Aboriginal, N.S.W.

[Sydney] : Star Photo. Co., [circa 1904]. Photogravure process postcard, 136 x 89 mm, contemporary annotation to front ‘Sydney 4/12/04’, postally used and postmarked December 5 1904; in fine condition. The images published by the Star Photo. Co. in its series of postcards of Aboriginal subjects are the epitome of Australian racist kitsch of the Federation period. What makes this example even more offensive than most of their salacious images is the fact that the woman is Samoan, not Aboriginal. To the publisher – and the consumer – subjects with breasts and dark skin colour were indistinguishable and interchangeable.