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I
grew up in Surfers Paradise, Queensland on Australia’s Gold Coast and developed an early
interest in postcards and photography. Having already begun trawling
through my mother's and aunty's old postcards and photos in my early teens, at 15 my interest was
further stimulated by a gift of early family postcards and photographs from
my mother's cousin.
I worked as a newspaper boy in Surfers Paradise and acquired postcards from the
newsagencies I worked in as well as from my penpal in Japan.
I have keenly researched the lives of
Australian
photographers for decades and that research has extended to include photographers from New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland,
France, South Africa, the USA, South America and the Pacific and contact with hundreds of
descendants and relations of photographers and postcard publishers as well as many other
collectors, historians and institutional curators around the world.
My collection includes many
thousands of postcards as well as many old photographs including cartes de
visite, cabinet card photos,
stereoviews, magic lantern slides, glass plate negatives, colour film slides and
a large reference library on postcard and photographic history. My collection is particularly strong in
postcards from Queensland, including the Gold Coast region where I grew up, as
well as WW1, entertainers
and postcards from the earliest period of their production in the late 1890s and
1900s.
I
collaborate on and provide research support for Ron Cosens' massive and comprehensive
database of Photographers of Great Britain and Ireland 1840-1940 website
and Sandy Barrie's ongoing research for an updated edition of his directory
"Australians Behind the Camera 1842-1945" that includes details
of many photographers whose work involved the postcards industry.
I have spoken at many historical societies, collector’s groups, photographic
conventions and on radio on aspects of postcard and photographic history and collecting, and
contributed to many books and journal articles covering Australia, New Zealand, Great
Britain, France, India, China and the USA. I have attended a large array of
postcard and photographic fairs, symposiums and conventions in Australia, New Zealand,
the UK, France and the USA and look forward to attending many more.
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Sit. Pose. Snap was an exhibition based on my collection and research into
Brisbane photographers and
featured over 330 photos and postcards produced in Brisbane by professional and amateur
photographers.
Museum of Brisbane, 3rd Floor,
Brisbane City Hall
64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
24 March-30 July 2017
https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/sit-pose-snap-brisbane-portrait-photography-1850-1950/
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Currently researching:
- Street, candid and seaside photography postcards from the 1920s-1950s and
their preceding
history
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Leicagraph, 5 Strand
Arcade, Sydney c.1942 |
- Postcards of the Gold Coast (Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Miami,
Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach,
Currumbin, Kirra, Coolangatta, Tweed Heads), Gold Coast Hinterland and
Brisbane
regions in Queensland, Australia
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- World War 1 studio and camp photography
- Photographers of Brisbane 1850-1950
- 19th and early 20th century Australian photographers
- History of the postcard, daguerreotype, ambrotype,
tintype, carte de visite, cabinet photograph
and stereoview in Australia
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Photographers of Brisbane, Australia 1850-1950
Was your ancestor or relation a
Brisbane photographer?
If so, please get in contact
as I would be happy to exchange information. I have been researching the lives
of Australian photographers and collecting examples of their work for over 30 years.
Street Photographers of Australia 1920s-1950s
Was your ancestor or relation a street or candid photographer working anywhere
in Australia?
Please get in contact.
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WANTED: Postcards of Australians serving in WW1 and
WW2 and any accompanying letters and documents keenly sought
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WANTED: Gold Coast
(Queensland) and Brisbane postcards, photographs and 35mm colour film slides |
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WANTED:
Postcards and photos of all sorts of porformers including stars of the
stage, circus, pantomine, early actors and also celebrities and historic
figures |
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WANTED:
Postcards from any part of the world from the early days of the genre from
1894 - 1902 |
WANTED: 19th and early 20th century photographs
(especially cartes de visite plus tintypes, daguerreotypes, stereoviews, glass magic lantern slides, glass negatives, old family
and other photo albums
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As one of the biggest
private collectors of old postcards, photographs and albums in Australia, I welcome
offers of old and interesting items that you have for sale
including single
items, collections, accumulations and deceased estates.
Donations of unwanted
photographs, postcards, albums for my collection are also gratefully
accepted or a contribution made to your favourite charity. All postage costs
paid.
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Last updated 1 October 2023. You
can e-mail me at:
msafier@ozemail.com.au;
or write to Marcel Safier, PO Box 239, Holland Park, Queensland, 4121, Australia |
