I bought it at the ephemera fair – next fair Sunday 28 April 2024

SAVE THE DATE, SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2024, FOR THE NEXT EPHEMERA FAIR – PARKVIEW ROOM, CAMBERWELL CIVIC CENTRE, 340 CAMBERWELL ROAD, yes, CAMBERWELL. 8.15 ENTRY FOR MEMBERS, YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THE DAY – OR WAIT TIL 8.45. CLOSES AT 2PM SHARP. I of course always look for Melbourne footy club, allegedly building up a collection for my nephew. Keeping them safely at my place – come along to the fair – have a chat and a shop.

I LOVE LOOKING THROUGH IAN STILLWELL’S TABLES – FAR END OF THE HALL – BECAUSE I LIKE THESE SMALL UNLIKELY RECORDS OF ESPECIALLY AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTS.

I am pretty sure that this diary came from Nigel Shipley’s stall – he usually has a range of these smaller items. My mother and I studied at Taylor’s so this was an attraction, but the selling points were the little blotter and the diary entries. Some will remember that Richard Felix only collected unused diaries – I only like the ones that document a bit of a life. Nigel doesn’t sell at every fair – but he will have two very full stalls on Sunday 28 April 2024.

I bought two of these fabulous cards showing women entertainers produced by Snider & Abrahams. The card I found is of Pansy Montagu – according to the National Library of Australia catalogue – She was born in Sydney and was known by her stage name of ‘La Milo’ (A showgirl noted for her poses rather than as an actress). Their postcard of Montagu is from a rather broadly defined series called Postcard portraits of actresses, and of Australian towns.  

In 1898 she was singled out in the Adelaide paper, The Critic:

A member of the “Dr. Bill” co. is the much photoed Miss Pansie Montague. This young lady has a good stage appearance, and some talent, and some day may make a name for herself.

My card is likely later as Pansie seems to have changed the spelling of both parts of her name, as the card records, by 1899. She became renowned and infamous as the ‘Modern Milo’ in 1905:

Harry Rickards will shortly announce a new artistic turn into Australia. In this a lady known as the “Modem Milo” will figure very prominently. She is said to be a specimen of perfect womanhood, and will appear in a series of magnificently set scenes, the central figure of each being a reproduction of an ancient sculpture masterpiece. As a contrast, an original process of stage caricaturing will be interpolated by “Cruickshank, the Caricaturist,” who will give caricatures of living local identities.

This card seems to promote the younger Montagu who played both women and youths. So dates from between 1899 and 1905.