Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction, August 1930 : complete set of 8 photographs in the original printed envelope.

Sydney : William Brooks, [August, 1930]. Complete set of 8 gelatin silver print photographs in 68 x 90 mm format, accompanied by the publisher’s manila envelope with photo captions and statistical information printed in blue and the William Brooks label in green; the photos are in pristine condition; the envelope has a corner tear at one end (with some loss of the statistical text), but is otherwise complete and fine.

A rare photographic souvenir of the Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction, dating to August 1930. Printed by Sydney stationer William Brooks, these photos were sold in sets of 8 for 1 shilling. The complete set we offer here is accompanied by its original packaging.

The photos are nos. 41 to 48 in William Brooks’ series. The captions are:

RMS Cathay passing under bridge; HMS Mooltan approaching bridge on day of closing arch; RMS Orama passing under bridge; View of bridge from Circular Quay; Another view from Circular Quay; View from Lavender Bay; Nieuw Holland, the first large boat to pass under the bridge on day of closing arch; Port Caroline passing under bridge.

Note that the two arches of the bridge touched for the first time on 19 August 1930, which dates this set of images quite precisely.

The printed statistics on the envelope end with the optimistic statement that the bridge is to be opened for traffic in 1931(!).

No other set traced.