Beschreibung:

at Wembley, near London. 1st Year - April to October 1924. 2nd Year - May to October 1925, 2 albums, containing 470 photographs, 7 T.Ls.s., 5 ticket stubs, BEE stamp with postmarks, and numerous newspaper clippings, all mounted on card, most photographs captioned or annotated in black or white ink, with ms. section titles, photographs 14 x 24 mm. to 41 x 64 mm., contemporary half morocco, oblong folio, [1925]. *** A unique and fascinating record of the British Empire Exhibition of 1924-25, more interesting perhaps from an historical and social perspective than a technical, photographic one due to the size and quality of the photographic images, but all the more compelling & intriguing as a result. The album commences with an introduction to the exhibition, its aims & objectives, then covers opening times and information on getting there, followed by photographs of attendees (accompanied by such insighful captions as "The Curious", "The Hustler", "Country Cousins" and "Victims of English Weather") before focussing on the various categorised zones, entrances, avenues, pavilions and other buildings purpose-made for the event. The photographic record finishes on some dusk & night views and the closing scenes. Amateur photographers had to apply in advance for permission to take their cameras to the exhibition, and this particular enthusiast went so far as to obtain additional authorisation to enter before it opened. The albums contain the tickets from his several visits, as well as a typed letter and a Permit from a British Empire Exhibition official on their headed paper granting the photographer, one Mr R.J. Wigglesworth, special permission to enter between 7am & 10am. The other letters present include one from Gerald Chichester, Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen, expressing regret that she cannot accept the albums as a gift, and a signed letter from Robert Baden Powell, on Boy Scouts Association headed paper, discussing in brief the possibility of Mr Wigglesworth providing lectures for the Scouts on the Exhibition. Other responses are from the Department of Overseas Trade and the Home Office.