Graphic artist and illustrator. He was born 27 August 1897 at Devonport, Auckland, the second son of Archibald and Florence Rykers. At 16 years old, he was apprenticed to the Brett Printing and Publishing Company as a lithographic artist. Apart from a brief period in 1928-1929 when he worked as a partner in the lithographic business Stewart & Rykers, he spent his working life with this firm as a commercial artist. The company produced the 'Auckland Star', 'New Zealand women's weekly', 'Brett's Christmas annual' (for which Rykers designed covers), and much advertising material. Rykers became known through his design of Anchor dairy products and Bycroft biscuits. He was especially adept at using the airbrush. Les Rykers married Frederica Ellen Biggs in 1925, and they had two sons, Neville and Trevor. After his retirement, Rykers painted in oils and watercolours, mainly Auckland landscapes. He died in 1976 and was buried at Bayswater cemetery.
Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976: Photographs, chiefly Auckland scenes and s...
Date: [1910-circa 1940s]
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976; Lackland, Edward Clark, 1898-1970
Reference: PAColl-9936
Description: Photographs taken and collected by Les Rykers in the course of his career as a commercial artist with the Brett Printing and Publishing Company. Photographers unidentified unless listed. Collection comprises: Auckland views: Town Hall circa 1920; Auckland Star offices decorated for coronation of George VI in 1937; aerial view of Auckland circa 1930s-1940s with Jervois Road/Ponsonby area and harbour; inner city view circa 1930s-1940s showing houses in foreground and spire of St Matthews behind; Mechanics Bay, Auckland, circa 1940s with flying boats of TEAL and Pan American World Airways. Shipping photographs: sailing ship in choppy seas taken 1938 by Edward Clark Lackland; passenger ferry and smaller craft at Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island, Auckland, circa 1930; M-class sailing dinghies/yachts at sea, possibly in Auckland, circa 1930s-1940s; montage of windjammer sailing ships at Whanganui dated 16 August 1911; montage dated 23 February 1910 of ship and deck scenes, and Queens Wharf, Auckland, relating to the steam ship 'Malwa'. Two copies of a portrait of Les Rykers. One copy is marked up for publication as a half-tone illustration. Miscellaneous photographs; bird with black cap on head, possibly a Caspian tern, flying and feeding its young, circa 1930s-1940s; horse-drawn wagons on a beach taken circa 1910s-1920s by E C Lackland; a stationary engine circa 1930s-1940s, Maori women in semi-traditional costume by waters edge circa 1930s-1940s; unidentified stream with native bush alongside, circa 1930s-1940s Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 14 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 b&w original photographic print(s) attached to form a wide view. 1 card mount with 7 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 card mount with 4 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints Provenance: Donor is son of Leslie Rykers. Transfers: From Drawings & Prints Collection - Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976 [1. Ca 50 original art works for advertisements, greeting cards, and illustrations for Auckland Star and Brett's Christmas annuals; 2. Neil Lonsdale "So long it's been good to know you" 1956; 3. J P Sydney "Native bush" etching; 4. Neville L and Trevor Rykers. Illustration sketches. ca 1940]. See also Ephemera collection: [Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald?], 1897-1976: Ephemera; including Teaspoon, the new fragrant tea; Choysa, the tea supreme; O.C. choice rabbit, Zealandia canned fish labels. 1930s?] See also Published collections: two books and two serials. See also Manuscripts collection: MS-Papers-10837: Rykers family: Papers..
[Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald], 1897-1976 :O.C. choice rabbit, Alexandra, New Zeala...
Date: 1925 - 1945
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: Eph-F-MEAT-1930s-01
Description: Booklet of a total of ten prints shows the finished label on the front cover and on the back page. Other pages show intermediate stages, from the first yellow (Golden chrome) print, through deep red and bright red, golden chrome mixed with bronze blue reduced, bronze blue, bronze blue reduced, and the final label. The label shows groups of rabbits in fields to the left and the right of the central label. The righthand panel gives directions: "If desired hot, boil for twenty minutes before opening". Les Rykers confirmed as the artist, by his son Neville Rykers, message received 31 May 2011. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of six leaves, 103 x 479 mm, tied at left side Provenance: Donated by Neville Rykers, son of Les Rykers, in 2011. Transfers: Collection as a whole brought into Drawings Paintings & Prints. Transfers made from there to Ephemera, Photographic Archive and Published Collections.
Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976 :[Original art works for, and print of, adv...
