Lemuel Lyes
@lemuellyes.bsky.social
Documentary filmmaker. Archive Producer. History geek and ephemera collector, researcher and storyteller. Kiwi living in Cornwall. May contain vintage stuff.
"I am having a beautiful time, this is where I nearly died with laughing."
Note the Exhibition stamp and postmark as well. I hope you've enjoyed this little series of ephemera and postcards. It's not much, but I wanted to contribute to the memory of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Note the Exhibition stamp and postmark as well. I hope you've enjoyed this little series of ephemera and postcards. It's not much, but I wanted to contribute to the memory of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
December 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"I am having a beautiful time, this is where I nearly died with laughing."
Note the Exhibition stamp and postmark as well. I hope you've enjoyed this little series of ephemera and postcards. It's not much, but I wanted to contribute to the memory of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Note the Exhibition stamp and postmark as well. I hope you've enjoyed this little series of ephemera and postcards. It's not much, but I wanted to contribute to the memory of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
One last postcard from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition - this time featuring the entrance to the 'Fun Factory', one of the many amusement attractions.
December 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
One last postcard from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition - this time featuring the entrance to the 'Fun Factory', one of the many amusement attractions.
Here's another souvenir 'flying machine' postcard from the NZ & South Seas International Exhibition, Dunedin, 1925-1926. One of the things I love about these cards is the little snapshot they offer of the era's fashion. These three look like they're enjoying their visit to the exhibition!
December 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Here's another souvenir 'flying machine' postcard from the NZ & South Seas International Exhibition, Dunedin, 1925-1926. One of the things I love about these cards is the little snapshot they offer of the era's fashion. These three look like they're enjoying their visit to the exhibition!
I love novelty postcards like these. Some of my favourites to look out for.
The earlier 1913-1914 exhibition in Auckland had a similar 'flying machine' setup, but, curiously, the 1925-26 cards are harder to find. I'm putting it down to the postcard-collecting craze starting to wane.
My Collection.
The earlier 1913-1914 exhibition in Auckland had a similar 'flying machine' setup, but, curiously, the 1925-26 cards are harder to find. I'm putting it down to the postcard-collecting craze starting to wane.
My Collection.
November 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I love novelty postcards like these. Some of my favourites to look out for.
The earlier 1913-1914 exhibition in Auckland had a similar 'flying machine' setup, but, curiously, the 1925-26 cards are harder to find. I'm putting it down to the postcard-collecting craze starting to wane.
My Collection.
The earlier 1913-1914 exhibition in Auckland had a similar 'flying machine' setup, but, curiously, the 1925-26 cards are harder to find. I'm putting it down to the postcard-collecting craze starting to wane.
My Collection.
A souvenir from the NZ & South Seas International Exhibition, Dunedin, 1925-1926.
Don't this duo look absolutely thrilled to be flying over the exhibition grounds!? Visitors could pose in this novelty studio set for a fun little keepsake.
My Collection.
Don't this duo look absolutely thrilled to be flying over the exhibition grounds!? Visitors could pose in this novelty studio set for a fun little keepsake.
My Collection.
November 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A souvenir from the NZ & South Seas International Exhibition, Dunedin, 1925-1926.
Don't this duo look absolutely thrilled to be flying over the exhibition grounds!? Visitors could pose in this novelty studio set for a fun little keepsake.
My Collection.
Don't this duo look absolutely thrilled to be flying over the exhibition grounds!? Visitors could pose in this novelty studio set for a fun little keepsake.
My Collection.
So it was nice to see the Dunedin organisers arrange a unique stamp design for the 1925/26 Exhibition.
Here's the reverse of the card.
Here's the reverse of the card.
November 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
So it was nice to see the Dunedin organisers arrange a unique stamp design for the 1925/26 Exhibition.
Here's the reverse of the card.
Here's the reverse of the card.
It's an attractive stamp - I used to covet these as a young collector.
NZ's first commemorative stamps were issued for the 1906/07 ChCh exhibition. Rather than issuing their own unique stamps, the Auckland 1913/14 exhibition simply overprinted their name on existing definitives.
NZ's first commemorative stamps were issued for the 1906/07 ChCh exhibition. Rather than issuing their own unique stamps, the Auckland 1913/14 exhibition simply overprinted their name on existing definitives.
November 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
It's an attractive stamp - I used to covet these as a young collector.
NZ's first commemorative stamps were issued for the 1906/07 ChCh exhibition. Rather than issuing their own unique stamps, the Auckland 1913/14 exhibition simply overprinted their name on existing definitives.
NZ's first commemorative stamps were issued for the 1906/07 ChCh exhibition. Rather than issuing their own unique stamps, the Auckland 1913/14 exhibition simply overprinted their name on existing definitives.
Time for some philatelic geekery! The exhibition sold a special series of commemorative stamps - featuring a view of the exhibition grounds. There were 1/2d, 1d, and 4d varieties in different colours.
This 1d example is on a souvenir card, but hasn't been postally used.
My Collection.
This 1d example is on a souvenir card, but hasn't been postally used.
My Collection.
November 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Time for some philatelic geekery! The exhibition sold a special series of commemorative stamps - featuring a view of the exhibition grounds. There were 1/2d, 1d, and 4d varieties in different colours.
This 1d example is on a souvenir card, but hasn't been postally used.
My Collection.
This 1d example is on a souvenir card, but hasn't been postally used.
My Collection.
