First edition
Published by: Longmans, Green, and Co in 1880
Translated from the Dutch and edited with preface and notes by the Right Rev. JW Colenso, D.D. Bishop of Natal. With a frontispiece portrait of Cetshwayo from a photograph taken at Capetown [sic]
Cetshwayo was a son of Zulu king Mpande and Queen Ngqumbazi, half-nephew of Zulu king Shaka and grandson of Senzangakhona kaJama. In 1856 he defeated and killed in battle his younger brother Mbuyazi, Mpande's favourite, at the Battle of Ndondakusuka.
Acoording to Wikipedia Cornelius Vijn, also known as Viljoen, (1856-?) was a Dutch trader who was captured from his homestead as a captive and later advisor for Cetshwayo during the Anglo-Zulu War. He would gain fame after publishing his personal journal relating his experience under the Zulu monarch.
According to Dennis Latham (Apple podcasts): "The king had good reason to treat Vijn well, he needed someone who could function as a translator and letter writer because Cetshwayo would spend most of the coming months repeatedly sending emissaries to Lord Chelmsford, asking for negotiations.
In May, word arrived that the Boers were at Cetshwayo’s home, they were working together to defeat the English.
"Cornelius Vijn’s destination — Zululand. This was a miscalculation because his journey began October 1879 on the eve of the Anglo-Zulu war. Tension had been rising for months, and most whites had fled the territory. Vijn was determined to go the other way. He sensed he could make some extra money without any competition from the other Natal Traders.
Vijn was 23 years and six months old. After being held up by rainy weather and a border check to make sure he wasn’t carrying guns, he crossed the Thukela on November 1st.
We know all of this because Cornelius’ journal was published by Bishop Colenso in 1880 — and you can find a copy online at the University of Cape Town archives. It’s called Cetshwayo’s Dutchman, and what a fascinating read it is."
Condition: Good. Binding split at prelims but still strong. Pencil marks on flyleaf. Foxing on couple of front and last pages only. Bumped and scuffed edges. Gilding intact.
Small royal purple stamp on the publication page with the motto Che sara sara ('whatever will be will be' in Italian) which was used by book collectors and noble families to mark their collections
Ex Libris James Hamilton Russell
Binding: Original green cloth, black embossed patterns, gilt letters and central images.
- Binding Condition: Good
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (20x14cm)
