Summary
Mounted stereograph depicting the 1901 Melbourne Cup won by Revenue. In spite of the pencil annotation on verso which reads 'The Melbourne Cup 1891', the three horses placed in winning order below - Revenue, San Fran and Khaki - were the three place getters at the 1901 Melbourne Cup. This dating aligns more closely with others items already held in the G.H. Myers Collection which consists of 73 photographs taken by Godfrey Henry Myers, an electrician and amateur photographer, in Melbourne during May 1901. 72 of these photographs depict preparations for the celebrations that surrounded Federation; all but one are glass stereographs.
The subsequent addition of 14 printed stereograph photographs compliments the existing holding of Myer's glass stereograph negatives. This collection represents Myers' one venture into commercial photography. It is significant for its images of the crowds, which do not feature so prominently in commercial photographs. The remaining photograph is a family portrait.
The opening of the Australian Parliament on 9 May 1901 was an occasion for great celebrations in Melbourne. Ten days of festivities (from 6-16 May) were planned to mark the Federation of the new nation and honour the Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The city was transformed with decorations - flags, bunting, colourful lights and festive arches - and a series of public events were held, including a military tattoo and several street parades. Unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Melbourne from the rest of Victoria and throughout Australia to take part in the celebrations.
Description of Content
On verso in pencil are the names of those horses visible in the photo with the order of the first three winning places listed across the lower margin. The pencil title 'The Melbourne Cup 1891' is misleading, as the scene depicted is that of the 1901 Melbourne Cup.
Physical Description
Black & white stereographic photograph mounted on cardboard backing printed with publisher details.
Significance
Commercially printed examples of amateur photographer G.H. Myers' stereographic photography, represented in the collections through a series of 72 stereograph glass negatives. They offer an interesting and rare representation of events and social activity at the time of Australian federation.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mrs Patricia Fraser, 20 Apr 2010
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Place & Date Depicted
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Photographer
Godfrey H. Myers, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901
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Format
Stereograph, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Printed on backing rh margin: Obtainable ONLY from/ H. MYERS, Publishers,/ TREVELYAN STREET, ELSTERNWICK./ Copy - Direct from Original Negative. Printed on backing lh margin: H. MYERS, Australian Series of Stereoscopic/ Views. Inscription in pencil on verso: Revenue Acetine / San Fran George Frederick/ Khaki Haymaker/ Melbourne Cup 1891/ Revenue 1 San Fran 2 Khaki 3
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
178 (Width), 1 (Depth), 87 (Height)
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Keywords
Animals, Recreation, Stereographs, Zoos & Zoological Gardens