Sample album of First World War Christmas cards

PXE 1788

fonds

approximately 1914-1918

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

9658021

1 album (6 photographic prints, 13 cards, 27 printed copies of photographs, 3 envelopes) - 26 x 34 cm

A sample album, intended for use by a travelling salesman, containing cards designed to be sent to serving soldiers during the First World War.

The album has cardboard covers and contains 6 gelatin silver photographs, 27 printed copies of photographs, 13 mock-ups of Christmas cards, and 3 envelopes, pasted onto 5 pages.

The cards are embossed or printed with hand-coloured wildflowers; some also feature hand-painted Australian flags. Each card bears a pasted-down printed photographic image of troops or other Australian scenes, such as miners panning for gold, horsemen, farmers, and native wildlife, among others. Alternatives for pictorial inserts are pasted beside the cards throughout. The paper linings to the cards include Christmas wishes, patriotic poems and illustrations. The largest card (18 x 13 cm) features a silver gelatin photograph, ‘A Story of Anzac’, and has dried wildflowers and ferns pasted inside. The 3 kookaburra-design envelopes are pasted face downwards, with pencilled design codes, names and prices.

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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder