Postcards of women representing the states of Australia, and fairy butterflies, 1905 / by Ernest Tiger de Closay

PXB 480

fonds

[Sydney : New South Wales Bookstall Co.], 1905

Graphic Materials, Prints, Ephemera

915765

Ephemera - postcards, coloured - 13.8 x 8.7 cm

Ernest Tiger De Closay (1859-1936) was born in Port Louis, Mauritius. He trained in oils and watercolours at the French Academy in Paris becoming an official artist in Bombay, India. He arrived in Australia in 1900 where he changed his name to Ernest Tiger De Closay. He died in Sydney in 1936.

De Closay completed six full sets of cards and a portion of another set for the New South Wales Bookstall Co.'s 'Art Series'. These included the 'Fairy Butterfly' series and the series of postcards of state shields supported by women in classical robes. De Closay also completed a number of works under the name Tiger.

References:
Picture postcards in Australia 1898-1920 / David Cook. Lilydale, Vic. : Pioneer Design Studio, 1986.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 August 1936 on Trove. http://www.trove.nla.gov.au/ (accessed 31 December 2010)

Nine colour postcards including a set of six postcards (and one duplicate) depicting classically-draped women supporting shields with the badges of the states of Australia, and two postcards from the six-set 'Fairy Butterfly' series:

1. N. [i.e. New] South Wales - the female figure holds a waratah
2. Victoria
3. Queensland - the female figure holds a stem of sugar cane
4. S. [i.e. South] Australia - the female figure is pouring wine from a jug into a glass
5. W. [i.e Western] Australia
6. W. [i.e Western] Australia - impressed with 'Hearty Christmas Greetings' at top left
7. Tasmania
8. Fairy Butterfly
9. Fairy Butterfly

Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955

Titles taken from postcards

Signed and dated 'E.T. De Closay, 1905' or 'ET. De Closay, 1905' - printed in image on front of postcard. Printed on reverse 'Art Series - Copyright'