Another postcard from the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition, 1925 - 1926 - this one showing a mass of visitors outside the entrance gates. More queues were waiting inside for the various rides and attractions.
My Collection.
My Collection.
November 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Another postcard from the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition, 1925 - 1926 - this one showing a mass of visitors outside the entrance gates. More queues were waiting inside for the various rides and attractions.
My Collection.
My Collection.
Here's the reverse of the card, with a message from a couple of exhibition visitors.
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Here's the reverse of the card, with a message from a couple of exhibition visitors.
This glorious scene was the backdrop for revellers counting in the New Year, as reported in the NZ Times, 2 Jan 1926.
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
This glorious scene was the backdrop for revellers counting in the New Year, as reported in the NZ Times, 2 Jan 1926.
This is one of my fav postcards from the exhibition - showing the iconic Grand Dome at night.
The exhibition lights (17,312 of them!) were an attraction in their own right. The grounds were likened to 'a glow-worm palace in a grotto among the hills'.
My Collection.
The exhibition lights (17,312 of them!) were an attraction in their own right. The grounds were likened to 'a glow-worm palace in a grotto among the hills'.
My Collection.
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
This is one of my fav postcards from the exhibition - showing the iconic Grand Dome at night.
The exhibition lights (17,312 of them!) were an attraction in their own right. The grounds were likened to 'a glow-worm palace in a grotto among the hills'.
My Collection.
The exhibition lights (17,312 of them!) were an attraction in their own right. The grounds were likened to 'a glow-worm palace in a grotto among the hills'.
My Collection.
Adding this to compile all my 1925 NZ & South Seas exhibition centenary shenanigans into one thread.
bsky.app/profile/lemu...
bsky.app/profile/lemu...
This postcard from the 1925-26 New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition shows the Grand Court.
As was often the case with big exhibitions, the buildings were designed to be temporary. Most of what you see here are sports fields today - including one of NZ's best test cricket venues.
📸 My Collection.
As was often the case with big exhibitions, the buildings were designed to be temporary. Most of what you see here are sports fields today - including one of NZ's best test cricket venues.
📸 My Collection.
November 18, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Adding this to compile all my 1925 NZ & South Seas exhibition centenary shenanigans into one thread.
bsky.app/profile/lemu...
bsky.app/profile/lemu...
Here he is in the programme!
November 17, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Here he is in the programme!
I'd wondered that too. I'll put some more from that series up.
It's a mystery, as so far, reverse image searches haven't found matches for any of the natural history slides in this collection. Not the ones I've checked anyway.
It's a mystery, as so far, reverse image searches haven't found matches for any of the natural history slides in this collection. Not the ones I've checked anyway.
November 17, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I'd wondered that too. I'll put some more from that series up.
It's a mystery, as so far, reverse image searches haven't found matches for any of the natural history slides in this collection. Not the ones I've checked anyway.
It's a mystery, as so far, reverse image searches haven't found matches for any of the natural history slides in this collection. Not the ones I've checked anyway.
Newspaper reports indicate that 50,000 people attended the exhibition on the opening day. Over 3.2 million people visited the exhibition before it closed the following May.
In the upcoming weeks, I'll be sharing more gems from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition. Enjoy!
In the upcoming weeks, I'll be sharing more gems from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition. Enjoy!
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Newspaper reports indicate that 50,000 people attended the exhibition on the opening day. Over 3.2 million people visited the exhibition before it closed the following May.
In the upcoming weeks, I'll be sharing more gems from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition. Enjoy!
In the upcoming weeks, I'll be sharing more gems from my collection to commemorate the centenary of the exhibition. Enjoy!
I found this 1979 recording of the New Zealand Army Band performing the same number.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhZR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhZR...
Mac And Mac (Live)
YouTube video by New Zealand Army Band - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I found this 1979 recording of the New Zealand Army Band performing the same number.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhZR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhZR...
But if there was one performance I'd love to see, it would be the Xylophone Duet "Mac and Mac" performed by bandsmen E Edwards and F Cowdrey. Rather humorously, the xylophonists were scheduled to perform after a rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
But if there was one performance I'd love to see, it would be the Xylophone Duet "Mac and Mac" performed by bandsmen E Edwards and F Cowdrey. Rather humorously, the xylophonists were scheduled to perform after a rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
The headliners of the opening ceremony were the Band of the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - part of a concerted effort to drum up Dunedin's Scottishness - with bangers including Highland Harry and Stirlingshire Militia.
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The headliners of the opening ceremony were the Band of the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - part of a concerted effort to drum up Dunedin's Scottishness - with bangers including Highland Harry and Stirlingshire Militia.
The programme doesn't say what type of aircraft, but newspaper reports refer to them as Avros - I'm guessing they were Avro 504s.
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The programme doesn't say what type of aircraft, but newspaper reports refer to them as Avros - I'm guessing they were Avro 504s.
The ceremony kicked off with a 19-gun salute as Governor General Fergusson left from London St and made his way to Exhibition Park. Guards of honour included crew from HMS Dunedin, and the 1st Battalion Otago Regiment. In the skies above, two aeroplanes from Wigram circled low.
November 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The ceremony kicked off with a 19-gun salute as Governor General Fergusson left from London St and made his way to Exhibition Park. Guards of honour included crew from HMS Dunedin, and the 1st Battalion Otago Regiment. In the skies above, two aeroplanes from Wigram circled low.