Leopard Antiques Boer War Cigar Case

Boer War Cigar Case - Australian interest

Reference: S1306 Period: Victorian Year: 1898 Silversmith: H. Matthews Place: Birmingham Price: $ 620.00 Weight: 140 grams Dimensions: 13.5 cm Condition: Hinge and clasp excellent. Minor dents and scratches to body, particularly on ends, this box has been used. Minor wear on base from sitting on a desk. Description: A silver "two-cigar" case, with Boer War inscription "Dr Kellner, from a Grateful "Australian" Patient, Bloemfontein, 1900". The Australian is in inverted comma's. The case is well made, good quality and gauge, and quite solid. The interior is gilded, and the hallmarks are clear on both sides of the case. H. Matthews was a large and well known Birmingham firm. Bloemfontein was the capital of the Orange Free State, and was surrendered to the British on 13 March 1900. Thirty thousand British troops entered Bloemfontein, and thanks to poor sanitation a typhoid epidemic broke out, which caused hundreds if not thousands of deaths. Doctors (who included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) were in short supply, with 3 doctors per 350 patients (Pakenham, The Boer War, pg 382) - which no doubt led to the generosity of our unnamed "Australian". Today Bloemfontein hospital is on Kellner Street, we are not sure if there is a connection.

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