A colleague/friend from California is coming to visit Sydney and is on the look for Australiana vintage posters, postcards or similar collectibles. (I'm assuming he's not after any antique or highly valuable maps or prints though.) Any tips of interesting shops where he could go and find some? Many thanks.
The problem is that what you are looking for is generally collectable, in demand and valuable as a result. Printed vintage Australian collectables are rare in reasonable condition and very saleable
Thanks serial. The fellow has the funds (he's recently been purchasing e.g., original TinTin collectibles and some 17th century thalers, whatever picks his fancy at a given moment), we'd just need to find a shop/shops where there could be a reasonably good chance of having any in stock to browse and purchase. I understand there cannot be any guarantees of availability.
I love stuff like this. There are a couple of coffee-table books with stuff like the illustrations that used to be painted in oils on the side of corner stores. Me just old enough to remember the Rosella. I recall a guy did one specifically of such material in rural Victoria.
Try the Postcard Fair. On 4 times a year in Croydon. The fairs are held at the IMAR Community Hall. 2a Fitzroy St Croydon (very close to the Croydon Railway station) from 9.00am to 2.00 pm. In addition to vintage and modern postcards, there will also be a range of other paper collectibles such as old books, magazines and brochures, Trade Cards, Cigarette Cards, and philately. Entrance is free, and great morning tea, lunch and other refreshments are available. With any luck you might find cards like these. Sunday 25 November. I'll be there.
Perhaps do an antique store crawl.. they usually have a selection plus tips on the best places to source. There used to be an antique centre near the Sydney football stadium which had several dealers under the one roof
Edit: Lithograph. This and another were in fine wooden frames on the walls of the 'Grocery Store' cafe in Mt. Barker, W.A. The new owners didn't seem to think much of them. And down at the IGA there's a photo of apples being loaded at the Albany port, and you can see the same poster on the boxes. (And I knew it was a lithograph because I've read My Brother Jack.)