Die Jongspan. Vol 1. Nos 1 and 2, 24 and 31 January 1936

Printed in 2 colours on high-quality newsprint, Die Jongspan was the official organ of the Voortrekkers (similar to the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides) "in the Union and South West Africa". These first two copies were published 80 years ago. The post-free subscription rate was six shillings and sixpence a year (65 cents) or one pound (two rands) a year with Die Huisgenoot.

Each copy ran to 16 illustrated tabloid pages, with a second colour on pp 1 and16. Two pages of Radio Lessons for schools in the Cape Province were in English as well as Afrikaans. Jongspan was recommended by educationists in the Union and three of the four provinces (ie not Natal). It included a few advertisements - one for Regal bicycles, imported from Britain and priced from three pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence (equal to R7.25 in the later decimal currency). 

The two copies are in very good overall condition, with some light even sunning.

• The editor, Abraham Jonker, is described in the S A Biografiese Woordeboek as a journalist, writer and politician. He was a political party organiser at the age of 25 before joining the editorial staff of various publications, including an appointment as editor of Die Jongspan when he was 31. His literary work included an Afrikaans translation of Omar Khayyám's Rubáiyat. He had the distinction of being an MP for the United, Conservative and National Parties. His daughter by his first marriage was the great Afrikaans poet Ingrid Jonker, some of whose early poetry (when she was still less than 10 years old) was published in Die Jongspan.