A CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS

xvi, 491 pages, half tree calf with matching rexine boards, red title labels gilt on the spine, a very good copy.

Charles A. Fairbridge, lawyer and book collector, was sent to London at the age of 13 to complete his schooling and upon his return in 1842 was articled to John Barker of Cape Town and admitted as an attorney in February 1846. By 1854 he was the senior partner in the firm Fairbridge, Hull & Meintjes, attorneys at law, notaries, conveyancers, etc. He built up an extensive practice, later became president of the law society, and led an active public life. In 1854 Fairbridge entered the first Cape parliament for a single four year term.

Fairbridge is probably best remembered for his life-long interest in books. In 1886 he and John Noble compiled a Catalogue of books relating to South Africa which was published in Cape Town for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition Committee. He started collecting books in 1851 and during the next four decades built up a magnificent collection of over 5000 titles, representing some 8400 volumes. It Included many rare items of Africana and was regarded as the finest private library in southern Africa up to the formation of the Mendelssohn collection. A catalogue of the contents was published in 1904. The library was purchased from Fairbridge's descendants by Sir Abe Bailey in 1926 and presented to the South African Library (now the National Library of South Africa, Cape Town campus).http://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=898