The Groot Paardekraal Gold Mining Syndicate (earliest Johannesburg printing, 1887)

A pamphlet of the utmost rarity, published in Johannesburg in 1887 - a year after the Golden City was founded. There are no earlier Johannesburg publications as the South African Bibliography (SABIB) lists nothing from the year 1886.

SABIB lists only four printing firms active in Johannesburg at this period, they are:

Deecker - who established the Transvaal Mining Argus in Johannesburg in 1887. A single publication came this firm in 1887 of which only one copy was found in South African institutions.

Flavell, Brown - two publications by this firm in 1887 of which a single copy of each was located in South African institutions.

De Republikein - their office transferred from Pretoria to Johannesburg in 1887, closed down in February 1888. Two publications by this firm in 1887 of which a single copy of each was located in South African institutions.

Thomas & George Sheffield - In September 1887 their printing plant moved to Johannesburg. Their newspaper appeared there from 17 October 1887.  Four publications by this firm of which six, three, and two single copies were found in SA institutions.

SABIB does not list any publications of the Diggers News Steam Printing Works in Johannesburg at this period. One can therefore assume that no copies from this firm were found in SA institutions dating from this period. Here then is a new, unrecorded title that can be added to the very short list of earliest Johannesburg publications. Two images of what Johannesburg looked like in the year 1887 is added in the image box.

This copy is in fair to good condition. The wraps are loose but the pages are clean with no markings. The 20pp pamphlet lacks a single leaf (page 11-12). Rubber stamp on front wrap reads "Applications to be sent to Henry Levy & Co., Argyle Chambers, Telegraphic Address, "LULU," Pretoria, Z.A.R."