Description

A fine example showcasing trophies from the German colonies in East Africa in the first years of the twentieth century.

This album was compiled to commemorate an early exhibition of Karl Eisenbraber’s Kolonial-Haus, which was established in 1899 and had numerous branches all over Germany. The views here show the spectacular interiors – high ceilings, elaborately decorated throughout.

Although the building was devoted to all German colonies, and included exhibits from New Guinea and Samoa, the bulk of it showed off the East African trophy collections of big game hunters and luminaries such as Fritz Bronsart von Schellendorf, the colonial governor Hermann Wissmann, Erich Lubbert, Wilhelm Langheld, Dr Stuedel, O. Neumann, and the animal trader Karl Hagenbeck. The game on exhibit includes, among others, zebra, rhinoceros, hippo, elephants, antelopes, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, monkeys and gorillas.