Oblong large Octavo album (ca. 17x23,3 cm). 26 black card stock leaves. With 199 mounted original gelatin silver photographs, mostly from ca. 6,3x10,7 (2 ½ x 4 ¼ in) to ca. 5,8x8,4 (2 ¼ x 3 ¼ in). All photos with period ink captions on the mounts, most of the photos with period pencil captions on the verso. With one mounted printed postcard, signed “Phyllis, Auckland N. Zealand” and dated “Sept: 1944.” Period black half cloth album with patterned papered boards fastened with a string; rubbed edges, a few photos with mild silvering, but overall a very good album with strong interesting photos.

Historically interesting album of lively vernacular photos taken by a middle-aged woman from England during her voyage through Oceania in the winter of 1950-1951. The compiler and her travel companions began their journey in Albury-Wodonga and traveled by train and car through southeastern Australia, visiting Tallangatta, Tawonga, Bogong, and Canberra. From the capital, they took a Trans Australian Airlines flight to Launceston (Tasmania), where they boarded SS “Aorangi” and set sail for Auckland. In New Zealand, the party visited Rotorua, Wairakei, and Wellington, then traveled aboard SS “Wanganella” to Sydney before proceeding to Melbourne. There, the travelers boarded SS “Himalaya” and started their journey back to England with stops in Adelaide, Perth, Colombo, Hanwell, Aden, Port Said, and Gibraltar.

The album contains one hundred ninety-nine photographs, with over eighty images documenting the Australian voyage. Sixteen excellent photos of Canberra feature general views of the city and local landmarks (Parliament House, the American Embassy, House of Reps, Prime Minister’s Lodge, Institute of Anatomy, etc.). Several interesting photos show the travelers cheerfully posing by the Canberra Travel Lodge (where they stayed) and boarding a Trans Australia Airlines flight to Tasmania. About forty-five lively photos of Albury-Wodonga capture the compiler and her friends at a local wedding and visiting the Botanical Garden, the Victorian Border, and Bethanga Bridge. There are also a few candid photographs of local schools (Infants, High, and State) and their staff joyfully playing with children. A series of Melbourne photos show St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Model Tudor Village, and portraits of the travelers on the wharf and the deck of SS “Himalaya.” The album also includes a couple of photos taken in Sydney, documenting the Harbor Bridge and the traveling party at Darling Harbor before boarding SS “Aorangi.” The rest of the Australian photos mostly show local dams (the newly-built Hume Weir & Junction, Sylvan, and Cotter Dams) and the travelers picnicking with friends in Tallangatta, posing next to No. 3 Powerhouse in Tawonga, and enjoying a snowball fight in Mount Bogong.

About forty-five well-executed photographs illustrate the compiler’s journey in New Zealand. Most of the photos portray the travelers in Auckland (next to the Michael Savage Memorial, Rangitoto, and Memorial Grounds), Rotorua (by a Maori Meeting House and gateway), and Wellington (at the Courtenay Place). Especially interesting are three vibrant, vernacular scenes of Maori Maidens performing the Poi Dance and playing the stick game in Whakarewarewa. There is also a photo of the famous New Zealand tribal leader and tour guide, Rangitīaria Dennan (1897-1970), observing a Maori woman washing her clothes. The rest of the New Zealand photos mostly depict local landmarks (Pohutu Geyser, a Maori War Memorial, a Maori Chief’s House, a Store House in a Maori Pa, and the Church of Ohinemutu in Rotorua; the Parliament House, Statue of John Balance, the Carillon Museum, War Memorial, and St. Peter’s Church in Wellington; etc.)

The album also includes ten rare photos of Tasmania, featuring Tamar River, Cataract Gorge, and the traveling party posing by the Great Lake in Launceston.

About forty-five photos at the rear illustrate the journey back home and include numerous photos of the tourists resting, playing, and having fun on board the S.S. “Himalaya,” posing with the “clerk of the weather,” taking the wheel, etc. The other photos depict Adelaide (University of Adelaide), Perth (London Court, Governor General’s House), Colombo (harbor, eastern temple, bullock cart, lighthouse, street views), Aden (port and rock), Port Said (Statue of De Lesseps, “Egyptians plying their trade,” etc.), and Gibraltar (the Rock of Gibraltar). Overall, historically interesting extensive album of photographs documenting an early post-war voyage in Oceania.