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I
grew up in Surfers Paradise, Queensland on Australia’s Gold Coast and developed an early
interest in photography. I was given a Kodak Box Brownie by my mother and
later a Minolta SLR. Having already begun trawling
through my mother's and aunty's old photos and postcards in my early teens, then
I was given a bundle of early family photographs and postcards by my mother's
cousin relating to our Scottish family.
I started collecting other
people's old photos and postcards at the age of 16 and continued to expand my
collection. I then started researching the lives of
Australian
photographers I had in my collection and that research eventually extended to include
other photographers throughout Australia, then went on to include New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland,
France, South Africa, the USA, South America and the Pacific. I have made contact with
many hundreds of
descendants and relations of photographers and many other
collectors, historians, authors and institutional curators around the world.
My collection includes many
thousands of old photographs including cartes de
visite, cabinet card photos,
stereoviews, postcards, magic lantern slides, glass plate negatives, colour film slides and
a large reference library on photographic history.
I
collaborate on and provide research support for Ron Cosens' massive and comprehensive
database of Photographers of Great Britain and Ireland 1840-1940 website
and Sandy Barrie's ongoing research for an updated edition of his directory
"Australians Behind the Camera 1842-1945".
I have spoken to many historical societies, collector’s groups, photographic
conventions and on radio on aspects of photographic history and collecting, and
contributed to many books and journal articles covering Australia, New Zealand, Great
Britain, France, India, China and the USA. I have attended a large array of
postcard and photographic fairs, symposiums and conventions in Australia, New Zealand,
the UK, France and the USA and look forward to attending many more.
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The
Photographic Historial Society of New England (Boston) have published an issue
of their journal in June 2023 dedicated to photographer Simon Wing.
I
contributed a major 34 page article covering Wing's tintype Empire, that
extended across the Pacific from the USA to New Zealand and Australia
and
along with Ron Polito, I co-authorised an article on Wing's early days in
photography.
https://phsne.org/the-journal-2022/
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Sit. Pose. Snap was an exhibition based on my collection and research into
Brisbane photographers and
featured over 330 photos produced in Brisbane by professional and amateur
photographers.
Museum of Brisbane, 3rd Floor,
Brisbane City Hall
64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
24 March-30 July 2017
https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/sit-pose-snap-brisbane-portrait-photography-1850-1950/
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Currently researching:
- Street, candid and seaside photography postcards from the 1920s-1950s and
their preceding
history inclduing seaside tintypes.
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Leicagraph, 5 Strand
Arcade, Sydney c.1942 |
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- Postcards of the Gold Coast (Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Miami,
Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach,
Currumbin, Kirra, Coolangatta, Tweed Heads), Gold Coast Hinterland, Brisbane
and Sunshine Coast regions in South East Queensland, Australia
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- World War 1 studio and camp photography
- Photographers of Brisbane 1850-1950
- 19th and early 20th century Australian photographers
- History of the daguerreotype, ambrotype,
tintype, carte de visite, cabinet photograph,
postcard
and stereoview in Australia
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Photographers of Brisbane, Australia 1850-1950
Was your ancestor or relation a
Brisbane photographer?
If so, please get in contact
as I would be happy to exchange information. I have been researching the lives
of Australian photographers and collecting examples of their work for over 30 years.
Street Photographers of Australia 1920s-1950s
Was your ancestor or relation a street or candid photographer working anywhere
in Australia?
Please get in contact.
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WANTED: Photo postcards of Australians serving in WW1 and
WW2 and any accompanying letters and documents keenly sought
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WANTED: Old photographs in cases and albums
such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes |
WANTED: 19th and early 20th century photographs
(especially cartes de visite, cabinet card photos, glass magic lantern slides, glass negatives
and even old 35mm colour slides! |
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WANTED:
Old wooden cameras and brass lenses |
As one of the biggest
private collectors of old photographs, postcards and albums in Australia, I welcome
offers of old and interesting items that you have for sale
including single
items, collections, accumulations and deceased estates.
Donations of unwanted
photographs, postcards, albums for my collection are also gratefully
accepted or a contribution made to your favourite charity. All postage costs
paid.
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Last updated 10 November 2023. You
can e-mail me at:
msafier@ozemail.com.au;
or write to Marcel Safier, PO Box 239, Holland Park, Queensland, 4121, Australia |
