South African War through the Stereoscope. Vol. I-II.

U & U photographers were also present on the march to Kimberley, at the surrender of General Cronje at Paardeberg, at the occupation of Bloemfontein, on the march through the Free State towards Johannesburg and the triumphant entry into Pretoria. Images of the Natal campaign (siege of Ladysmith), battlegrounds of Colenso and Spioenkop are also included.

“War correspondents and news photographers descended upon South Africa at the start of the Anglo-Boer war, among them the photographers of Underwood & Underwood. These photographers were not news photographers after sensational, gory war images, nor were they part of any pro-British or anti-Boer propaganda campaign. They stayed away from conflict zones but still captured other military related activity with their primary market, namely the American middle class in mind.

Underwood and Underwood produced sets of images in boxes made to look like a single, or a pair of books entitled: “The South African War through the Stereoscope”. These boxes were then filled with Anglo-Boer war stereo photographs pasted onto curved cardboard.  More titles were added as the war progressed.

Later described as the leaders in armchair travel photography, Underwood & Underwood was founded by two brothers in 1881 in Ottawa, Kansas. The brothers were Elmer Underwood (born Fulton County, Illinois 1859 - died St. Petersburg, Florida during 1947) and Bert Elias Underwood (born in Oxford, Illinois 1862 - died Tucson, Arizona during 1943).  The company moved its main office from Ottawa, Kansas to New York City 10 years later.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, Underwood and Underwood (To be referred to as U & U from this point onwards) responded to the increasing demand of their primary market, namely the middle-class American’s visual curiosity on the expanding world.

The Underwoods hired their own photographers, some of whom were Americans. Unfortunately, none of their names have been recorded on the Anglo-Boer war stereo cards or on the photographs themselves. It is thought that some photographs may also have been bought from South African based photographers by U & U. This would however have been an absolute exception and not the rule.

The Anglo-Boer war images sold door to door in America would have formed but a small fraction of the wide variety of images and themes on offer by U & U.” (Carol Hardijzer, Anglo-Boer War - Stereo Photographs produced by Underwood & Underwood).