CLOSER UNION (Presentation copy to J.C. Molteno)

First Edition: 61 pages, original brown paper covered boards, uncut edges,  a very good copy.

Inscribed on the front free endpaper, 'J.C. Molteno from Olive Schreiner 1909.'

'In 1909, her book Closer Union was published. In it she argued for more rights for Black people and for women. She was one of the first people to anticipate the consequences of colonial exclusion of Blacks from power in South Africa, and to push for gender equality. In 1907, she joined the Cape branch of the Women’s Enfranchisement League and became its vice-president. She then withdrew her support for the League after she discovered other branches intended to exclude Black women.' (https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/olive-schreiner)

Mendelssohn (Sydney) South African Bibliography, Volume 2, page 282, 'The "Publisher's Note " states that the letter " was written by Mrs. Cronwright Schreiner ... in October 1908, in reply to twelve questions submitted to her by the editor of the Transvaal Leader, and it appeared in that journal on December 22nd." The writer deprecates undue haste " to see unification accomplished instantly," and points out that a similar attempt in South Africa many years previously " met with disaster."'

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Charles_Molteno_Jr.) 'John Charles Molteno Jr. (4 March 1860 – 23 March 1924) was a prominent anti-imperialist of the Cape Colony, and a denouncer of British policies which led to the Boer War, chairing the South Africa Conciliation Committee in Cape Town. He was also a supporter of expanded civil rights for Black Africans, and recognised, very early on, the need for them to play a leadingrole in South Africa's political future.

'He was elected to the Cape Parliament in 1889 by a predominantly Black African constituency, partially on account of his history of blunt and outspoken support for greater Black political empowerment. He was most famous at the time for supporting a republican form of government for the Cape. His other principle political concern was the welfare of agricultural communities and he was widely considered the parliamentary expert on rural development. For over 20 years he served as representative for Thembuland and Jansenville.

'Molteno was extremely active in the years after the Boer war. He was on nearly all the major parliamentary committees and was chairman of the Government Land Commission. Like his younger brother and fellow parliamentarian James Molteno, he was a supporter of John X. Merriman's party, and for the extension, across southern Africa, of equal political rights for Black Africans. However, he could count on the support of only a small minority of the (predominantly white) electorate to support Black African suffrage, and eventually this possibility was abrogated in London.'