Publisher's de luxe edition in full leather binding with gilt titles to spine. Limited to 125 copies of which this is number 103. SIGNED by the author.
271pp. Illustrated.
Binding sound. Original bookseller's ticket and bookseller's invoice to the original owner still present. Original selling price R45.00 written in pencil on half-title page.
'Far too little has been written about the life of Sir Thomas Cullinan and the Premier Mine, and much that has been written is inaccurate. Nigel Helme here sets out to rectify matters, and he succeeds admirably. For the first time the full, fascinating story, probably as accurate as it will ever be, of the pre-Boer War discovery of diamonds east of Pretoria and of the several diamond pipes and mines in the area is told. Here, too, the myth is exploded of Oom Prinsloo, sitting on his stoep, clutching his rifle and threatening death to any trespasser on his property. Then there is the revelation that Government officials, as well as Cullinan, had a shrewd idea before the War of the existence of the great pipe. The strain of having to wait for four years until Cullinan was enabled to buy the property from the Prinsloo family is brought out clearly. The story goes on to show, by actual quotes from a secret agent's reports, how a few influential De Beers' men were led to believe, for almost a year after the opening up of the pipe, that it was of little importance. Helme then traces the spectacular growth of the mine through to the acquisition of control first by Solly Joel's Barnato Brothers and then by De Beers. A most interesting summary of the Premier Mine's exceptional claims to fame appears in the Appendices. The diamond story, including a separate chapter on the great Cullinan stone itself, is enhanced by many historic photographs. The photographs of some of the splendid buildings erected by Cullinan, the contractor, in Johannesburg's Market Square in the 1890's are of particular interest. Thomas Major Cullinan was born in the Eastern Cape during the Kaffir Wars, orphaned at 18, trained as a building contractor and was geologist and prospector by inclination. He married Anne Harding in 1886 - she bore him 10 children and was his life-long support and closest friend. He was a devoted family man, farmer, industrialist, politician and patriot. Sir Thomas should be remembered not only for the famous Cullinan diamond and mine, but also as an outstanding South African pioneer.' - editor's note
- Binding Condition: Very Good
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: Large 8vo.
