Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Postcard - Vessel, Sailing Ship, B Matthews (photo printer), Cutty Sark, 20t century
... ...C Nelson Longridge...Charles...Flagstaff Hill Warrnambool Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Shipwreck Coast Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Maritime Museum Great Ocean Road Cutty sark historic sailing ship tea clipper sail training vessel cadet training ship commercial trading vessel cargo sail vessel clipper races Scott and Linton of Dunbarton Scottland race record Ferreria 1869 tea cargo tea trade China tea wool export Australian export Australian wool export China tea trade Cornwall training ship Greenwich British Museum ship model craft hobby ship model Cutty Sark model making postcard C Nelson Longridge Charles Nelson Longridge B Matthews photo printer B Matthews Bradford England B Matthews (photo printer ) Ltd. ...
The maker of the ship model on the postcard was Dr C Nelson Longridge (1876–1952), an English surgeon, maritime author, and builder of detailed ship models. Other models include the SS Marioness and the steam yacht Asia. He also wrote the books 'Cutty Sark' and 'The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships'.
The postcard was printed by B Matthews, Bradford, England, incorporated in 1970 as B. Matthews (Photo Printers) Limited. Collections of B Matthews' photo prints of famous painted portraits are held at The National Portrait Gallery of London. Copies of B Matthews postcards are today sought after by collectors.
THE CUTTY SARK: -
The Cutty Sark was built in Britain in 1869 and was one of the last great sailing ships. At first, it carried tea from China. Later, it was used to transport wool from Australia. It became famous for its speed and held the record for the fastest voyage from Australia to Britain for ten years. Later, a Portuguese company bought the ship and renamed it Ferreira. After that, a retired sea captain purchased it to use as a training ship in Cornwall. When the captain died, the ship was given to a training college in Greenwich in 1938. In 1954, it was placed in dry dock at Greenwich, where it remains on display.
This postcard features a photograph of a model of the sailing ship Cutty Sark, making it significant because of its connection to this well-known vessel. The famous tea clipper transported wool from Australia to markets around the world. Models such as this one help us understand what sea travel was like before steam-powered ships became widespread, while also illustrating how trade, travel and migration developed over time.
Cutty Sark was also celebrated for its speed. It broke records on the voyage from Australia to Britain and held this distinction for ten years. Its importance is still recognised today, as the ship has been carefully preserved and is now displayed at the British Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Its remarkable history has also made it a popular subject for model ship enthusiasts.
The postcard is also valuable because it shows a model of Cutty Sark built by the renowned C. N. Longridge, who was not only a respected surgeon but also a skilled model maker and author of detailed maritime works.
A further connection is found in the printer, B Matthews, who photographed and printed collections featuring famous people, model ships and maritime scenes, adding another layer of historical interest to the postcard.
Postcard, black and white, showing a model of the sailing ship Cutty Sark. Printed details are provided on both the front and back of the postcard. Inscriptions include a brief description of the Cutty Sark, the location and maker of the model, and the printer's contact information. The postcard was printed in Great Britain.FRONT: " "CUTTY SARK" (1869) The famous clipper ship "Cutty Sark" still lies at anchor at Falmouth. In her day, she was famous as one of the fastest sailing ships, first in the China Tea Trade, and afterwards in the Australian Wool Trade. This model was made by Dr C.N. Longridge."
"The Science Museum, London. No. 166."
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