Crystal Palace in Colour by Thomas Nelson & Sons

The History of Sydenham from Cippenham to present day. Links to photos especially welcome!
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tulse hill terry
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Crystal Palace in Colour by Thomas Nelson & Sons

Post by tulse hill terry »

NELSON'S PICTORIAL GUIDE-BOOKS FOR TOURISTS

THE CRYSTAL PALACE

WITH TWENTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS

T. Nelson and Sons, London, Edingburgh, and New York.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20071128/bs ... 128lands02

I hate scanning, and these are truly disappointing.

Some come from a book, and the other larger ones must have been issued individually as prints.

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The cover of a different version to my copy.

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"Nave and Crystal Fountain"

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"Pompeian House"

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"Great Orchestra - Central Transept" The two riders are Castor and Pollux by Abbandio Sangiorgio and are from the gates of the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) in Milan.

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"Great Orchestra - Central Transept" with seating and organ of 1859 and before the proscenium arch of 1862.

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"Court of Lions - Alhambra Court" The fountain a copy by Raffaelle Monti from that in the Granada Spain.

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Mammoth Tree - North Transept. (the bark of a Giant Sequoia, initially shown at the Crystal Palace of New York 1853, and destroyed in the fire of 1866)

rest to follow.
Falkor
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Post by Falkor »

Your best contribution so far! Many thanks... love the wide orchestra views and the mammoth tree shot! 8)

I've just selected 35 rare images and getting ready to post them in a new topic before midnight... stay tuned! :wink:
tulse hill terry
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Post by tulse hill terry »

I'm glad you think so. They are SO grubby, and the scans not as bright as the one you posted in the "Baxter" thread. I'm not sure whether I need a better scanner, or that the scans need to be photshopped to death.

These Nelson prints always seem to have been a bit short on yellow.

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"Bronze Fountain - Tropical Department" If you were to stand there today, you would be looking at the feet of the transmitter!

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"Byzantine Court" Can you spot what is rare about this image?

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"Facade of Mediaeval Courts"

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(English) "Mediaeval Court"

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"Facades of the North East Fine Art Courts" You can see columns of busts on tall plinths from the "Portrait Gallery", displaced by redevelopment of the Central Transept.

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"Rennaissance Court"

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"Vestibules of the North East Fine arts Courts" Back entrance of the Elizabethan Vestibule, based on Holland Park House to the left.
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
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Post by Falkor »

Very good! This should help me figure out some confusing things about the interior... What I'm going to do in a few days is start a topic on the names of the different parts of the interior and how they evolved, based on plans of the courts. I will probably need help finding out all the different vestibules, and you seem pretty good at that.

Here's an example of one thing I'm not sure about... To the north of the Greek and Roman courts is firstly the Atrium and secondly a Gallery. Now, is the gallery split into 2 parts as extensions of the Greek and Roman courts, or do they form a single "open court" known as the "Greek & Roman Sculpture Court"? How does the Atrium fit into all this and what did it contain?

So that's the kind of thing I'll be working on... I may need to do some additional research down the library. I think the Crystal Palace Programmes will come in handy.
tulse hill terry
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Post by tulse hill terry »

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"Crystal Palace from the Grounds" with made up statues.

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"Second Terrace"

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"Water Temple" They seemed to have skipped the Grand Fountain.

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"The Great Fountains"

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I don't have this one, poor me :cry: Unusual in not having a description. The swimming pool now stands in to the left in this view.

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"Water Arcades" The stadium now stands on this spot.

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"Broad Walk" Overly fore-shortened.

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"Lake and Boathouse" Note the Megatherium with still-living tree.

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"Rustic Bridge and Geological Garden" Is that the Hylaeosaurus?

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"The Rosary" designed by Owen Jones and replaced by Hiram Maxim's Flying Machine. The Stadium now stands just to the left of this view.

Dusted for Victorian fingerprints! Old documents should never be handles with bare hands, the acid in you skin will continue to work on the paper for years after.

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"Valley of Rhododendrons and Cedars" Rhododendrons, along with Camellias the classic mid - Victorian plants. Anyone know if there are any Cedars still standing in this spot?

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"Park & Archery Grounds." Archery was considered a feminine enough sport that respectable ladies could enjoy playing it. It is not often understood that, as opposed to other Pleasure Grounds like Cremorne Gardens and Vauxhall, the Crystal Palace was considered so modern and well-run that respectable women could visit without losing their reputation.
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

Splendid! SPLENDID!!! :D I was getting scared for a minute there... All the views I expected to see--the ones I'm familiar with from inferior B&W views--have only just appeared in your last post, so that's a relief. Most I've not seen before, and...
I don't have this one, poor me
That's a real shame!! :cry: The surviving side pool is the thing I tell people about before I even mention the dinosaurs. I'm obsessed with the fountains, you see... I not seen that Nelson view before, so will have to try to hunt it down. Most of these views I not seen before in any form, so again, I think this is your best contribution and one of the best topics of the year. Thanks for taking the time to scan them in! In spite of our differences, I do appreciate your help and am grateful for your generosity. Goodnight! 8)
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
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Post by Falkor »

"Broad Walk" Overly fore-shortened.
BTW, that flower pot was never down that end. Like all CP illustrations, artistic license always comes into it... This is one of the views I have seen in B&W. I'm still looking for a genuine photo of the Grand Central Walkway near the Penge end of the park.
The Crystal Palace Museum has views for 4/7 Industrial Courts; can you do better than that?
If only I could find an interior view of the Assyrian Court or the Engine houses... I would also like to see a photo of the Grand Fountains up close reaching 170+ feet as seen in the various paintings. Queens Apartments would be nice... Machinery in the wing + basement shots. What would you most like to see? Definitely heading off to bed now...
tulse hill terry
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Post by tulse hill terry »

that flower pot was never down that end.
I have aq picture somewhere, but not on my hard drive, will have a look.

