Wreck of the Grosvenor - Original Document

This manuscript is cited in the bibliography of "The True Story of the Grosvenor East Indiaman Wrecked on the Coast of Pondoland South Africa on 4 August 1782" by P.R. Kirby as an unpublished contemporary English translation of the journal of Jacob van Reenen. Privately owned by D.L.G. Beadle, Esq., of Johannesburg. 

It was sold in the 1920's to W.H. Coetzer and bears his attractive book plate on the inside lid of the brown cloth covered solander box.

The 28 pages of this manuscript have been sewn together for ease of reading. Although dated 1791, it has not been proved that the translator was actually present during the rescue mission. It could have been written after Van Reenen's return.

Included with this lot is a 4 page letter from Percival R. Kirby expressing his opinions about this 226 year old document. Jacob van Reenen was the scribe, or journalist during the 1791 attempt to rescue survivors of the Grosvenor shipwreck and four copies of his journal in the Dutch language exist: Two in the British Museum, one in the Cape Archives and the fourth one at what was the University of the Witwatersrand. Kirby believes that Jacob van Reenen was not the author of this English translation. The four versions in the Dutch language have variances and differ in length. Kirby refers to the variations, etc., and raises interesting questions as to the origins of this English version. The purchaser of this manuscript can follow up on these clues: A treasure hunt, not for the Peacock Throne, but for the identity of the person who wrote it and whether or not he took part in the expedition.