REMARKABLE BOER WAR ALBUM

This remarkable album was possibly compiled by a Boer War Official as it contains many official documents. The contents relate largely to the onset of the Boer War and the first eighteen months or so of the war. The only way to adequately describe this treasure is to list brief descriptions of each item in the album and provide many images. Thereafter, I would be more than happy to supply any further information that is requested. The contents are as follows:

1. Four original carbon hand written telegrams from Reuters to “Pretoria” dated 23 September 1899 (2pp.), 26 September 1899 (4pp.), 2 October 1899 (1pp.) and 12 October 1899 (2pp.). These detailed telegrams all relate to the circumstances leading to the declaration of war, including the ultimatum from the ZAR. They are on tissue type paper and have moderate creasing from irregular folding and slight fraying. They are laid in loosely to the album.

2. Typed document dated 11 October 1899 signed by F.W. Reitz (State Secretary of the ZAR and previously President of the OFS) allowing Mr. W. Conyngham Greene and his family unhindered permission to leave the ZAR territory. This document has been subsequently deleted (an ink line scored through it and the signature). On a folded leaf 33x21cms. and tipped in with paper strips on the rear blank page.

3. Staats-Courant, ZAR, 17 Oktober 1899. Proclamate by P.J. Joubert, Commandant-Generaal, addressed to the residents of the Colonies of Natal and the Cape Colony. Tipped down with tape on each corner.

4. Autograph letter (1pp,) from F. Stopford, Colonel, Military Secretary, to The Officer Commanding South African Republic Forces, Colenso and dated Dec. 15, 1899. Requesting an Armistice the following day to allow the “burying of the forces who were left dead on the field during today’s operation”. On a large folded leaf 33x20cms. tipped down with tape on the integral blank.

5. A second autograph letter (2pp.) from Stopford to the same recipient, responding to the reply concerning the Armistice and accepting the terms. Same size as above and previously tipped in with tape on the second page - now come adrift but residual tape marks.

6. and 6a. PROCLAMATION (Large Poster} by Roberts. Field Marshal. Dated 24th. May 1900. In English and repeated in Dutch. Regarding the defeat of The Orange Free State which will now be known as The Orange River Colony. There are TWO COPIES of this poster which is printed by W.A. Richards in Cape Town on thin newsprint. The posters have been folded and placed in a pocket created on a page of the album. They are both understanably fragile but virtually complete with moderate fraying and some splitting at the folds, but nevertheless remarkable and possibly unique survivals and presumably extremely scarce. I have made a few archival tape reinforcements on the rear. Size: 80x53cms. (With sympathetic relining these would make outstanding posters).

7. Staats-Courant, ZAR. 30 May, 1900. 7pp. Tipped in. See image.

8. V.R. The Johannesburg Gazette. June 2, 1900. 1pp. 51x31cms. Folded and tipped in. Some fraying.

9.V.R. Government Gazette. Extraordinary. Pretoria, 9th. June, 1900. 4pp. Tipped in.

10. V.R. Government Gazette, Extraordinary. Pretoria, 19th. June, 1900. 14pp. Rubber stamp of Commander in Chief, South Africa. Tipped in. 20th. June, 1900. Tipped in.

11.Ditto. 20th. June, 1900. 14pp. Tipped in.

12. Ditto. 22nd. June, 1900. 28pp. Tipped in. 

13. 4pp. Autograph letter signed, from Roberts (Frederick Roberts, Commander of the British Forces) to Dear Fiddes. (G.V. Fiddes, Imperial Secretary). Dated Pretoria, 30 June 1900. Concerning correspondence between "Pietzman and Kelly Kenny which requires early settlement" (Thomas Kelly Kenny was a Lieutenant-General, General Officer Commanding the 6th Division of the South African field force. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s South African Medal with four clasps. He was involved in the relief of Kimberley, the battles of Paardeberg, Poplar Grove and Driefontein.) Also concerning various military and police titles and mentioning Baden Powell.  Single folded leaf.

14. Red Cross Card completed by Matthys Heyns.

15. V.R. Government Gazette. 5th. July, 1900. 24pp.

16. PROCLAMATION. (Large Poster) By Roberts – in English and Dutch. Annexation of the South African Republic. Forthwith to be known as The Transvaal. 65x50cms. Folded in to four and tipped in at the central fold. In fine condition.

17. V.R. Government Gazette Extraordinary. Pretoria 28th. January, 1901. Death of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. 2pp. Fine condition.

18. PROCLAMATION by the King. (Large Poster) 23rd. January, 1901. 80x54cms. Folded in to four and tipped in at the central fold. Some creasing from folds and small areas of splitting at folds, but complete. The London Gazette, January 25th. 1901. 7pp. Concerning the death of Queen Victoria.Tipped in on rear blank.

19. The London Gazette, January 25th. 1901. 7pp. Concerning the death of Queen Victoria. Tipped in on rear blank

20. The London Gazette, Supplement, 28th.January, 1901. Re period of mourning for Victoria. Tipped in with tape on corners.

21. Document from Roberts, dated 25th. September, 1900. “My Lord………events concerning the hoisting of the Union Jack…..” Laid in loosely and in fine condition. Folded leaf 34x21cms.

22. Cape Times. October 11, 1899. Complete issue. 36pp. Folded and laid in loosely. Some fraying.

23. Die Volkstem. October 2, 1899. Complete issue. Folded and laid in loosely.

24. The Bloemfontein Post. May 1, 1900. Complete issue. Folded and laid in loosely.

25. The Standard & Digger News. May 15, 1900. Complete issue. Laid in loosely. One edge torn off.

26. The Johannesburg Gazette. June 21, 1900. Folded and laid in loosely. June 28,1900.

27. Ditto. June 28,1900. 

28. The Bloemfontein Post. July 5, 1900. Folded and laid in loosely. Frayed.

In addition to the above Boer War items, there are two earlier pieces at the beginning of the Album:

29. Transvaal Government Gazette. August 5, 1881. Tipped in. Tape reinforcements. 7pp.

30. Aan Het Transvaalsche Volk. 1880 – 1882, 4pp. Pamphlet in printed blue wraps. Tipped in.

The album size is 41x30cms. and is bound in half leather and buckram. The covers are in poor condition. The spine is missing and the binding is fairly loose. However, and importantly, the pages are in good condition and most of the contents, as described, good to very good and in fact remarkable due to their fragility.  

An outstanding collection containing some unique material, some of which being of museum piece importance.