Australian Series, The

Unlike the puzzles of the company's South African Series, the boxes for these do not list the other titles available, nor are they numbered, so the full extent of the series is not yet known. They are very similar in subject, cutting style, size and box design and are also of c1930's origin.

The box lid for each example quotes them as featuring Artistic Reproductions in fine colours of Picturesque Scenes in Australia, and listing themes of: Bushlands, Surfing Beaches, Mountain Scenery, Great Barrier Reef, Sport and Social Life, all quoted as being Subjects reproduced by the courtesy of The Australian National Travel Association, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London W.C.2, and The Sphere. The artwork for most of the puzzles is by the Italian artist Fortunino Matania (1881-1963), but British artist C.E. Turner, whose work appears extensively within the South African Series, produced the painting of Turtle Riding into a Blue Lagoon.

The themes listed appear to indicate that six subjects are represented and all six feature in the examples shown here, so it seems likely that this is the full series!

Bushlands: In the Blue Gums Azure Shadow: An Australian Bush Picnic
Surfing Beaches: Surf Bathing by Spotlight. Sport of the Australian Summer
Mountain Scenery: Hitting the Australian Trail
Great Barrier Reef: Turtle Riding into a Blue Lagoon
Sport: Snow Sport Amid Leafy Trees
Social Life: Australian Nocturne, An

Many thanks to Alan Sudbury for providing so much of the detail and imagery surrounding this super series of puzzles.