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Illustrated postcard by Horatio Gordon Robley, 1904

documentary heritage

Commercially produced blank postcard featuring a hand-illustrated (pen and ink) New Year's greeting incorporating Maori tattooing chisels, moko, pa, tiki, and mere. It reads: "Wishing you a particularly merry New Year from G. Robley." Inscribed in pencil on verso is "xmas 1904". This postcard is one of a small series known to have been illustrated by Robley for sending to his friends and acquaintances.

Last Update: 17 Jun 2026

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Other Id

MS-2004-38 (Reference Number)

3472 (Presto content ID)

42793 (DBTextworks system ID)

2004/38 (Registration number)

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Department

Manuscripts

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Display Room

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Object Type

manuscript

Name/Title

Illustrated postcard by Horatio Gordon Robley, 1904

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Primary Maker

Dr Theodore Raw (PRIMARY MAKER)

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Date

1904

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Physical Description

85 x 135 mm

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Horatio Gordon Robley

Level of Current Record

Single Item

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Related Object Notes

Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840 - 1930 [Greeting cards] PD 48 (50-51).

Melvin, Leslie W. "Horatio Gordon Robley, soldier artist in the Bay of Plenty, 1864 - 1866." Tauranga Historical Society, Tauranga: Alan Bellamy (ed), 1990. (Call No. DU420.1)

Walker, Tim, 1959-. "Robley : Te Ropere, 1840-1930" / Timothy Walker, 1985. [MA Thesis, University of Auckland] (Call No. GN672.6.T2 Wal)

MS-256

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Classification

Card, Greeting/Correspondence/Other Documents/Documentary Artifacts/08 Communication Artifacts/Chenhall Nomenclature

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Subject Notes

Major-General Horatio Gordon Robley was born in Madeira on 28 June 1840. He served with the 68th Regiment in India, Burma, South Africa and New Zealand from 1858 until his retirement in 1887. In 1863 he accompanied the 68th Regiment, as part of the Headquarters Staff, when it was sent to New Zealand, and took part in the Waikato and Tauranga campaigns. He was present at the battle of Gate Pa. He is noted for his studies and published works on Maori moko, and also the many water-colour sketches done mainly during the Tauranga campaign. After retiring in 1887 he took up residence in London, where he remained until his death on 29 October 1930.

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Last Update

17 Jun 2026

Illustrated postcard by Horatio Gordon Robley, 1904

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