Dunedin CDS AUG 9 5PM Phototyped Austria Hokitika Mail
OVERVIEW
Offered is a genuine early 20th-century New Zealand Golden Age postcard featuring Larnach Castle, Dunedin, published by the well-known firm Muir & Moodie.
This postally used example combines a desirable architectural landmark, premium Austrian phototype printing, and a tied Universal Penny stamp, creating a strong piece of Australasian postal and social history.
STAMP AND POSTAL DETAILS
The postcard is franked on the front with a New Zealand 1d Universal Penny in carmine/rose, safely cataloged within the Scott 99–107 range.
The stamp is tied by a Dunedin New Zealand circular date stamp reading:
DUNEDIN N.Z. AUG 9 5 PM
The numeral 5 represents the time slug indicating a 5 PM dispatch, a standard feature of New Zealand CDS devices of the period.
The sender’s handwritten date of 8-8-06 confirms mailing the following afternoon, August 9, 1906.
The card is addressed to Hokitika, New Zealand, confirming authentic domestic usage.
The 1d Universal Penny issue represents New Zealand’s adoption of the imperial penny postage system, one of the most important postal reforms of the era.
SUBJECT AND PUBLISHER
The image depicts Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle and one of the country’s most recognizable historic landmarks.
The front bears the caption 906 P. Larnach’s Castle, Dunedin. Built & furnished at a cost of over 120,000 Pounds.
The reverse identifies the publisher as Muir & Moodie, Dunedin N.Z., from their Copyright Series of Views, with the imprint Phototyped in Austria indicating high-quality continental production typical of premium Golden Age postcards.
MESSAGE AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
The handwritten message reads Hope you have not one the same as this. Kind regards.
This reflects the postcard collecting culture of the Edwardian era, where collectors exchanged views to build albums.
A front-side date of 8-8-06 aligns perfectly with the August 9, 1906 postal cancellation.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Country: New Zealand
Year: 1906
Type: Printed Topographical Postcard
Publisher: Muir & Moodie Dunedin
Subject: Larnach Castle Dunedin
Scott Number: 99-107 Range
Stamp: 1d Universal Penny Carmine
Cancellation Type: Dunedin NZ Circular Date Stamp
Postmark Date: August 9 1906 5 PM
Origin: Dunedin New Zealand
Destination: Hokitika New Zealand
Era: Divided Back
Printing: Phototyped In Austria
Quality: Postally Used
Grade: Ungraded
Certification: Uncertified
SKU: NZ-1906-LARNACH-MUIR-MOODIE
CONDITION
Original 1906 postally used card in typical vintage condition.
The card shows normal edge wear, corner rounding, and light surface toning consistent with age and mail transit.
The stamp is tied to the front but shows edge wear at the corner.
Period writing is present on both front and reverse.
The Dunedin cancellation including time slug is clearly legible.
No major structural tears.
Please review all images for exact condition details.