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Beachcomber Island and multiple views
Unused, contemporary card. Grade: 1
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Native Fijians
Larger (4″ x 8-1/4″) unused card showing Fijians “circa early 1800’s” but the card has been battered a little in handling. Grade: 2
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Suva, street scene
Unused Plastichrome card P58921. Grade: 2
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Suva, Tradewinds Hotel
Unused Curteichcolor card 8DK-486. Grade: 2
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Deuba, Beachcomber Hotel
Unused Mike Roberts card C8883 showing (darkly) the Yaqona (Kava) ceremony, and Fijian mekes (dance). Grade: 1
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Moonlight on Government Buildings from G.P.H.
In December 1942 a man wrote to his mother in St. Paul, Minnesota, and mailed the card in St. Paul (it has the stamp and clear postmark) telling her that he would be in Los Angeles for Christmas. Not knowing the back story, we wonder whether mom would have been happiest getting this card from Los Angeles, St. Paul, or … Fiji. Nobody will ever know. Real photo. Grade: 4
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Traditional Dress
We freely admit that this is one in a category of postcards that is readily available from others online. We checked. But it’s in good condition (mailed in 1960, with stamp and Suva postmark, and Air Mail label, by a cruise passenger) and our price is lower than most others, and … you’re here now. The receiver put the card into one of those office machines that stamps time and date. Grade: 3
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Market Day
Mailed in 1991, with stamp, postmark, and uniquely Fijian air mail label. Grade: 1
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Crow’s Nest Resort
The card was mailed in 1988, with two stamps and faint postmark, so all’s well with that. Recent online reviews are less than encouraging, however, so maybe better just stick with the card. Grade: 1
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Beachcomber Island
Beachcomber (also known as Tai) is a small, private island within the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji. It is (or was, we don’t know now) also called barefoot island, as it was common on the island not to wear shoes. The original name Tai was changed to Beachcomber Island in the 1960s, mainly to make the island more attractive to tourists. The postcard — mailed in 1991 with stamp and postmark — makes this island look really, really small. But recent online reviews are, to put it bluntly, awful — so maybe just stick with the postcard. Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, Beachcomber Island Resort
A favourite topic for Fijian postcards, on this unused, high-quality 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. The Mamanuca Islands are a volcanic archipelago lying to the west of Nadi and to the south of the Yasawa Islands. The group, a popular tourist destination, consists of about 20 islands, but about seven of these are covered by the Pacific Ocean at high tide. Grade: 1
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Denarau Island, Sheraton Fiji Resort & Sheraton Denarau Villas
The Denarau Island website says: “The beating heart of Fiji tourism, Denarau Island has everything you’ve dreamed of and more. Nestled among the palm trees and sandy beaches, you’ll discover world-class resorts, restaurants and entertainment. This little island is larger than life. Within only 15 minutes to Nadi International Airport, and hosting the gateway to the outer islands, Denarau knows how to make the most of your Fiji holiday.” That’s marketing at its finest. This 4″ x 8-1/4″ unused postcard shows you some of all that. As for the resort itself, online reviews can best be described as “polarizing”. Grade: 1
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Denarau Island, The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa
Online reviews for this all-inclusive resort seem surprisingly old, so we wonder why that is, but will stick to describing the postcard: 4″ x 8-1/4″, unused, Grade: 1
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Denarau Island
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card showing at least one tip of Denarau, which is misspelled as “Denarua” in the reverse caption. Grade: 1
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Denarau Island, aerial view
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card showing more of Denarau. Grade: 1
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Denarau, multiple views with golf
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card without particular identifications but with Denarau misspelled on the reverse. Grade: 1
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Denarau Island, multiple views with sunset and lily pad
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card without particular identifications but with Denarau misspelled as “Denarua” on the reverse. Grade: 1
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Coral Coast, Beach Resort
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card generically captioned as “Beach Resort” on the reverse. This falls in line with a Fijian Travel site describing Coral Coast this way: “You don’t really need to leave Viti Levu to get a taste of the beach life.
