The Story of the Settlement with a Sketch of Grahamstown as it Was and Grahamstown as it Is

2nd Edition, Enlarged and Illustrated with Twenty-Two Engravings, 1894;  T. and C. Sheffield, Printers and Publishers, High Street, Grahamstown. 12mo, 13 x 18cm; [8] 272pp [1] lxxix. Half burgundy leather with burgundy patterned cloth boards; 5 raised double bands to spine with gilt borders, gilt motif and gilt titles. Illustrated with frontispiece engraving of the Town Hall and Jubilee Memorial Tower and a further 21 engravings after photographs by Aldham and Aldham of various artists work. Preface to 2nd Edition by T. Sheffield; Contents, Illustrations; Errata and Notes; Main text; Appendix A; Appendix B.

The first Edition was printed in pamphlet form on the opening of the Settler’s memorial Tower on 24th May 1892, as “The Story of the of the Settlement of the Eastern Province by the British Settlers of 1820” This  2nd Edition, the first in book form, is extensively enlarged. It includes the first printed and complete list of all the original settlers, English Dutch and Huguenot, their wives and children.

While there are scarce copies of the third edition (1912) available, the 1st Edition appears not be extant outside of library archives, and this 1894 edition is almost unavailable. A very rare find.

The brothers Thomas (1847-1904) and George (1849-1916) Sheffield came to Grahamstown in 1860 from Kidderminster in Worcestershire and entered the printing and publishing industry rising to their own firm, T & G Sheffield printers and publishers, and their own newspaper, 'The Eastern Star' (1871 onwards). Both men were active in the affairs of the Cathedral. Thomas, who was a long serving member of the Select Vestry, being the more active. The brothers were strong supporters of Dean Williams and 'the old Church' though Thomas was later to be Churchwarden of St Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg. The Sheffield’s left Grahamstown in the period 1887-9 and moved to the brighter lights of the new Goldfields - taking their newspaper with them where it continues as The Star to this day.  

Condition: Board edges and corners rubbed; wear to front and rear. Front  and rear hinges cracked  and binding loose; offsetting to front and rear pastedowns. Inscription pasted to front pastedown; Somerset East Museum stamp to ffep; previous price in ink (!) on ffep. Stain to middle of pages 112 – 123 but text is still visible; page 130 loose. Text block sound. Exterior still good-looking. Fair to Good.