Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Cape Argus

Wreck of the chartered troopship "St. Lawrence"

Map shewing the position of the wreck

Published: Cape Argus, Cape Town, 1880

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Beautiful, small and uncommon lithographed chart of the Paternoster region, north of Cape Town, showing the location of the wreck of the St Lawrence. This ship was carrying troops to support the British army fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War and went aground in 1876 off Paternoster on the Cape West Coast. None of the 400 souls aboard was lost in the accident!

The absence of loss of life means that this incident is less well known than the loss of the Birkenhead, which was carrying troops (in 1852) to the 8th war against the Xhosas and from which disaster only 193 of the 643 people on board survived.

The chart shows the location of the wreck, the site of the soldiers' encampment and the old wagon road that passed along the coast from Saldanha Bay and entered today's town from the south.This chart was issued as a gratis supplement to subscribers to the Cape Argus (date ca. 1880) and was published by the famous Saul Solomon & Co, lithographers and publishers.

Condition: The chart had numerous tears and a small area of loss outside the map margin. The tears have been professioally repaired. This historically important chart was printed on flimsy paper - it has been reversibly laid on Japanese tissue paper in order to stabilise and conserve it.

A small and very uncommon gem of Cape West Coast history - it is beautiful when framed.

  • Overall Condition: Restored
  • Size: 28 x 23
  • Sold By: Roger Stewart Antiquarian
  • Contact Person: Dr. Roger Stewart
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: +27836541081
  • Preferred Payment Methods: LOCAL: EFT; INTERNATIONAL: PAYPAL (add 5%) or Bank Transfer; no credit cards
  • Trade Associations: IMCOS


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