Tuck's 'Oilette' Postcards of the Gold Coast, 1924   
 
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Copyright note: All rights reserved. Usage of the texts and images depicted here is only allowed for academic purposes. The 'Tuck's 'Oilette' Postcards of the Gold Coast, 1924' collection is part of the private collection of images of the Gold Coast and Ghana of Michel R. Doortmont. Original © Government of the Gold Coast, with uncertain current status. Author of the database and the accompanying texts is M.R. Doortmont, Groningen. © Michel R. Doortmont, 2001-2005 for texts, database layout and content.

Series I-1 Native Court. A scene depicting the trial of an offender by the Head Chief of the person’s tribal division. The chief is surrounded by his counselors. Guggisberg's text: '...picture showing the Head-Chief of Juabeng [Dwaben] administering justice in his native tribunal. To those who have never been out of England I think that the witness-box and prisoners' dock will go far to reveal the progress made in this country. The court crier with the gold plaque on his head, the Chief in his beautiful crimson robe, the fetish symbols over head, the state sword, and the great umbrella of state, all go to mix up old and new customs in a bewildering fashion. Perhaps not the least attractive touch of the picture are the predatory chickens in the courtyard' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no. 25).
A Native Court on the Gold Coast.
Series I-2 'Christiansborg Castle. This castle was built by the Portugese in 1643 and occupied by the Swedes in 1645; acquired by the British in 1850; now the residence of the Governor'.
Christiansborg Castle, Gold Coast, the residence of the governor
Series I-3 Surf-boats. The principal and somewhat precarious link between ship and shore, owing to lack of sheltered anchorage. Guggisbergs text: '...the wonderful scene on Accra beach, with the brown bags of cocoa representing the wealth of the country; the active Krooboys, the gleaming silvery sands, and the red-brown cliffs and white houses in the background' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no. 25).
Loading Cocoa into Surf Boats. Accra - Gold Coast.
Series I-4 Mining. The Mine was discovered by the Government Geologist in 1915 at the time when the allies were in great need of Manganese. Five million steel helmets were made from Manganese steel during the war. Guggisberg's text: 'The rich red colouring of the face of the manganese ore mines at Nsuta, the deep browns and greys of the piles of ore on the right lend an artistic touch to the busy scene of everyday work of sweating miners and rattling trucks. This manganese mine is a romance. It was only discovered in 1915, just at the moment when Britain was crying out for manganese to make the steel with which to beat down the enemy - the steel to make the shrapnel helmets for our soldiers all over the world. it was opened up at once, and in twelve months was sending home some 30,000 tons a year. To-day it is exporting over 200,000 tons' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no. 25).
A Manganese Mine in the Gold Coast

Series I-5 Seccondee Port. One of the principal ports of the Gold Coast. 340,000 tons of exports and imports were handled in 1923 in spite of restricted wharfage. Guggisberg's text: '...the old market with its wealth of colouring, its movement, its sunshine and shade...' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no.25).
The Old Boat Harbour. Seccondee. Gold Coast.
Series I-6 Salaga Market. A market scene on the great trade routes between Coomassie, the capital of Ashanti and Timbuctoo. Guggisbergs text: '...the old market with its wealth of colouring, its movement, its sunshine and shade...' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no.25). Note: Contrary to the caption on the back of the card, it is likely that we have to identify this card as depicting the Salaga Market in Accra, named after the northern town of Salaga [MRD].
A Market Scene. Accra - Gold Coast.
Series II-1 'African Hospital, Gold Coast. This hospital was opened at Accra in 1923. There is accommodation for over 200 patients and the building and its equipment is so completely up to date that it can claim one of the premier places among such establishments in our Tropical possessions'. Guggisberg's text: 'Then we come to the Gold Coast Hospital, as beautiful a painting as could be made of an interior lacking in such artistic possibilities. This is another propaganda picture to show the people at home how Britain provides for the care of the native peoples who have entrusted themselves to her charge; to show them that white nursing sisters and black nurses combine together to look after the sick natives of the country. The keynote of the picture is peace and quiet, the still figures under the blue coverlets, the tempered lights through the windows' (Guggisberg, Gold Coast News, no. 25).
A ward in the hospital for Africans, Accra, Gold Coast.
Series II-2 Manganese Mine, Gold Coast. This mine was discovered in 1915 at a time when the allies were in dire need of the Manganese ore. Some 20,000 tons a month are now exported from Insuta. During the Great War 5 million Steel Helmets were made for the British and Allied Forces from this Manganese
Manganese Mine. Insuta. Gold Coast.