Sepia Saturday 280: 23 May 2015


Alan says: 


The themes for Sepia Saturday 280 include boys, girls and dances. The caption on the old vintage postcard (which is here wrongly attributed to Flickr Commons but in fact comes from my own collection) reads "In Leap Year - The Ladies after a little wine and tobacco join the gentlemen in the drawing room". So another potential theme you could have is that of "reverses" - occasions when the usual arrangements are reversed.


I have been a very slack Sepia Saturday contributor of late, for which I apologise.  I can't resist posting this photo which I took earlier this year on my mobile phone - a Samsung GT19507 model.  I realise it's not Sepia - but it is a reverse shot yes?  It was taken at night (9:35 to be precise) at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort on the Gold Coast Queensland or 27 51\'6" S and 153 21\'35"E to be more precise.  I was helping my friend inspect the venue for a conference.  It's all a bit swish and lovely at the Intercontinental and this image of a tree reflected in the pool in the gardens out the back was too tempting if a bit eeerie.  

But for the true sepia stalwarts, here are a couple of postcards that I picked up at the recent UQ Alumni Book Fair (10 postcards for $4.00) ...where the men are wearing skirts and the girls are wearing, well, skirts too.



To be honest, I'm not really taken with this first postcard...it's a bit naff I think. But the "mystery" of postcards and trying to work out who wrote what to whom and why is part of the attraction for me.....



So I guess the first thing to work out is when this postcard might have been purchased or sent.  I know nothing about postcards or stamps so all you postcard collectors feel free to chime in and put me straight on any factoid you see fit.  (PS Word of the Day - Did you know that Deltiology is the word for collecting postcards?  I didn't.  The things you discover on eBay!) This site tells me that if my postcard has a divided back then it is post 1907 but because it was printed in Germany then it is probably pre WWI - how about that?

The date mark on the stamp could be December 9 at 11am or December 9 1911 and I think the postmark is Kogarah but am happy for others to provide suggestions.  This site posts a similar postcard and dates it at 1910.  

Ancestry tells me that an Elizabeth Jane Ashenden lived at 20 Taylor Street Armidale in 1930.  But, even better, Find My Past, gives me the index to Wills in NSW, particularly William Henry Ashenden a labourer from Armidale who died in 1929 and bequeathed his estate to his wife Elizabeth Jane Ashenden and, after her death, to his daughter Fanny Amelia Court wife of Henry John Court.  So I think I have found the addressee.  I have no idea who Ida is though.  Perhaps just a friend.  Ida asks Fan to remember her to Harry - perhaps that was Henry John's nickname - Harry.  What do you think?  

It seems to be confirmed in this sad family notice, courtesy of Trove.


Notices. (1912, May 25). The Armidale Chronicle (NSW : 1894 - 1929), p. 4. Retrieved May 23, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188121163


Further research on Ancestry reveals that Fanny was born at Uralla in 1887.  and that she married Henry J Court in 1911 at the age of about 24.  They didn't move far from Fanny's mother, living at 16 Taylor Street Armidale in 1930.  Harry was a coachbuilder but went on to be Managing Director of Armidale Motors Limited.  Fanny and Harry went on to have at least two children that I can discover through articles on Trove.  Their daughter Venice defied the usual gender stereotypes in this fabulous article...


Family LONG CAR CHASE. (1935, January 21). Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) , p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81703562
So I think that is enough about that postcard.  I think we can date it at about 1910.  I have absolutely no idea where that phrase "Mid the poppies and the corn" comes from by the way so would be glad if anyone can enlighten me.

The next postcard also has a Scottish theme....




Guess what?  I'm not even going to pretend I could even begin to figure out who this card is from or to....but I am going to say Sandy boy ???  Sandy??? I thought it was Danny boy!  Over to you Deanna....


For more boys, girls, dances and reverses...head on over to Sepia Saturday.

Addendum:
Just a couple of things since I've had some feedback from lovely Postcardy and Brett - this postcard could be as early as 1902.  My husband has also pointed out that the franking stamp on the stamp does not go on to the postcard which seems to indicate that perhaps the sender re-used a stamp.  What do you think?  It's also a NSW stamp which were in issue up until 1913 when we changed to Australian stamps.  And Brett found the lyrics for the song which you can listen to here....This was recorded 1905-10-12 which I think means the 12th October 1905 but it could mean 10th December 1905.  At any rate I think that now puts the postcard between 1906 and 1912.  You can read the lyrics for the son on this site here - it seems the words were originally written by Clement Scott set in the cemetery at Sidestrand.  National Library of Australia has the score here and I note that copyright is 1891 by Chappell and Co. Maybe Ida and Fan learned the music on the piano.  Most of the editions on WorldCat date from 1900 or 1907.  



