Stereographic viewer South African War, 1899-1902 [stereographs]The viewer is made of patterned

The viewer is made of patterned aluminium and light wood with dual viewer lenses, a foldout handle to hold the viewer and an adjustable holder for the stereographs that can be moved closer or further away from the viewer to allow the viewer to correctly focus on the images. This viewer was made by The Fine Art Photographers Publishing Co, 46 Rydevale Road, London S.W. They had applied for patents on this example in the USA in 1895 and also in Germany, Belgium, Canada and other countries.

The growth of photography allowed the stereoscopic viewer to advance rapidly and by the late 19th century it was a well-developed art form. 

The most important stereographs in this collection relate to the South African War and there are 19 (A), all described on the rear of the card in English, German, French, Swedish and Russian. Secondly, there are 15 (B) stereographs described on the front below the photographs or on the images and thirdly, there are 8 images undescribed, of a sports meeting and gathering on an open veld, possibly of troops relaxing.

They are accompanied by 55 further stereographs of images from around the world including the White House, Westminster Cathedral, Burns Cottage, Ayr, Box Canyon, Colorado, Montevideo etc.

A. The stereographs (described on rear - all published by Underwood & Underwood Publishers, New York, London and many bearing the stamp of Reid Bros., 19 Roeland Street, Cape Town- sole agents for Underwood & Underwood:- Cronje's Chief Commandants after the surrender, Feb. 27th at Paardeberg. S. Africa; Cronje's men at Modder River…;Tenderly they lifted him - Orange River Hospital, S. Africa; The greatest living British soldier- Lord Roberts planning the advance on Pretoria- Riet Spruit; Among the fighters for the Queen - At Naauwpoort…; When the cannons roar is still – sleeping by their arms, Dec. 30th before Colesberg; New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Jan. 15th) after repulsing Boer attack at bayonets' point. Rensburg; British signals from Hospital Hill to New Zealand Hill…Feb. 7th; Filling a signalling lamp…Slingersfontein; Ex-President Kruger's Home at Pretoria; Great Orange River bridge (450 yards) near Hope Town; The Warwicks skirmishing with Boers near Wepner; Eventide-when the smoke of Battle has cleared away- Driefontein; Gen. Pole-Carew commanding 11th Division, watching troops crossing the Vet River; Lord Roberts, hero of Candahar (sic)…; Methuen's gallant infantry storming a Kopje at Gras Pan; The English Drummer Boy's letter - writing home to Mother…Colesberg; Royal Munster Fusiliers fighting at Honey Nest Kloof; the Cape Garrison Artillery standing to the Guns.

B. The stereographs (described on the front- all published by Underwood & Underwood Publishers, New York, London…):- ??? Brigade marching on Brandfort; Munster Fusiliers at Honey Nest Kloof; Boer prisoners of war brought into Pretoria; General De Wet's dispatch riders in camp; Ex-Commandant Generals Botha, De Wet and de la Rey of the Boer forces; General De la Rey's staff near Bloemfontein; General De Wet's burghers at breakfast; Drilling Johannesburg foot police before going to the front (x 3); Johannesburg Police laager, Norval's Pont;  Boer guns off to the front; Johannesburg police ready for action, Abraham's Kraal;  Ben Viljoen's burghers leaving Johannesburg for Natal; Com Joubert one of Gen. de la Rey's chief Commandants, near Colesberg.