Postcard Edward R and Mrs Hartley.

Please see Alexander Turnbull Library, Timeframes Conditions of Use for this image.

Edward Robertshaw Hartley (1855-1918) was a noted Yorkshire socialist activist and writer who toured New Zealand with his wife in 1911 during the heyday of British Labour reform movements. A contemporary studio portrait was photographically transferred to a half-tone line block or photolithographic plate and printed in the postcard format, a common technique of the period. This card is "Maoriland Worker series no. 1", presumably the first of an ongoing series promoting the free-thinking ideals of the printer/publisher.

Further reading:

• Martin Crick, "'A Collection of Oddities': The Bradford Branch of the Social-Democratic Federation." The Bradford Antiquary, volume 5 (1991):24-40 URL: http://www.bradfordhistorical.fsnet.co.uk/antiquary/third/vo105/oddities.html