Comments

Liz Needle said…
Great post. Had me transfixed. I would love to meet the dashing Miss Venice Court. Shesounds like quite a girl.
Postcardy said…
The date that divided back postcards were allowed was different for different countries. It was 1907 in the U.S. but earlier in England and some other countries. From the Metropostcard.com blog: "Great Britain was the first Country to issue divided back postcards in 1902 followed by France and Germany."
More fascinating detective work. It's amazing how much you can find out about people from a simple card. I would say Venice is more than "plucky" for her dogged pursuit of the gasoline thief. Great post.
Barbara Rogers said…
Imagine finding all that out about a family from that one postcard. Amazing!
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Liz - I confess to hooting with delight when I found that article about Venice. She does sound like quite a girl doesn't she? I would like to have met her :)
Alex Daw said…
Ah Postcardy I knew I could rely on you for helpful feedback :) Thank you!
Alex Daw said…
Thank you Helen. Yes I must admire Venice's persistence...she never gave up did she?
Alex Daw said…
Dear Barbara - isn't it amazing? And such good stories too.
Brett Payne said…
A quick internet search reveals a romantic ballad by Isidore de Lara around that time referred to "mid the poppies and the corn" - one can imagine what went on ...

The name Ashenden brings to mind the stories by Somerset Maugham about a British secret agent in Switzerland, supposedly loosely based on his own experiences working for British Intelligence during the Great War.
La Nightingail said…
Well, there's a bit of role-reversal with the gal chasing a guy because he stole 23 gallons of gas. Let's see - in today's world that would be about $78.00 worth. Would I chase a man for $78.00? Not in today's world! Years ago, however, I did chastise the driver of an old Winnebago RV who wouldn't pull out in the turn-outs & allow cars behind it to get by on a narrow winding road (there were 19 cars behind it - I was the 5th) When we had to stop for road construction I got out, walked up to the driver's window, knocked on it, & told them if they didn't stop at the next turn-out & let everyone past I was going to call the Highway Patrol & report them. The answer I got was "Is that so?!!" But they did it. Would I do that again? Not on your life!
Mike Brubaker said…
Thanks for a great detective story. Who could expect humor, mystery, romance, and a car chase all found in a bargain bin postcard!
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Brett! That's fantastic - I will add that to the post now and that really helps with dating the postcard - so somewhere between 1906 and 1911.
Alex Daw said…
Hah! I know exactly what you mean. But sometimes you get so wild don't you - with the cheek of some people. But with road rage these days it's best just to count to 10.
Alex Daw said…
I do love a bargain!! And I do love Sepia Saturday!
Brett Payne said…
It could be that the song referenced an earlier use of the expression, Alex, so I'm not sure about providing you with an earliest date.
Alex Daw said…
Very true Brett - of course - silly me - that's just a recording date isn't it? rather than a composition date. Well I think we're in the ball park area at the least.
Boobook said…
The comments on your post are an entertainment as well!
Excellent research based on just a few clues Alex.
21 Wits said…
I've been a bit absent too here, but through all these years we do get busy outside of posting but we always come back, I mean who would ever want to leave here for good right?! I totally agree with you about postcards and the mysteries behind them, as to what the real story is. It's one of my favorite things to do in antique stores, I can't buy and bring them all home, but I can read a lot of them!
21 Wits said…
One more last note, have you noticed that you go places today and they don't even sell new postcards? It's so scary because folks just don't send postcards like they used to. In the years to come, for our children, and our children's children, there won't be the same good reading to be had. Very sad.
Alex Daw said…
Thank you Lorraine. That's what's great about blogging isn't it Lorraine ? The interaction.
Alex Daw said…
Karen - I couldn't believe my luck finding these...the sale had only been going for an hour so I think you need to get in quickly for these sorts of things in Brisvegas - they just don't have much in the way of these things here in Queensland.
Alex Daw said…
Actually Karen I was thinking that about postage stamps too - that they will become defunct shortly...our postal service has now decided that there really isn;t much point in delivering to some areas more than once or twice a week as there is just not that much post anymore.
diane b said…
Love your tree shot and your postcard stories too.
Little Nell said…
Welcome back in style - a really enjoyable post and comments which demonstrate how helpful (and knowledgeable) Sepians are.

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