Summary
This is a black & white postcard of the Exhibition Building showing the south west facade from Rathdowne Street circa 1905. The postcard, which is unused, was printed as part of the Victoria Stamp Market (VSM) Series.
The Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, which opened to visitors on 1 October 1880. On 9 May 1901, it hosted the opening of the First Commonwealth Parliament of Australia. By the early 20th century, picture postcards of the Exhibition Building were a popular Melbourne souvenir.
The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Australia until 1905.
Physical Description
A black & white photograph of the south west facade of the Exhibition Building. In the foreground is the garden with shrubs and an unmade pathway. On the reverse of the card there is space to write a message, an address and to place a stamp. The card is unused.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from Trustees of the Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Sep 1991
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Publisher
Victoria Stamp Market, Australia, circa 1905
The division of the reverse of the postcard, allowing a message to be written on one half and the address on the other, was not permitted in Britain until 1902 and Australia until 1905. -
Place & Date Depicted
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1905
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Inscriptions
Obverse, text: MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. Reverse, text: POST CARD.; This Space may be used for Correspondence.; FOR ADDRESS ONLY.; V.S.M. Series,
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
135 mm (Width), 92 mm (Height)
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References
See Cook, David. 'Picture Postcards in Australia 1898-1920' pp 154- 155 for info re Victoria Stamp Market postcards.
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Keywords
Buildings, Civic Mementoes, Exterior Views, Postcards, Royal Exhibition Building, Souvenirs