A vintage photograph of the Sturt Juniors Football Club 'taken at Botanical Garden June 1900'
Adelaide, W.S. Smith & Co., No. 12 Arcade, 1900.
A gelatin silver photograph (146 × 201 mm), on the original mount (unevenly cropped along the bottom edge, external dimensions now approximately 230 × 300 mm), with the rubber stamp of the photographer on the verso.
The gloss-finish photograph is a little scuffed and marked, with a tiny indentation and scratch in background areas; mount a little marked, with small pinholes near the bumped and chipped edges (and about 20 mm has been unevenly cut from the bottom margin, with the same amount still present); overall, in very presentable condition, now loosely backed up with stiff card in a custom-made Mylar sleeve.
A charming period piece, with the group posed on the steps leading up to the impressive Palm House, still standing at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens ('an exquisite, painstakingly restored Victorian glasshouse imported from Bremen, Germany in 1875. It is thought to be the only one of its kind still in existence'). Half the group is wearing suits (several with corsages); perhaps this is an atypical wedding photograph, with those dressed for play the guard of honour? The lengthy inscription on the verso of the mount, in early ballpoint pen (1950s or later), is signed by Fred W. Randall, Ada St, Goodwood. Written after the title is 'Some of the names I can recall', followed by a list of some 19 individuals in the photograph. A short article in the Adelaide 'Advertiser' on Wednesday 25 February 1903 reported on the recently-held sixth annual meeting of the Sturt Junior Football Club, at which it was decided to change the club name from Sturt Juniors Football Club to Sturt II Football Club. The parent club entered the South Australian Football Association the following year.
Item #122266
Price (AUD):
$400.00