An original handwritten Standard Bank of South Africa cheque, signed by Cecil John Rhodes and made out to Johan W Colenbrander for 1000 Pounds Sterling, dated Sept. 1st. 1896. With Colenbrander's original signed endorsement on the back of the cheque. In very good condition with light creasing and with both signatures bold and clear.
This is a museum quality piece. Rhodes needs no introduction and important autograph material by him is seldom offered on the market. Here follows some information about the recipient of the cheque which attests to its importance:
Johannes (Johan) Wilhem Colenbrander(1856 - 1918) was a Natal-born soldier and colonial official in Southern Africa. He was active as a soldier, businessman, interpreter, agent, and hunter in Natal, Swaziland, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland.
He served with the Natal Mounted Police and the Stanger Mounted Rifles, seeing action in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. During the war Colenbrander negotiated the surrender of Zulu Inkosi (chief) Zibhebhu kaMaphitha and afterwards worked for him as a secretary and gunrunner. He fought for Zibhebhu during the 1883–1884 Third Zulu Civil War but lost all his trade goods and cattle when Zibhebhu was defeated.
He worked as a trader in Swaziland for a period before moving to Mashonaland by 1889, where he worked closely with the British South Africa Company (BSAC). He won the trust of Ndebele King Lobengula but worked against him to set up the 1893–1894 First Matabele War, to the benefit of BSAC. After the war he was appointed head of a land commission that confined the Ndebele to a reserve of land much smaller than their pre-war territory. Colenbrander led a mercenary unit fighting for BSAC in the subsequent 1896 Second Matabele War. He raised another unit which served under British command in the 1899–1902 Second Boer War with Colenbrander leading a column against the Boer Commando of Christiaan Frederik Beyers.
During his lifetime he participated in a number of key events, including the Zulu War, the visit of Lobengula's indunas to Queen Victoria, Rhodes' expansion into Mashonaland, the Ndebele Rebellion, and the Anglo-Boer War (during which he raised and commanded a unit named 'Kitchener's Fighting Scouts'). After several unsuccessful business ventures, he obtained employment in 1917 with I.W. Schlesinger's film company, helping to organise labour for the filming of The Symbol of Sacrifice. He played the part of Lord Chelmsford in the film and was drowned as he tried to cross the Klip River on horseback. For his military services he was awarded the CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath). Several streets in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe are named after him. A biographical narrative of his life, entitled 'The White Whirlwind', was written by T.V. Bulpin and published in 1961 by Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd Johannesburg. The research for this biography was largely done by his son Johan Cornelius. Colenbrander also commands no less than 4 pages in Vol. 4 pp.87-91 of the Dictionary of South African Biography. (Nasionale Boekhandel, 1968 - 1981). I have been unable to locate any Colenbrander autograph material on offer online at present.
Of importance in relation to the cheque on offer here is Colenbrander's role as advisor and interpreter. He was Rhodes's interpreter at the First Umvukela Indaba following the Matabele uprising of 1896:
The first-hand account by Dr Hans Sauer, Rhodes’ right-hand man at Bulawayo, reveals Rhodes’ personal bravery in riding with a small party which included Hans Sauer, Johan Colenbrander and Vere Stent (the Cape Times correspondent) John Grootboom and James Makunga into the Matobo Hills and speaking directly with the amaNdebele Induna’s at the site of a large ant heap, or termite hill. It was obvious to all that the 1896 military campaign against the amaNdebele had not been a success. John Grootboom, the unsung hero of the campaign, had great respect for Col. Baden-Powell, or “Col. Baking-Powder” as he called him, but Col. Plumer’s tactics did not meet with his approval. He said: “the column would march into the hills, and have a fight, and then at night go back to camp and that is no way to fight the amaNdebele. They think you have had enough of it and soon they collect together again, and are more confident than ever.” The amaNdebele were short of food and nervous of the reaction to the murders that had been committed in March 1896; but might lay down their arms given the opportunity. The Indaba was held against the military advice of Lieut-Gen Carrington, but Rhodes felt if he listened to the Induna’s grievances, he might be able to fix things and so it proved.The first Umvukela in Matabeland of 1896 came to an end and in view of the legitimate complaints voiced by the Ndebele Indunas at the Indabas; there was little or no retribution for European deaths. (see: ZimFieldGuide.com).
It is very tempting to speculate and, in view of the date, almost certainly the case, that Rhodes's cheque to Colenbrander for 1000 Pounds (a considerable sum at that time) was his payment to Colenbrander for his role as interpreter at this important peace making indaba. His major contribution to this Indaba is acknowledged in most Rhodes biographies, including those by William Plomer and Sarah Gertrude Millin. Hence the great importance of this item.
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: Standard Cheque size
- Sold By: Ronald Levine - Modern First Editions
- Contact Person: Ronald Levine
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 011643 8437
- Preferred Payment Methods: EFT for South African customers and International Bank Tranfer for customers abroad. I am unable to accept payment by credit card.
- Trade Associations: SABDA