Date: 1920 - 1950
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: RYKERS
Description: Includes: Gouache advertisements (Bycroft's biscuits, Cadbury, Anchor butter, Turners and Growers) for lithographic printing business Stewart & Rykers, ca 1920s Gouache artwork and posters for Brett's Christmas annuals/ numbers (eg 1926, 1928, 1933) and for Auckland Star Original 1920s cartoon strip Star Twinkles for Auckland Star children's page, and WW2 cartoon in ink "Through the net" Examples of Rykers' published illustrations. Examples of early art work by Rykers' sons Neville and Trevor. A file of published illustrations and clippings used as models. Rykers was a partner in an Auckland graphic design company (possibly Stewart & Rykers of Queen Street); in the Depression, he sold his share to his partner, and worked for Brett's and then the Auckland Star as an artist. He used photographs as models to copy in his art work, eg of rigged sailing ship, and Maori groups. Examples of these sources are included in this collection (both in Drawings Paintings & Prints, and in the Photographic Archive. Quantity: 48 watercolour(s). 92 drawing(s). 102 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, ink and pencil drawings, photolithographs, sizes varying Transfers: Collection as a whole brought into Drawings Paintings & Prints. Transfers made from there to Manuscripts, Ephemera, Photographic Archive (PAColl-9936) and Published Collections - To Photographic Archive - PAColl-9936 - The accession also included a cartoon by Neil Lonsdale, "So long it's been good to know you" 1956; and three etchings by J P Sidney..
[Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald?], 1897-1976 : [Four Easter card designs]. Fulton Sta...
Date: 1940 - 1949
From: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976 :[Original art works for, and print of, advertisements, greeting cards, and illustrations for Auckland Star and Brett's Christmas annuals, mostly 1920s-1930s. Artwork by Neville L and Trevor Rykers, 1940s and 1950s].
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: C-166-009
Description: Four Easter card designs: A yellow rabbit in a top hat: A Happy Easter. "Well, her it is Easter!" A brown rabbit in a floral hat: "To you at Easter time" Tulips: Wishing you a joyous Easter Tulips, daffodils and pussy-willow: "To someone very special at Easter" Based on provenance, possibly designed by Leslie Rykers. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph on sheet, 585 x 447 mm.
[Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald?], 1897-1976 : [Four Easter card designs]. Fulton Sta...
Date: 1940 - 1949
From: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976 :[Original art works for, and print of, advertisements, greeting cards, and illustrations for Auckland Star and Brett's Christmas annuals, mostly 1920s-1930s. Artwork by Neville L and Trevor Rykers, 1940s and 1950s].
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: C-166-009-a
Description: Four Easter card designs: A yellow rabbit in a top hat: A Happy Easter. "Well, her it is Easter!" A brown rabbit in a floral hat: "To you at Easter time" Tulips: Wishing you a joyous Easter Tulips, daffodils and pussy-willow: "To someone very special at Easter" Based on provenance, possibly designed by Leslie Rykers. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph on sheet, 585 x 447 mm.
[Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald?], 1897-1976 : [Two birthday card designs. 1940-1950s?]
Date: 1940 - 1949
From: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976 :[Original art works for, and print of, advertisements, greeting cards, and illustrations for Auckland Star and Brett's Christmas annuals, mostly 1920s-1930s. Artwork by Neville L and Trevor Rykers, 1940s and 1950s].
By: Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: C-166-010
Description: Two birthday card designs, and repeats: Birthday wishes - "Bright as the skies of blue ...". Parcel wrapped in pink bow with flowers Especially for you - "Many happy returns of this joyous event ...". Girl playing a piano Based on provenance, possibly designed by Leslie Rykers. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph on sheet, 585 x 445 mm.
John Dickinson & Company Ltd :"Lion brand" Croxley offset papers [ca 1920-1940s?]
Date: 1925 - 1945
By: John Dickinson & Co.; Rykers, Leslie Bertram Archibald, 1897-1976
Reference: Eph-B-PAPER-1930s-01
Description: Booklet of a samples of offset printing shows a red shiled with a lion rampant holding a "Reliance" flag. Includes loose sheets of offset printing including letterheads for Flora Steel (London), John Holland Ltd, Portland Place Mayfair, an offset reproduction of a riverside scene, two prints of an "embroidered" garden scene, letterhead for Dreyfete novelties (Berkeley Street), a flier for "White foam" art paper showing a parrot logo, and a specimen by Fosh & Cross Ltd, titled 1930. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of six leaves, 103 x 479 mm, tied at left side Provenance: Donated by Neville Rykers, son of Les Rykers, in 2011. Transfers: Rykers Collection as a whole brought into Drawings Paintings & Prints. Transfers made from there to Ephemera, Photographic Archive and Published Collections.
Rykers family: Papers
Date: 1938, 1946, [ca 1960]
Reference: MS-Papers-10837
Description: Comprises a 'fable' on taxation and death duties in New Zealand ca 1960, authorship unknown, but by either Neville or Leslie Rykers; school exercises by Neville Rykers for 1938; certificate of Auckland University College, awarding Neville Rykers a Blue in rugby for 1946. Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donation, Neville Rykers, 2011 Transfers: From Drawings & Prints Collection - The bulk of the Rykers collection is held by the Drawings and Print Section of the Library under the reference RYKERS. Photographs relating to the collection have been transferred to the Photographic Archive, where they are held at PAColl-9936.