Autograph letters in his own hand and signed, to Benjamin Moodie in Swellendam.
John Fairbairn emigrated to South Africa, following his friend Thomas Pringle to the Cape, in 1823.
He is remembered today as the father of press freedom in South Africa as well as an educationalist and the founder and first Chairman of the Old Mutual (certain of their premium investments carry his name under the Fairbairn Trust).
This collection of letters from his early years at the Cape to his friend Benjamin Moodie then living in Swellendam reflect early concerns with a free press, slavery, the strife with the autocratic Sir Charles Somerset, then governor of the Cape, and the problems of the Settlers.
The letters are the originals as written in his own hand and were folded, sealed, and posted. The results of this are clearly visible. A few of the letters are extant as typed copies, probably copied from his own fair copy or letterbook. Some may be the only copies. These items are unique in the true sense of the word.
1. Letter postmarked June 10 1825. 3 sides of writing.
Personal health & finance issues, a memorial concerning slavery at the Cape, fixing the rate of the Rixdollar & a petition in the Burgher Senate re same, handling of complaints from the Colony, financial issues & proposed new bank, state of alarm as 50,000 threaten the Frontier, request for articles, comments on various administrative figures, etc.
Condition: complete with no major loss. several small holes at folds passing through front to back. Does not impair legibility.
2. Letter postmarked August 26 1825. 3 sides of writing.
Problems arising with Greigs type which had been sold to Bridekirk rendering him unable to print and publish, further issues with the legality of printing the paper under the partisan handling of the issue by Lord Charles Somerset's administration, plans to bring the arbitrary local government to the attention of Parliament in London, to have Lord Charles Somerset impeached or recalled, etc.
Condition: bottom edges frittered but not seriously affecting legibility. side 3 has some loss. a 100mm x 30mm loss to text written on outer edge, a hole (the size of a South African R2.00 coin, or a nickel) in the middle of the text, and a comparable area at the bottom edge.
3. Letter postmarked September 9 1825. 2 sides of writing.
A list of 27 suggested articles, comments upon the Commissioners, Lord Charles Somerset, Greig's types.
Condition: minor loss to side 3 not affecting any text.
4. Letter dated March 9 1826 (postmark not visible). 3 sides of writing.
'Open war' on Greig, Atherstone on confidential footing (with Lord C?), Richard Bourke advises Greig to abide by his prospectus and eschew further open hostility to Somerset, no one will sign address to Lord Charles Somerset who leaves the colony - leaving his children behind to the disgust of the ladies.
Condition: 4 areas of small loss to edges and one small hole. the letter fold is torn to about 1/3 of the height from the top. some text is missing but the letter loses little legibility.
5. Letter dated 24 March 1826. (postmark not visible) 3 sides of writing.
Issues concerning local banking, comments on Lord Charles Somerset, Pringle to leave in the Lucia, new family [Bourke?] religious and ban Sunday music & dancing, Fairbairn in low spirits, restrictions on internal trade.
Condition: Two areas of loss to side 3, a 30mm hole in the middle and a similar area at the edge. the former gives text loss, but the latter does not.
6.Letter dated October 5 1826. (postmark not visible). 3 sides of writing.
Stamp to be levied on all newspapers, Stellenbosch recusants threatened with transportation, events onboard the Atlas between Brink & Shaw reported in the British press, letter from depressed Pringle in UK, complaints on the low literary level of current British writings, general dismay at state of world affairs.
Condition: minor tear on edge of side 1 not affecting legibility, small loss (the size of a South African R2.00 coin, or a nickel) to the edge of side 3 not seriously affecting legibility.
7. Letter dated September 30 1828. 1 written side of 3.
Complaint that the Commissioners failed to institute an enquiry into the conduct of Lord Charles Somerset, ideas of literary property, proposed new periodical.
Condition: one small hole in front not affecting legibility. major loss to side 3 but there is no text to be affected there.
8. Letter dated Saturday morning, Grahamstown. 4 sides, incomplete.
Not addressed to any one, nor signed, but likely his friend Moodie as usual. This does seem to be in the style of Fairbairn. Probably written at some date before the departure of Lord Charles Somerset, so maybe 1826. At the time of writing he was in the Eastern Cape.
Condition: excellent, no loss or damage.
As noted, the condition of these items varies. Some of them have pieces missing either from handling over the years or from opening them as were sealed for postage. A full set of scans are available on request for you to evaluate the overall condition of each item.
We have transcribed the letters to the best of the ability and scholarship within the time constraints. These are available as pdf files on request.
Following a successful bid by a recognised institution such as a university library, we can provide an invoice for payment on provision of an official order for this item. Please make a formal request to us in advance if you wish to do this.
An export permit may be required for this item and it is the responsibility of the purchaser to obtain this.
John Fairbairn emigrated to South Africa, following his friend Thomas Pringle to the Cape, in 1823.