Haven't seen one of the general walkway until 1911, when trees were tiny, have you looked through my Campbell Gray thread?

Cp museum? No idea what they have, don't think I'll ever be granted access, watch my "Walk through the Nave thread, I am fascinted by the Industrial Courts.

I am afraid you've too chances for the interior of the Assyrian Court, I saw a stereoview recently, from the gallery down onto the doorway, pitch black it was, and I forgot to save it, still kicking myself. It didn't survive till photography advanced, the ONLY reason we have so many images taken, I believe, was because of all the natural light.

As to the surviving pool, it's disgusting that they have removed the edging, still remember when it was a very sorry home to flamingos.
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
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Post by Falkor »

Cp museum? No idea what they have, don't think I'll ever be granted access
Why? Despite what you may or may not have heard, only 1 person is banned from there and you can't be him... You've not seen the museum's latest display?
I am afraid you've too chances for the interior of the Assyrian Court, I saw a stereoview recently, from the gallery down onto the doorway, pitch black it was, and I forgot to save it, still kicking myself. It didn't survive till photography advanced, the ONLY reason we have so many images taken, I believe, was because of all the natural light.
There is a view published in the Pigott book, I think, looking directly through the entrance, where can be seen a statue and the archway leading to the refreshment areas. This is the best view available, though I wouldn't class it as an interior. What additional features did the stereoview view show? Yeah, I think the lack of views is down to the lighting and not being able to get a good exposure inside the Assyrian Court.
tulse hill terry
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Post by tulse hill terry »

I lied, turns out I do have the missing view, but it's so nicely framed, not sure if I want to take it apart.

As to the Museum, Ken Kiss never got back to me, and experiences like that are the reason I started my own collection. Anyway, managed without so far, I suppose. How do you think he feels about all the posting going on?
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

I lied, turns out I do have the missing view, but it's so nicely framed, not sure if I want to take it apart.

Your camera seems pretty good, so maybe could take a pic of it--pretty please! :)
As to the Museum, Ken Kiss never got back to me, and experiences like that are the reason I started my own collection. Anyway, managed without so far, I suppose. How do you think he feels about all the posting going on?
Ken is a nice guy when you get to know him... I heard a lot of bad things about the museum folks in general, but they all turned out to be false. A guy called John was very generous in letting me borrow my most wanted CP documentary when the Foundation had let me down. Barry is a very knowledgeable guy to talk to about the palace, and he's given me some rare photos before. Another John, a trustee, brought in the Penge Enclosure Award map for me to copy. But he's hardly ever in the country, and I only met him about 3 times. All the staff there are great. Ken has helped me more than anyone else though I have to admit. He's a very independent type of guy, and maybe some people can't get used to that fact, but you have to accept that's the way he is. The guy is a walking encyclopedia of the palace. He knows things off by heart about the measurements and dimensions, among other things, that I wouldn't even care to know. No proper plans exist of the water tower's designs, and I remember hearing the story of one guy picking Ken's brains in the hope of reverse-engineering them. :D I should send you the drawing he did of the basement area... you would be amazed, as there's no decent photos and it's hard to envisage that area. Ken has got a really good memory... I forget things all the time, but he is always on the ball, and the kind of guy who never gets stuck for words. He's let me borrow the complete set of the Crystal Palace Matters going back to the early 80s, plus lot's of other videos, to help me with my research into the palace for when I help out stewarding. He's given me those big A2 plans to the palace + the 1852 Penge map. When I've seen him some weeks, he's often brought stuff in to show the staff, including photos, and a model he did of the palace and Rockhills. Ken even brought in a pile of paperwork the other month to show me on Rockhills because he knew I was researching into it, but I failed to turn up. :oops: Some people say Ken doesn't like to share, but it's not true. I've seen him bring stuff up from the archives to show members of the public, who are really enthusiastic about something in particular. On quiet days when I help out with the museum, the amount of stuff I can learn from the great master in one afternoon is mind boggling. He's answered all my questions about the Palace, where the Foundation failed to answer one. I've been on staff walkabouts with Ken around the entire park, and I even have a copy of the notes we made, although they need tidying up. Ken is rather busy lately and he's had some personal problems to deal with. Barry is in charge right now. You're not the only one who he hasn't got back to. Chase him up after Christmas; that would be the best time. He has a lot of responsibilities. If he knew about the posting, who knows, he might even register and join in. But, like I said, now's not the best time. There's never been any in-depth CP discussion round here BTW, nor on any other forums. This is the first time, and I must say it's very refreshing, despite the shaky, negative start. It's really great having you round here helping out with new information regarding the Palace and educating the Sydenham folks at the same time. I'm sure many people are listening and enjoying our topics, but then there's a lot of low-profile lurkers out there who prefer to stay in the woodwork. This could be the start of a new thing, and any one of our topics could be picked up on at anytime in the future. If you PM me your name I can mention this whole thing to Ken when I see him, along with the other guy whose waiting to hear back from him. From my experience, there's a real shortage of enthusiastic people like yourself. Do pop into the museum sometime to see the new display... Ken and his wife worked really hard on that... it's packed up with technical info big time! Wait until you see the info on the Rotunda building and stuff... the museum is going from strength to strength! :)
tulse hill terry
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