Hugging Viti Levu’s southern coast, the Coral Coast’s brilliant palm-lined beaches and sparkling fringing reefs can be reached on a 1-2-hour drive from Nadi. Scattered in little pockets along this stunning coast, sprawling family-friendly resorts rub shoulders with budget and boutique properties touting kids-clubs and fun-filled days out on the water snorkeling, diving and surfing.” And no, nobody paid us to include this description! Grade: 1 -
Coral Coast, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa, multiple views
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card, multiple views of the property on Yanuca Island. Apparently this is an older place and online reviews are, to put it politely, “polarizing” as is the case with several other Fijian resorts too. But all we have to go by is the postcard, which is: Grade: 1
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Coral Coast, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa, single view
Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. Grade: 1
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Coral Coast, multiple views
Bula! As attractive as Fiji can be, on this unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″ high-quality card. Grade: 1
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Sunset on the Coral Coast
Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Images from the Fiji Islands, starfish and other views
Unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″. High quality! Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, two sunsets and other views
Unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, multiple views
Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Bula! Have you bought your ticket yet? Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, South Sea Island
In this case, South Sea actually is a speck of an island and not a generic term. One website gushingly writes (slightly abridged): “South Sea Island is a popular destination located in the Mamanuca Islands. The tiny island is just 30 minutes from Port Denarau, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and coral reefs teeming with marine life. The island may be small but there’s plenty of room for everyone. South Sea Island features a dorm with twin bunks and sun loungers that sit atop the open-air restaurant. There are also stylish new double-bedded bures complete with outdoor en suites. You can spend the day lazing by the saltwater swimming pool, utilize the complimentary non-motorised watersports or explore Fiji’s colourful marine life from the semi-submersible submarine. There is nowhere more tranquil than this tiny island paradise.” TripAdvisor reviews are really instructive and apparently if you don’t mind crowds you can do quite a lot there. What you see in the card is the whole island. Unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, beach
As we sit here typing this on a dark and clammy winter day … unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″, Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, sunset
Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Mamanuca Islands, multiple views
Some of Fiji’s best on a 4″ x 8-1/4″ unused postcard. Grade: 1
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Suva, multiple views
Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Images from the Fiji Islands
Good variety on this unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″ postcard. Grade: 1
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Nanuya Lai Lai Island
The two Lais merge into one as the actual name of the island but with scenes like this, who cares? Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. Grade: 1
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Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, at 434 square km. The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 km east of Vanua Levu, across the Somosomo Strait. And the waterfall is somewhere on it. Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, offshore boats
Once again, nobody has paid us to report this (condensed) description from a Fijian travel website: “Blessed with dramatic peaks and sun-drenched white sand beaches, the Yasawa Islands is the paradise that lies Northwest of the main island Viti Levu. The region is a haven for nature lovers and a mariner’s dream for an adventurous ocean escapade. The natural exotic beauty of the Islands has earned them spots on Hollywood movie sets and is a popular choice for reality shows. Reserve your patch of paradise on a single island or hop your way through the archipelago to standout spots like the awe-inspiring Sawa-i-Lau caves, swim with mesmerising mantas or discover delightful underwater coral gardens.” We would go if we could. Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, point
Not really an inspiring postcard, but a high-quality one measuring 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, The Blue Lagoon
From the Turtle Airways website, “flightnetwork.com recently rated the top 50 beaches in the world and put the beaches of the Blue Lagoon as number 13. They scored the Blue Lagoon a 9/10 for sheer untouched beauty, a 10/10 for remoteness, and an 8/10 for sand and water quality. The reviews rave about the pearl-white sand beaches, and call the lagoon ‘some of the clearest waters on the planet’.” Sounds good to us. Unused 4″ x 8-1/4″ card. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, multiple views
Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, multiple views with cruise boat
Unused, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, sunset
Looks like there’s a town in the photo too. Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1
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Yasawa Islands, multiple views, with flowers
Those flowers look like the frangipani (plumeria) for which Fiji is famous; but they’re red, and we thought frangipani should be yellow, so don’t hold us to this. Unused card, 4″ x 8-1/4″. Grade: 1