Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

John X. Merriman

JOHN X. MERRIMAN - FINE AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO MARY SAUER ON THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, J.W. SAUER

Published: Cape Town, 1913

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A fine 4pp. (single folded leaf) autograph letter on a Mount Nelson Hotel letterhead,  from John X. Merriman to Mary Sauer on the death of her husband, the politician, J. W. Sauer. Dated 17 July, 1913. Circa 340 words. In this moving letter Merriman pays tribute to Sauer, a close friend and political associate of many years standing. “I go over and over again the time we passed together in the heat of conflict and in the stricken field and he was always a ‘bonny fighter’ – but few knew so well as I do those good points which marked him off from the mass in this country …………. his great tolerance and kindness to the poor, the downtrodden and the oppressed”  and so on. Some moderate spotting but a good copy of this important letter regarding two prominent South African politicians. 

John Xavier Merriman (1841 – 1 August 1926), was the last prime minister of the Cape Colony before the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.In 1904 he returned however, took over leadership of the new "South African Party" from his friend and ally James Molteno, and with Molteno and Sauer, led the opposition to the ensuing exclusively-British government of Leander Starr Jameson in the lead up to the crucial national elections of January 1908. In 1908 his South African Party together with the Afrikaner Bond won control of the Assembly and he served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony for two years, from 1908 until the formation of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910. He was a leading figure in the National Convention which brought about this Union.

Jacobus Wilhelmus ("J.W.") Sauer (1850 - 24 July 1913), was a prominent liberal politician of the Cape Colony. He served as Minister in multiple Cape governments, and was influential in several unsuccessful attempts to enshrine equal political rights for black South Africans in the constitution of the Union of South Africa. He was also a strong early supporter of women's rights and suffrage. He died in 1913, survived by his wife, Mary Sauer (née Cloete), and his three children. His daughter Magdalena Sauer became the first woman qualified to practice as an architect in South Africa; his son Paul O. Sauer became a politician; the nationalist Sauer Commission was named for him.

Mary Sauer, nee Cloete (1863 - 1937) was a close friend of Olive Schreiner’s and wife of the Cape politician Jacobus Wilhelmus Sauer (1850 - 1913). She was the daughter of Henry Cloete, one of the younger sons of the Groot Constantia Cloetes, owners of the historic Cape wine farm. She corresponded for many years with Olive Schreiner, who also wrote a moving letter of tribute to her on the loss of her husband.   

  • Overall Condition: Good
  • Size: 20x13cms.
  • 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


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