Featured Gem 5
Real Photo Postcard

‘Wings and Flowers’

Date: Unspecified
People pictured: Unidentified
Postcard Back: Foyle’s Photo Card — Studios, Liebig St Warnambool (unused)

Notes: I was beside myself with excitement when I spotted this treasure in a cabinet at my local antique store. Usually photographs of girls dressed up with fairy wings are beyond my budget, but here this one sat waiting, in a pile of old postcards priced for a song. I couldn’t wait to get it out of there for fear they’d say they’d made a mistake! There were many images of fairy girls reproduced in the masses early last century, but this one appears to be a personal portrait, not reproduced for sale, which makes it even more special.

I do also appreciate the backs of old postcards and this one is nice and decorative. I collect a lot of cards just for their typographic design. Other times it is for the postmark or the handwritten message, another dying art in today’s electronic world. Call me crazy but I also find the foxing of paper visually appealing and a great texture to add to my digital collage work.

Unfortunately I don’t have any information about the girls. I wonder if they are sisters? Most likely I am guessing. I love the flowers and ringlets…but the wings are the best bit!

Featured Gem 4
Real Photo Postcard

‘Mother and Daughter’

Date: Unspecified
People: Unidentified
Postcard Back: Blank

Notes: Oh how I love this image despite it being a little creased and battered. Something about it makes me smile.

How on earth did it come about? I can imagine a mother and her daughter going along to the photo studio wanting a lovely family portrait and the photographer somehow convincing them that it would be a good idea to include the fake donkey and the car.

Look at their expressions. The daughter looks so uncomfortable perched in the little car, her hands awkwardly in her lap. The body language is fantastic!

And what is going on with the donkey’s ankles?

I wonder what the rest of the family had to say when they saw this photo? I wonder if they ever sent the postcard to anyone?

I love it!

Featured Gem 3
Mounted Photograph

‘Irma’s Balloon’

Date: August 1919
Studio: Mendelssohn.
80 Swanston St Melbourne

Subjects: Alan Sumner (10/11/1911)
and Irma Sumner (11/8/1913)

Back: This contains hand written information about the children. Alan (8yrs) and Irma (6yrs) Sumner. Born at 255 Clarke St, Northcote, 1/16 Vic. Eldest Son and only daughter of Claude J. M. Sumner and Gertrude Sumner.

Notes: The clarity of this image is wonderful. I am captivated by the balloon and it was this that drew me to the image. It’s just wonderful suspended there. Look at the reflections in the balloon of what appears to be big studio windows. I also find the children’s stare to reach right out of the photograph. They’re really looking at you. I love the textures and patterns. The upholstery on the chair against the woven carpet. There are also some nice embossed details on the card itself, a crown and a lion.

Because the photograph was accompanied by such detailed notes, I decided to do some research. The internet is a wonderful thing. I had no idea what a gem I really had in my collection! It appears Alan Sumner was infact one of Australia’s most innovative mid-twentieth century artists. A search of the National Gallery of Australia’s database revealed that Alan Robert Sumner, born 10 November 1911 in Northcote, Victoria was a painter, printmaker, stained-glass designer and teacher. He died 20th October 1994. I can’t find any samples of his work online so I might investigate further as I’m very curious now!

Now I wonder what’s at 80 Swanston Street 87 years later. A quick look at the map reveals it is located almost on the corner of Collins St and Swanston, where Melbourne’s City Square is today. More specifically probably just in front of Starbucks.

I always wonder what became of all the original glass negs of all of these fabulous studio shots and imagine them filed in wonderful old wooden cabinets waiting to be discovered. The concept that they may be lost forever is too hard to think about!

Featured Gem 2
Real Photo Postcard

‘Fairy Land’

Date: Unspecified
Girl: Unidentified
Postcard Back: Blank

Notes: Here is another wonderful fancy dress image. Fairy themes are another favourite of mine. I wonder what sort of pageant this little girl was dressing up for. I think the detail is lovely, from the carefully painted banner, right down to the fairy wings and magic wand held by her little doll perched precariously on the seat (is this a bike or a scooter?). Her dress is adorable. I wonder if it was black spots on white or a colour? Colour is always a mystery left to the imagination when looking at these vintage photographs.

I remember the thrill of dressing up as a child, especially for school events like Book Week or the Easter Hat Parade. Such warm, special and exciting memories.
Who is taking the photo? A proud father? An excited mother who had stayed up all night getting the decorations just so?

Late last year I purchased four small boxes of glass negatives on ebay, almost sixty slides in total. I was beside myself with excitement when they arrived and I stayed up late into the night scanning them in to uncover their mystery contents. I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was such a thrill to see the images appear. The bounty included images of children playing with toys, and bush walks in the rainforest (the Dandenongs?). So rich in history and like a puzzle to piece together. This one of two little girls playing in the sand with an old teapot is one of my favourites.