3-078-053 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Gold Medal given to Mr. Stanley by the Royal Geographical Society, 1890. 'The presentation of a special gold medal of the Society to Mr. Stanley, and replicas in bronze to his officers, was the last act of the proceedings [ie, a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society at the at the Royal Albert Hall]. Mr. Stanley long ago was the recipient of one of the Royal medals. This one has been designed by Miss E. Hallé, whose medals of Herr Joachim and Cardinal Newman are well known. The obverse bears the head of Mr. Stanley, modelled from Professor Herkomer's portrait and photographs taken before his departure. The design on the reverse side shows a female figure, the Africa of classical tradition, wearing on her head a helmet in the design of an elephant's head, and pouring from urns the two great rivers, Nile and Congo. A lake, a great mountain, and a tropical forest form an appropriate background. The gold of the medal has been supplied to the Council by Mr. Pritchard Morgan, M.P., from his Welsh mines. Mr. Stanley's faithful Zanzibaris have not been forgotten by the Council of the Society, who have sent for presentation to each a silver star, bearing in the centre the monogram "R.G.S.," and the words "Emin Relief Expedition, 1887-89".' From "Illustrated London News", 1890.