This was Walch’s 9th series of coloured postcards to be printed by C.G. Röder of Leipzig, Germany, and the 3rd series to be explicitly labelled “Tasman Series”. The earlier series were:
1905 B-24000
1905 Series G-1906
1906 Series G
1907 Series 119,000
1907 Series 120,000
1908 Tasman Series 1908
1909 Tasman Series 1909
1910 Series 207,000
Series Content: There were 40 cards in the series, which made up a full sheet of printing. The cards are numbered, with the numbers assigned by the printer given below, (where I know them). C.G. Röder re-started his card numbering from 1 in 1910, so the numbers of this series are lower than of the 1909 series.
------ New Norfolk Bridge
103624 Fern Tree Bower, Hobart.
103625 Rocking Stone, Mt. Wellington.
------ Eagle Hawk Neck, Port Arthur.
103630 Hobart from the Crescent.
------ The Derwent Lighthouse, Hobart.
103632 Silver Falls, Hobart.
103626 The Post Office, Hobart.
------ Sunset near Hobart.
------ Mountain Lake, Huon Road.
------ The Water Works, Hobart.
------ The Clematis Hut.
------ Elizabeth Street, Hobart.
------ Hobart from Bellerive.
------ Sunrise near Hobart.
------ Franklin Square, Hobart.
------ Macquarie Street, Hobart.
103641 The Falls Hut.
103642 Government House, Hobart.
103643 The Pavement, Eagle Hawk Neck.
103644 Forest Hut, Hobart.
103645 Fern Tree Bower.
103646 Brown’s River Road.
103647 Huon Bridge & Picnic Hotel.
103648 Mt. Wellington from Sandy Bay.
103649 The Bend, Huon Road.
103650 Cape Raoul.
103651 River Derwent near New Norfolk.
103652 Russell Falls.
103653 Round Tower, Port Arthur.
103654 New Norfolk.
103655 Long Beach, near Hobart. (Photo post card sent)
103656 Botanical Gardens, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103657 Lindisfarne. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103658 Fern Retreat, Mt. Wellington. (Photo 5½ x 3½ sent)
103659 Tasmanian Bush Scene. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103660 Wellington Hut, near Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103661 Sandy Bay Esplanade, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103662 Queens Domain, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
103663 “Greetings from Hobart”, Post Office, Hobart.
Date Published: The order was sent to the printer on 12 July 1913. Allowing time for printing and two months for shipping to Tasmania, the cards would have gone on sale in Tasmania in late 1913. An annotation on the London Agent’s copy of the order says “Inv. 15/9/13, 2 cases”, apparently referring to an invoice date. There are no postmark dates on any of the cards I have.
Printing: The Series was printed by C.G. Röder of Leipzig, Germany, using their Auto-Novo process. The back layout was specified in the handwritten order to the printer (see below). There were 2,000 of each card ordered.
Number in series: 40
Identification: The imprint on the back is “The “Tasman” Series – J. W. & S., Ltd., Hobart. Printed in Germany.”. Printers numbers are in the range 103623-103663.
History of the Series
Herbert Bishop, who was Walch’s London agent, wrote to the printer C.G. Röder on 12 July, 1913: [1]
[Page 1]
C.G. Röder
Dear Sir,
We are sending you an order for 2000 each of 40 titles in your “Auto Novo” style. The cards are to be varnished at extra cost of 11d per 1000.
Please let us have delivery as soon as possible. The Photo Post Card (No. 40) “Greetings from Hobart” we hope to be able to send you shortly.
We note your Printing Sheets contain 40 cards. Our Hobart House have not sent us good size photos as we have always specified.
We shall be glad if you will be able to produce satisfactory results from the photos sent?
Please cut up the sheets of post cards and trim as usual. Band the cards in packets of 50 (of one card).
Kindly note the alterations for the address side. Only the initials J.W. & S. Ltd are wanted not the name in full.
Please post two complete sets when ready direct to J. Walch & Sons Ltd. Hobart, Tasmania and two sets to London Office.
& oblige, Your faithfully
[Page 2]
2,000 “Auto Novo” ungraned coloured postcards varnished each 40 subjects as
31 Coloured post cards
8 Photos
*1 Photo Post Card (“Greetings from Hobart”)
sent herewith (* to follow later)
Imprint on address side:- The “Tasman” Series J.W. & S. Ltd. Hobart Printed in Germany
The titles of the 31 cards to be the same as on the 31 Post Cards now sent. The titles of the 9 new subjects as per list herewith.
Please forward to the order of M. Eugen Roüdenburg Shipping Agent HAMBURG
[Page 3]
Titles of the 31 Post Cards sent
1. New Norfolk Bridge
2. Fern Tree Bower, Hobart.
3. Rocking Stone, Mt. Wellington.
4. Eagle Hawk Neck, Port Arthur.
5. Hobart from the Crescent.
6. The Derwent Lighthouse, Hobart.
7. Silver Falls, Hobart.
8. The Post Office, Hobart.
9. Sunset near Hobart.
10. Mountain Lake, Huon Road.
11. The Water Works, Hobart.
12. The Clematis Hut.
13. Elizabeth Street, Hobart.
14. Hobart from Bellerive.
15. Sunrise near Hobart.
16. Franklin Square, Hobart.
17. Macquarie Street, Hobart.
18. The Falls Hut.
19. Government House, Hobart.
20. The Pavement, Eagle Hawk Neck.
21. Forest Hut, Hobart.
22. Fern Tree Bower.
23. Brown’s River Road.
24. Huon Bridge & Picnic Hotel.
25. Mt. Wellington from Sandy Bay.
26. The Bend, Huon Road.
27. Cape Raoul.
28. River Derwent near New Norfolk.
29. Russell Falls.
30. Round Tower, Port Arthur.
31. New Norfolk.
[Page 4]
Titles for “Auto Novo” varnished Post Cards
1 to 31 Titles as per 31 Coloured Post Cards herewith.
32. Long Beach, near Hobart. (Photo post card sent)
33. Botanical Gardens, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
34. Lindisfarne. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
35. Fern Retreat, Mt. Wellington. (Photo 5½ x 3½ sent)
36. Tasmanian Bush Scene. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
37. Wellington Hut, near Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
38. Sandy Bay Esplanade, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
39. Queens Domain, Hobart. (Photo 6 x 4½ sent)
*40. “Greetings from Hobart”, Post Office, Hobart.
* The Photo Post Card for this we will send you later.
Address side to be printed as below. Chocolate colour ink preferred.
References
[1] Archives Office of Tasmania NS2870/1/1 Copies of invoices and orders to suppliers in England. pp. 717-720