He is remembered today as the father of press freedom in South Africa as well as an educationalist and the founder and first Chairman of the Old Mutual (certain of their premium investments carry his name under the Fairbairn Trust).
This collection of letters from his early years at the Cape to his friend Benjamin Moodie then living in Swellendam reflect early concerns with a free press, slavery, the strife with the autocratic Sir Charles Somerset, then governor of the Cape, and the problems of the Settlers.
The letters are the originals as written in his own hand and were folded, sealed, and posted. The results of this are clearly visible. A few of the letters are extant as typed copies, probably copied from his own fair copy or letterbook. Some may be the only copies. These items are unique in the true sense of the word.
1. Letter postmarked June 10 1825. 3 sides of writing.
Personal health & finance issues, a memorial concerning slavery at the Cape, fixing the rate of the Rixdollar & a petition in the Burgher Senate re same, handling of complaints from the Colony, financial issues & proposed new bank, state of alarm as 50,000 threaten the Frontier, request for articles, comments on various administrative figures, etc.
Condition: complete with no major loss. several small holes at folds passing through front to back. Does not impair legibility.
2. Letter postmarked August 26 1825. 3 sides of writing.
Problems arising with Greigs type which had been sold to Bridekirk rendering him unable to print and publish, further issues with the legality of printing the paper under the partisan handling of the issue by Lord Charles Somerset's administration, plans to bring the arbitrary local government to the attention of Parliament in London, to have Lord Charles Somerset impeached or recalled, etc.
Condition: bottom edges frittered but not seriously affecting legibility. side 3 has some loss. a 100mm x 30mm loss to text written on outer edge, a hole (the size of a South African R2.00 coin, or a nickel) in the middle of the text, and a comparable area at the bottom edge.
3. Letter postmarked September 9 1825. 2 sides of writing.
A list of 27 suggested articles, comments upon the Commissioners, Lord Charles Somerset, Greig's types.
Condition: minor loss to side 3 not affecting any text.
4. Letter dated March 9 1826 (postmark not visible). 3 sides of writing.
'Open war' on Greig, Atherstone on confidential footing (with Lord C?), Richard Bourke advises Greig to abide by his prospectus and eschew further open hostility to Somerset, no one will sign address to Lord Charles Somerset who leaves the colony - leaving his children behind to the disgust of the ladies.
Condition: 4 areas of small loss to edges and one small hole. the letter fold is torn to about 1/3 of the height from the top. some text is missing but the letter loses little legibility.
5. Letter dated 24 March 1826. (postmark not visible) 3 sides of writing.
Issues concerning local banking, comments on Lord Charles Somerset, Pringle to leave in the Lucia, new family [Bourke?] religious and ban Sunday music & dancing, Fairbairn in low spirits, restrictions on internal trade.
Condition: Two areas of loss to side 3, a 30mm hole in the middle and a similar area at the edge. the former gives text loss, but the latter does not.
6.Letter dated October 5 1826. (postmark not visible). 3 sides of writing.
Stamp to be levied on all newspapers, Stellenbosch recusants threatened with transportation, events onboard the Atlas between Brink & Shaw reported in the British press, letter from depressed Pringle in UK, complaints on the low literary level of current British writings, general dismay at state of world affairs.
Condition: minor tear on edge of side 1 not affecting legibility, small loss (the size of a South African R2.00 coin, or a nickel) to the edge of side 3 not seriously affecting legibility.
7. Letter dated September 30 1828. 1 written side of 3.
Complaint that the Commissioners failed to institute an enquiry into the conduct of Lord Charles Somerset, ideas of literary property, proposed new periodical.
Condition: one small hole in front not affecting legibility. major loss to side 3 but there is no text to be affected there.
8. Letter dated Saturday morning, Grahamstown. 4 sides, incomplete.
Not addressed to any one, nor signed, but likely his friend Moodie as usual. This does seem to be in the style of Fairbairn. Probably written at some date before the departure of Lord Charles Somerset, so maybe 1826. At the time of writing he was in the Eastern Cape.
Condition: excellent, no loss or damage.
As noted, the condition of these items varies. Some of them have pieces missing either from handling over the years or from opening them as were sealed for postage. A full set of scans are available on request for you to evaluate the overall condition of each item.
We have transcribed the letters to the best of the ability and scholarship within the time constraints. These are available as pdf files on request.
Following a successful bid by a recognised institution such as a university library, we can provide an invoice for payment on provision of an official order for this item. Please make a formal request to us in advance if you wish to do this.
An export permit may be required for this item and it is the responsibility of the purchaser to obtain this.
- Overall Condition: Variable. scans available
- Size: various letter formats
- Sold By: Fables Bookshop
- Contact Person: Ian Balchin
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 082 6211 523
- Preferred Payment Methods: Mastercard, Visa, etc. PayPal subject to 5% surcharge, Ts&Cs apply. EFT for local clients invoiced in Rands. USA corporate buyers can pay direct into a US bank account.
- Trade Associations: SABDA
