Royal Reels: Gambling

Postcards

THOMAS BRUNTON, BAKER, POLITICIAN, FLOUR MILLER & FARMER

The postcard had a 1d orange-brown ‘Reading Stamp Duty’ stamp cancelled with an ‘UP TRAIN/ MG 1/AU 23/ 90/ VICTORIA postmark and had a printed JAS. GRIGG, Esq.,456 Collins Street, Melbourne (Figure 1). The reverse was also printed and was headed SOUTHERN PROVINCE ELECTION/ August 4 th, 1890 Dear Sir, You may append my name to the requisition to Mr. Thos. Brunton. Yours truly, (unsigned by sender) but signed by the receiver Mr. Phillip,

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THOMAS BAKER & JOHN ROUSE COMPANY, FORE-RUNNER of KODAK, AUSTRALASIA

Two N.S.W. letter cards to the Baker & Rouse company in Sydney in the late 1890’s not only led to information about photography in Australia, but also about philanthropy which led to the formation of one of the premier Victorian medical research and treatment centres. Both letter cards (with the printed red 1½d stamp) were identical and they were addressed to the company at 375 George Street, Sydney. The first

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WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, LAUNCESTON WINES & SPIRITS MERCHANT

Two items appeared at auction sites recently and both referred to the same family. The first was addressed to Mr. Wm. Johnstone, Merchant, Launceston and was postmarked in red with an oval PAID SHIP LETTER/ [crown]/ AU * 20/ 1845/ SYDNEY, with rosettes on both sides. The only other markings were in manuscript, a large black ‘4’ (for paid postage) and a large red ‘3’ (for payment of the captain

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WILLIAM CAMERON BROS. & CO. LIMITED to E.F. WEDLICH, TOBACCONIST

The Post Card is addressed to Mr. E.F. Wedlich, Tobacconist, Ballarat and it has the printed brown ‘Reading One Penny’ stamp of Victoria which is cancelled with MELBOURNE/ 23 A/ MR 12/ 98 postmark (Figure 1). The reverse has advertising for the William Cameron Bros. & Co. Limited, with a handstruck partially obscured purple ‘PROPRIETARY’. The “Virginia” Tobacco Factory, Offices and Factory were located at 14 to 20 A’Beckett Street,

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JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN (1836-1914) & TARIFF REFORM [ENGLAND]

When I first considered this paper in 2003, I gave it the title of “Donkey/Mule and Teddy/ Joey”, for I could not differentiate whether the kicking quadriped was a donkey or a mule and whether it represented a monocled Teddy Roosevelt or Joey Chamberlain. Additional research confirmed that Joseph Chamberlain was the subject of this cartoon postcard, which was probably of English manufacture. The postcard has a central kicking quadriped

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CHARLES DANA GIBSON, ILLUSTRATOR, 1868-1944 [USA]

The pen-and-ink drawings of illustrator Charles Gibson came to represent the spirit of the early twentieth century in America. His illustrations appeared in a number of popular magazines and they both influenced and reflected attitudes, behaviours and mores in the country. The onset of the First World War was said to have ended the public’s romance with Gibson’s images, for the collective outlook changed from confident optimism to reserved cynicism;

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UNCLE SAM in AUSTRALIA [CORRECT MAP of AUSTRALIA]

A ‘humorous’ postcard has been seen recently at two different sites, but whereas the card may be comical in the U.S.A., Australia’s attitude is most certainly different, particularly at present. The card was used in Tasmania and the vendor stated (noting the missing Tasmania) that Tasmania was “mercifully off the map”. It was described as a circa 1908 colour card by Marchant & Co. with humorous illustration comprising map of

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THE WHOLE DAM FAMILY: A CARD SENT to a 2nd YEAR ARTS STUDENT

My intent with this humourous card was to find out something about this Sydney University second year Arts student who was sent the card postmarked SYDNEY/ 8 JY 05 – 2PM/ 35 on the red ‘Arms’ 1d N.S.W. stamp. To date this has not been achieved, for after 6 months I am unlikely to obtain an answer from the Registrar’s Office at the University of Sydney (Figure 1). I suspect

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TAXED CARTOON POSTCARD from INVERELL, N.S.W. to PEKING, CHINA

I am always intrigued how inadequately addressed mail is sent out into the world, and this postcard really takes the prize. It is an English postcard, identified in green print vertically placed on the left hand side as being produced by the Cyn( )cas Publishing Co., Ltd , Tayport, Fifeshire. The postcard is simply addressed to Miss Isabel Pi( )y, Pekin (sic) China! The red 1d N.S.W. ‘Shield’ stamp is postmarked

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SCOUT JAMBOREE, FRANKSTON VICTORIA, 1934-35

This illustrated cover specifically prepared for the Jamboree was postmarked with a faint AUST. JAMBOREE FRANKSTON/ 2.30 P 3 JA 35/ VIC. and it was addressed to Tom Fielding, Penguin, Tasmania. The front had a small printed AUSTRALIAN JAMBOREE FRANKSTON/ VICTORIA 1935, with a kangaroo and a boomerang in the centre, as well as a scout badge. It had a total postage of 1½d made up of the green 1d

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