Gerald Best's Guest Book
Gerald Best's "Guest Book" and Invitation card – courtesy of Ken Everett.
The card, which dates back to October 8, 1958, was discovered whilst separating some stuck together pages from an old book back in 2009, when Mr. Everett had purchased items from the disposal and break up of the amazing Rowland Ward archive.
Ken Everett recounts - “It was a pleasing moment, whilst separating some stuck pages that the card was discovered. It is possibly the only true original artifact that refers to the elusive 'lost' Elephant film.”
One of the treasures thus obtained was the vaunted Zebra Skinned 'guest book' which had belonged to Gerald Best, managing director of Rowland Ward Ltd. Although partly water damaged, the book is interesting with its content of names of some of Europe and the USA's great and good.
The Adventurers Club
The Adventurers Club's Announcement - Invitation to documentary film screening.
The club’s invitation card – “Taxidermy in Piccadilly”, is truly a unique item as it is an announcement for the screening of the
film which shows the construction of the full-mount Tervuren elephant. The giant Kasai bull which was set up by Ward’s for display in the Belgian-Congo section – Le Pavillon de la Faune, at the Brussels World's Fair, Expo58.
References
- Gerald Best's Guest Book - Collection Archive Ken Everett.
- Adventurers Club Chicago, Luncheon Meeting card - Collection Archive Ken Everett.