Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

James Herbert Willams

Photographic Views of South Africa

Published: N/A, South Africa, 1890s

Edition: 1st

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Vey good original red cloth covers with titles in gilt on the front cover. Some marks on the front cover but otherwise this photo album is in very good condition. This album was compiled in the late 1890s by James Herbert Williams, popularly known in the Victoria Province of Mashona-land as 'Jakata', who was the first Native Commissioner (Mudzviti) at Gutu. The album contains twenty (20) mostly sepia 11cm x 8cm original photographs most likely taken by Williams himself. There is a handwritten description below most of the photographs. All photographs are in very good condone with no foxing, marks or other blemishes. The photographs include two of J. H. Williams himself, the Gibbard and Bryant outfitters in East London, the bridge over the Buffalo River, in the Eastern Cape, the Botanical Gardens in East London, gallows in an unidentified prison yard, views of Knysna in the Western Cape, workers in an orange grove (probably in the Western Cape), a Cape cart, an irrigation dam in an unidentified location, the Waterworks Storage Dam near Kaim, the Yellow Wood Falls, a hat covered in tin refuse, three men standing on a krantz (overhanding wall of rock) on the Buffalo River, a kloof (narrow valley or gorge) on the Buffalo River, the Post face and Magistrate Office (unidentified location) and finally another photograph of Williams standing among Arum lilies. All photographs are in very good (+) condition with foxing, marks or other blemishes.

James Herbert Williams, popularly known in the Victoria Province of Mashona-land as 'Jakata', was the first Native Commissioner (Mudzviti) at Gutu. Not much is known either about his life before he joined the service of the British South Africa Company as a trooper, nor after he left the Company's service in 1902, except that he was born at Wrexham and that when he left the Company's ser­vice he became a very successful cattle buyer and farmer. But his years in the South Africa Company's service are fairly well documented and remembered into the 1970s by many old men who knew him personally.

On appointment a Native Commissioner had to be everything in his district. In addition to performing the duties of the dual role he fulfilled as 'the eyes and ears’ of the Government in Salisbury and ‘ambassador' of the tribe(s) under him to the Government, he had to act as labour recruiting agent. He also had to be a 'do-it-yourself' architect, surveyor, builder, doctor, lawyer, veterinary surgeon, agricultural 'expert, and to perform the duties  of a paramount chief.

Williams earned himself the nickname ‘Jakata' when he was Native Commissioner at Gutu from 1897 to 1902. Old men who remembered Williams suggested that he got this name either because he built his station close to a chump of huge ‘michakata’ trees (still to be seen at Gutu District Commissioner's office) and held court under these trees or under one of them.

The Following is a link to a paper titled ‘J. H. Williams, Native Commissioner to Gutu, 1897-1902’ by F. J.  Mashasha written in 1979 which gives a very detailed account of Williams’ life.

http://www.library.uz.ac.zw/bitstream/handle/10646/3261/Mashasha_J_H_Williams_Native_Commissioner_of_Gutu.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

  • Jacket Condition: N/A
  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 18cm x 12cm
  • Sold By: White Eagle Books
  • Contact Person: Andrew Saidi
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 020 8997 9894
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Paypal
  • Trade Associations: PBFA IOBA


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