TOPIC:

In April 1904, St. Louis opened its doors to the world for what was officially called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, but was widely known as the St. Louis World’s Fair. Millions of dollars had been spent to build the 1,200-acre fairgrounds and its nearly 1,500 buildings—a huge scale that ended up delaying the opening by a year. During the eight months the fair stayed open, nearly 20 million people paid a visit. On display were marvels of technology, agriculture, art, and history, and there were amusement rides and entertainment to be found in a section called “the Pike.” The fair introduced a huge audience to some relatively new inventions such as private automobiles, outdoor electric lighting, and the X-ray machine—as well as foods from across the United States and around the world. The exposition also had a focus on anthropological exhibits—with an approach that is shocking by today’s standards: In some cases, organizers brought people from the Philippines, the Arctic, and elsewhere to the fairgrounds as set pieces among re-creations of their home environment or villages. After the fair closed, nearly all of its structures were demolished within a short time, leaving only a few footprints, ponds, and canals in Forest Park in St. Louis.
www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/09/the-19...-fair-photos/597658/


Original caption: "An Exciting skirmish in the Battle of Colenso, Boer War, World's Fair, St. Louis, 1904." The Boer War concession was a 15-acre "battlefield" where military units paraded and battles from the Second Boer War (1899–1902) were reenacted.

PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS OF THE BOER WAR SPECTACLE
Published: Henry Rauth Printing Co., St. Louis, 1904

[9] pages, chiefly black and white photographs, original pictorial paper wrappers, housed in a specially made solander box, a good copy.

Portraits of General Piet Cronje, Frank Fillis and Field Cornet Van Gass on the front cover.

Extracted from the Introduction: The object of this collection of pictures is to give the visitor the pleasure of reviewing during time to come the wonderful spectacle witnessed here, and which, no doubt will be impressed upon the minds of the public for many years to come.

Extracted from Van Der Merwe (Floris) Die Boere-Sirkus van St Louis page 61 -62 : The South African presence at the World’s Fair was made possible by the South African Boer War Exhibition Company. The founder and original promoter of this company was Captain Arthur Waldo Lewis, a Missourian by birth, who fought for the Rhodesian forces ( Bushveld Carbineers) in the Anglo Boer War. After the war he returned to Missouri where he conceived the idea of staging a Boer War exhibition at the coming Exposition.

Overall Condition: A Good Copy
Size: 4to (300 x230mm)


Pictures courtesy of Antiquarian Auctions

......"General Ben Viljoen, who, with other Boer officers and Colonel Scott Harding, is organising for the St. Louis World's Fair an exhibition of mimic battle scenes representing the Transvaal war, is now in St. Louis completing the arrangements.
......They have obtained from the exhibition authorities the concession of a very desirable space, 1,000ft. by 500ft., and the project is looked upon with great favour by the people of St. Louis. The other day they received a cablegram from South Africa stating that General Cronje had definitely decided to come to St. Louis to take part in the reproduction of the battle of Paardeberg."
County Observer (Newport), 23rd January 1904

......"General Ben Viljoen has cabled to Pretoria from America that he has succeeded, notwithstanding the protest of the British Ambassador in Washington, in securing a site for the Boer war exhibition at St. Louis Exposition. General Viljoen adds that the site is in the Exposition grounds. - Reuter."
Evening Express (Cardiff), 30th March 1904

......"A telegram from St. Louis states that General Cronje will marry for the second time on July 7. The bride is a South African widow of German descent, and both are at St. Louis with the Boer war show.
……The general is nearly 70, but looks much younger, and enjoys himself thoroughly in the city."
Evening Express, 9th June 1904

Enjoy!

A fantastic array, Paul.

Hi
Attached are images of a gold "Presentation Piece" to Frank Fillis

Henk