The one you don’t send home …. picture postcards from the seaside

I am guessing you could make out a convincing case for why these cards were just a representation of surfers on an Australian beach in 1914.

They come with the explanation on the reverse that the six are different depictions of surf bathing.

“The surf bathing at the beautiful seaside results, mainly, Coogee, Bondi and others near Sydney is almost all the year round the chief recreation among those who stay there.  

It can be indulged in without fear of injury from the sharks that infest these seas, if the bathers are content to disport themselves in the breakers and do not venture into the deep seas”.

Alas only three of the six made it into the collection, and none of them have messages on the back, that said the packaging and the commercial information did, and is a nice touch.

I especially like the guide to what Tuck and Son thought would be popular that year, ranging from their "Wide World" Series to the Charles Dickens Centenary with "Two Thousand Collections" in between.

And they are a reminder that the company was international with offices across the world and subject matter from all but one of the Continents.

All of that said I wonder if the appeal of them might be that there isn't a sea gull, a kiss me quick hat or a bag of seaside chips to be seen.

Just a group of young "things" enjoying the surf together, which some maiden aunts might not approve, nor some mothers who might wish for a scene of the cliffs.

But then that is me falling into the assumption of how morality stalked the holiday resorts, and I don't think it did. 

Location; Australia

Pictures; Surf Bathing, 1914, from Tuck and Sons, courtesy of Tuck DB, https://tuckdbpostcards.org/