1911 - Hong Kong waterfront

This old, unused postcard fell out of pages 90/91 of a recently acquired second-hand copy of Garstin, Crosbie, The Dragon and the Lotus, William Heinemann Ltd., London 1928. It was apparently marking the text that, in part, reads: “It is the sweeping Praya, the waterfront, that is most fascinating. At the jetties lie the little white steamers that run to Macau and Canton. Besides them swim laden boats and lighters, also sampans jostling each other like a flock of geese. Half-naked coolies go grunting by with their peculiar wriggling trot, crates of fowls and ducks slung on their carrying-poles. Hand-carts creak past, stacked with bales and boxes. Rickshaws pass, the coolies shouting their warning cries, their varnished blue hats jauntily a-cock. Black-clad sampan women clamour shrilly for hire.”

The postcard itself is titled: View from the Hongkong Harbour. The unused message side is printed: Post Card – Carte Postale. Specially made for The Graeco Egyptian Tobacco Store, Hongkong. Made in Germany, No. 17. 

(The c.1910 date provided above is only a guess. More accurate suggestions would be most welcome so that relevant changes can be made.)

See Klaus’ convincingly informative commentary below. I now feel quite safe in opting for the 1911 date as being the most likely.