown in a coloured card he published.

By 1907 he had established a larger shop, Grattan’s Arcade, at 125 Brisbane Street. His publicity said his cards included the most beautiful views of the old world as well as views of Tasmania which "are so much appreciated by friends in distant lands". He also sold prints and photographs, and provided a framing service, along with Christmas and New Year cards and postcard albums. His postcard stock was supplemented by silver and art ware - vases, hand bags, ornaments and writing materials. Before Christmas he advertised "the perfect bower of toys and pretty things for the little ones".

However, it appears that he over-extended himself, because in February 1908 there was a "Gigantic Clearance Sale" by order of the Trustees, selling all of his estate of postcard views, stationery, and an immense assortment of fancy goods and framed and unframed pictures. Grattan appears to have then left Tasmania, as in April 1908, his wife was given as the contact for the auction of all her household furniture and effects.

Also in April 1908, a newspaper notice said that Spurling and Son had purchased all the negatives of H.W. Grattan, along with their copyright.

Grattan then moved out of the postcard business, but remained as a picture framer and photographer. Initially, after the disaster in Tasmania, in 1909 he and his wife were listed as restaurant keepers at 252 Russell St, Melbourne. In 1914 he was again a photographer, located in Bendigo. By 1925 he had moved to Queensland and was a picture framer at Kelvin Grove, a suburb of Brisbane. His wife died in 1931, and Grattan was subsequently located in several Brisbane suburbs. He died in 1949, in Brisbane.

Grattan's legacy is of a photographer, retailer and postcard publisher. His postcard output was not large so his postcards are fairly uncommon, but he published some interesting cards including the views of his shops in Launceston.

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