Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #130 begins on 09 Apr 2026

Mathers (Edward P.)

THE STORY OF "SOUTH AFRICA" NEWSPAPER AND ITS FOUNDER TOLD BY OTHERS (1903) & THE "SOUTH AFRICA" MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA (1915)

The "South Africa" Newspaper was established by Edward P. Mathers in 1889 and touted itself as "The great authority on South African Gold Mining".

Published: "South Africa", London, 1903, 1915

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $400

Approximately:

Estimate: $450

Bidding opens: 9 Apr 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 16 Apr 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

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Publisher's original paper wraps cased in contemporary cloth hardcover binding with gilt titles on front panel.

188pp. Illustrated.

Binding sound. Contents clean with written dedication and stamp on front panel, "His Worship the Mayor, with compliments of- Branch Office of "South Africa", 40 Burg St., Cape Town."

'This well-known weekly periodical, devoted to the interests of the sub-continent of Africa, was founded in London in 1889 by Mr. Edward P. Mathers, a British journalist who emigrated to South Africa in 1878. The matter set forth in the volume possesses many features of public interest, and is accompanied by a large number of portraits and sketches.' - Mendelssohn Vol.I, page 996

Mathers' aims with his weekly newspaper were threefold: To promote the South African goldfields; to champion British freedom in South Africa and to inform British Manufacturers of the vast potential of the South African market. This is repeated on the rear endpaper with the statement, '"South Africa" was founded fifteen years ago to tell the World about the Transvaal Gold Fields, their opportunities for Capitalists and Manufacturers, and to fight for British Freedom in South Africa.'

Apart from his successful newspaper Mathers was also the author of several very successful books dealing specifically with South Africa's Gold Mining Industry, namely:

A Glimpse of the Gold Fields (1884)

The Gold Fields Revisited (1887)

South Africa, and how to reach it by the Castle Line (1889)

Zambesia, England's El Dorado in Africa (1891)



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