This was Walch’s 10th series of coloured postcards. As World War I had commenced and Britain was at war with Germany, the usual printer C.G. Röder of Leipzig, Germany, was unavailable, so the cards were printed by E.T.W. Dennis in UK. The series introduced some views not seen of Walch cards previously.
Series Content: The cards ordered from E.T.W. Dennis were as follows, but I have never seen examples of the last two. There is no number printed on the cards.
1 Mount Wellington from Huon Road
2 Hobart from Bellerive
3 Government House, Hobart
4 Russell Falls
5 The Beach at Brown’s River
6 Castle Forbes Bay, Huon River
7 River Derwent at New Norfolk
8 Orchards at Huonville
9 Cape Pillar
10 Botanical Gardens
11 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
12 Long Point Beach, Sandy Bay
13 Sandy Bay, Hobart
14 Shipwrights Point, Huon River
15 Entrance River Derwent
16 Salmon Ponds
17 Botanical Gardens, Hobart
18 Franklin Square, Hobart
19 New Town from Domain, Hobart
20 Falls Hut, Mount Wellington
21 Clematis Hut, Mount Wellington
22 Murray Street, Hobart
23 Reservoirs, Hobart Water Supply
24 Fern Tree Bower, Mount Wellington
25 G.P.O. Hobart
26 Bellerive
27 Hotel Mt Wellington
28 Strickland Avenue, Mount Wellington
29 Wellington Hut near Hobart
30 Lindisfarne
31 Greetings from Hobart
32 Tram Terminus Hobart
33 Hobart from Mount Nelson
Date Published: The order was sent to the printer on 17 August 1915. The copy of the order was annotated “26 subjects invoiced 8th Oct 15”. Allowing two months for shipping to Tasmania, they probably reached Hobart towards the end of 1915. The only postmarked card I have is dated much later, 20 Oct 1923.
Printing: The series was printed by E.T.W. Dennis. Their “New Colour Style” was requested.
Number in Series: 33
Identification: The imprint on the back is “The Tasman Series. J. W. & S., Ltd., Hobart. Printed in England”.
History of the Series
J. Walch & Sons had used C.G. Röder of Leipzig, Germany to print their coloured postcards since 1905. Continuing this practice, Walch’s London agent, Herbert Bishop, sent an order to Röder on 30 May 1914 for printing of 36 cards. [1] But World War I was declared on 4 August 1914, postal communication between England and Germany stopped, trade between the two countries ceased and German ships around the world were impounded. The cards were never delivered.
Walch’s, via their London agent, then turned to the British publishers E.T.W. Dennis for postcard printing. Bishop wrote to them on 17 August 1915, placing approximately the same order as they had with C.G. Röder a year earlier.
17 August 1915
Messrs E.T.W. Dennis & Sons
We send you 31 original photographs Numbered 1-31
2 silver print postcards - 32-33
Will you please supply 2000 post cards each of 33 subjects in your New Colour Style
@ 20/0 per 1000 less 2½%
If you do not consider that you will be able to obtain satisfactory results from the silver print post cards please omit these, leaving 31 subjects.
We give the List of Titles on separate sheets. Please let us have delivery as soon as possible. When ready please post 3 complete sets direct to J. Walch & Sons Ltd, Hobart, Tasmania and 2 complete sets to London Office.
The letter was annotated at a later date with delivery information:
2,050 each of 26 subjects inv[oiced] 8th Oct/15 = 1 case
2,025 each 3 subjects inv 27th Oct/15 to Bayleys
2030 each 4 subjects inv 24 May/1916
List of original Photographs
1 Mount Wellington from Huon Road
2 Hobart from Bellerive
3 Government House, Hobart
4 Russell Falls
5 The Beach at Brown’s River
6 Castle Forbes Bay, Huon River
7 River Derwent at New Norfolk
8 Orchards at Huonville
9 Cape Pillar
10 Botanical Gardens
11 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
12 Long Point Beach, Sandy Bay
13 Sandy Bay, Hobart
14 Shipwrights Point, Huon River
15 Entrance River Derwent
16 Salmon Ponds
17 Botanical Gardens, Hobart
18 Franklin Square, Hobart
19 New Town from Domain, Hobart
20 Falls Hut, Mount Wellington
21 Clematis Hut, Mount Wellington
22 Murray Street, Hobart
23 Reservoirs, Hobart Water Supply
24 Fern Tree Bower, Mount Wellington
25 G.P.O. Hobart
26 Bellerive
27 Hotel Mt Wellington
28 Strickland Avenue, Mount Wellington
29 Wellington Hut near Hobart
30 Lindisfarne
31 Greetings from Hobart
The following are Silver Print Post Cards
32 Tram Terminus Hobart
33 Hobart from Mount Nelson
Proof wanted please
H. Bishop
References
[1] Archives Office of Tasmania NS2870/1/1 Copies of invoices and orders to suppliers in England. pp. 918-920