Photomontage postcard of the arrival of Amy Johnson in Sydney 1930

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c. 193

Overview

Greyscale or sepia real photo postcard (RPPC) in vertical orientation featuring two planes flying over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is still under construction. It depicts the arrival in Sydney from Brisbane of pioneer aviatrix, Amy Johnson.
It is a photomontage or composite photograph created by E.W. Searle when working for Hall & Co. It shows the Avro-10 Trimotor 'Southern Sun' piloted by aviator, Charles Ulm in the centre, with Amy Johnson's Gypsy Moth 'Jason' flying overhead in the top right.
The text 'The arrival of Miss Amy Johnson C.B.E. in Sydney from Brisbane in the "Southern Sun," her plane "Jason" flying overhead' is printed in black on the cream border of the card.
The reverse of the card is plain aside from the printed sepia instructions and maker's details.

Historical information

This image of the Avro-10 Southern Sun, flying over the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is a montage by Edward Searle, who worked for Hall & Co. It celebrated the arrival in Sydney of pioneer aviatrix Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Unfortunately, she had crash-landed her De Havilland Gypsy Moth in Brisbane and was flown to Sydney by Charles Ulm in the Southern Sun.
In this montage, the wheels of the Avro tri-motor are flattened on the bottom and its propellers stationary, showing that it was photographed while parked on the tarmac. The Gypsy Moth of Amy Johnson has also been superimposed onto the background photograph of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was still being repaired in Brisbane.

Charles Thomas Philippe Ulm was a soldier, aviator, company manager and airline owner best known for his partnership with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, with whom he flew the first trans-Pacific flight.

A brief biography of Amy Johnson is attached as a supplementary link.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00683

Item type

Themes