Description
Original pair of vintage photographs dated April 23, 1942, capturing two distinct scenes from Happy Valley in Port Elizabeth, during the time of the Union of South Africa. These rare images were taken in the early 1940s, offering a rare window into civilian leisure during the Second World War in one of South Africa’s most beloved public parks.
The first photo shows a group of people playing miniature golf-a popular pastime at the time-on a neatly maintained course set within the gardens of Happy Valley. This same image is known from a real photo postcard (RPPC) version, making this standalone print a rare surviving variant from the same original photograph.
The second photo offers a more tranquil scene: a waterway with a small footbridge in the distance, typical of Happy Valley’s scenic layout. Together, the two images create a compelling narrative of recreation and natural beauty during a time of global conflict.
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Both photos are labeled on the reverse in ink: “4-23-42 O. Leone / Port Elizabeth / Union of South Africa”
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Each measures approximately 2.74″ x 1.75″, a classic mid-century wallet-size format
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Clear and well-preserved, with only minor age-related wear
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These are original silver gelatin prints, not reproductions or modern copies
These photos are particularly valuable to collectors of South African history, vintage tourism, and wartime civilian culture. Their small size and detailed inscriptions add to their charm and rarity-capturing everyday life in a peaceful corner of the world while much of it was at war.
