TOPIC:

Can anyone help my to identify where this picture was taken please?



Many thanks
David

The flag on the building to the right looks rather like that of the Straits Settlements colony, which comprised Penang, Singapore and Malacca.

www.fotw.info/flags/my-str.html

David,

The photograph was taken in the City of London, with the Mansion House on the left. The photographer appears to have been on a balcony at No. 1 Cornhill. The building in the centre (No. 1 Poultry) has since been demolished, the replacement block being completed in 1997.

Below is F.C. Dickinson's original drawing of the scene on Mafeking night: "The Relief of Mafeking: the Good News Announced at the Mansion House on Friday Night". As seen from the Wellington equestrian statue, in front of the Royal Exchange. Published in The Graphic, Vol. LXI, No. 1,591, p.749 (May 26, 1900). Ex Ken Griffith Collection.

It appears that additional decorations, etc., were added to buildings in time for the night-time celebrations. These include B-P's portrait, displayed between the central columns of the Mansion House, above a banner with the words "Mafeking is Relieved", and the "Daily Graphic" stand to the left of the portico.

















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Cabinet photograph of newpaper vendor carrying advertisement: "SPECIAL EDITION / RELIEF OF MAFEKING". By "Fed Spalding / PORTRAIT & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER / NEAR THE SHIRE HALL / CHELMSFORD". In red ink: "MAY 18th 1900 / With F.S. [Fred Spalding's] compliments".
The lack of a newspaper name on the poster indicates that this is a posed studio photograph. Reproduced in Black and White Budget, 2 June 1900 (p. 259), with caption "MAFEKING R'LEEV'D - 'FISH'L".

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@Neville, that is very helpful, thank you.

@Arthur, that flag as throwing me off to think it must be far away from London.

David, do you think that flag might be the Colony of Natal?