1919 Canadian Postcard Company: Canadian National Exhibition from the Air

In looking at these aerial views taken from a biplane (note the wing intruding into the images on the left) one is reminded of Dr. Johnson’s aphorism having to do with a different subject: “It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.” The Canadian Postcard Company was an active pioneer in taking views of Canadian towns and cities from the air following World War One. To secure copyright protection for these pictures as they were turned into postcards, it registered the images with the Canadian Government and the British Museum, guaranteeing their survival in one place or another.

Among the several aerial pictures of the CNE only a few show the Stanley Barracks amidst the chaos of other buildings and the midway.

[Additional Toronto photographs from the same series here]

Click the image to view a full size version.

Canadian National Exhibition from the Air, 1919 (HS85-10-36082)
Published by the Canadian Postcard Company
Courtesy British Library: Canadian Copyright Collection, HS85-10-36082
[Patent and Copyright Office, Library and Archives Canada]

Click the image to view a full size version.

Canadian National Exhibition from the Air, 1919 (HS85-10-36083)
Published by the Canadian Postcard Company
Courtesy British Library: Canadian Copyright Collection, HS85-10-36083
[Patent and Copyright Office, Library and Archives Canada]

Bonus image:

1919 CNE Poster
via Library of Congress:
cph 3g12163

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