HIGHLY IMPORTANT SMUTS AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT

This is a 6 page (25x19cm.) closely written autograph manuscript in Smuts's hand in Afrikaans, being his own transcript of a highly important speech he delivered (? in Louis Trichardt) on Dingaan's Day in 1928. He had given this to his friend, the journalist C.S."Stoffel" Coetzee (originally editor of "Die Volkstem" and subsequenly journalist for "The Star") for publication. Included in the lot is Smuts's autograph letter - dated Irene,12 Dec 1928 - on a frayed 8vo.sized piece of paper sending Coetzee the draft of the speech. The content's of the speech/manuscript are most interesting and can be read in full in the accompanying photos. He speaks of Dingaan's Day being a misnomer as Dingaan was not only an ememy of the whites but also of his own people and his memory is an unpleasant one to both black and white, unlike that of Moshesh and Khama. "Voortrekkers'Day" would be better. The balance of the speech is of the utmost significance and cannot be summarised in this short space. But amongst much else, he alludes to the Great Trek, the Boer War " die bloedbad van die groote boereoorlog", the racial situation, the first World War, the provinces of the Union and Rhodesia. Smuts material of this importance seldom appears on the market. Generally the manuscript is in good condition. There is evidence of a paper clip having been removed from the top fore corner. There is some fraying of a few page edges. The top edge of the letter is rather frayed.