The Van Riebeeck Society for the Publication of

Southern African Historical Documents

 

Newsletter 35, February 2010

 

Extra-special 2010 offer – rock-bottom prices!!

In order to clear some space in our store room, we have decided to make a special Union centenary offer to members: you may order any of the following back volumes at a price of R50 post free (within South Africa only) – as many copies as you like and as long as stocks last! Surprise your nearest and dearest – make your friends happy by giving them a handsome book! Contact Cora Ovens to place your orders at vanriebk@mweb.co.za or 021 423 8424 (Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, 9.30 to 13.30 or leave a message when no one is in the office).

 

First Series.

31. Letters of the American Missionaries, 1835-1838; edited by D.J. Kotzι

32. Die Konvensie-dagboek van Sy Edelagbare Franηois Stephanus Malan; uitgegee . . . deur Johann F. Preller

33. Die Dagboek van H.A.L. Hamelberg, 1855-71; uitgegee en toegelig . . . deur F.J. du T. Spies

35. The Narrative and Journal of Gerald McKiernan in South-West Africa during the years 1847-70; edited . . . by P. Serton.

36. Andrew Smith and Natal; documents relating to the early history of the Province, selected, edited and annotated by Percival R. Kirby.

37. The Cape Journals of Archdeacon N.J. Merriman, 1848-55; edited . . . by D.H. Varley and H.M. Matthew.

38. Maleo en Sekoekoeni, vertaal uit die Duits van Th. Wangemann deur J.F.W. Grosskopf; uitgegee en toegelig deur G.P.J. Trόmpelmann; with an English summary by A. Ravenscroft.

39 & 43. The Reminiscences of Sir Walter Stanford, edited . . . by J.W. Macquarrie. Vol. I, 1850-1885; Vol. II. 1885-1929

40. The Journal of Joseph Tindall, missionary in South-West Africa, 1839-55; edited . . . by B.A. Tindall.

41, 44. 47, 50. Selections from the Correspondence of J.X. Merriman, 1870-1890; 1890-1898; 1899-1904; 1905-1924; edited by Phyllis Lewsen.

48 & 49 Travels and Adventures in South Africa by George Thompson, 1823-24. Edited by Vernon S. Forbes. Vol. I & II

 

Second series.

8. Lawrence Richardson. Selected correspondence (1902-1903). Edited by Prof. Arthur M. Davey.

9. Selected Articles from the Cape Monthly Magazine (New Series 1870-76). Introduction and notes by A.M. Lewin Robinson

10. William Somerville's narrative of his journeys to the Eastern Cape frontier and to Lattakoe 1799-1802. Introduction and notes by Edna and Frank Bradlow

12. Selections from the correspondence of Percy Alport Molteno 1892-1914. Edited by Vivian Solomon.

13. Briefwisseling van Hendrik Swellengrebel Jr. oor Kaapse Sake 1779-1792. Uitgegee met inleiding en aantekeninge deur dr. G.J. Schutte. With an English summary by Dr A.J. Bφeseken assisted by Prof. H.M. Robertson

14. The Letters of Jane Elizabeth Waterston 1866-1905. Edited by Lucy Bean and Elizabeth B. van Heyningen with an introduction by Elizabeth B. van Heyningen.

15. The Garrett Papers, edited with an introduction by Gerald Shaw.

16. Johannesburg Pioneer Journals 1888-1909, edited by Maryna Fraser.

19. The Frontier War Journal of Major John Crealock, edited and introduced by Chris Hummel.

21. The Commissions of W. C. Palgrave Special Emissary to South West Africa, 1876-1885, edited and introduced by E. L. P. Stals.

22. Guillaume Chenu de Chalezac, the `French Boy', edited and introduced by Randolph Vigne  

23. Johan August Wahlberg: Travel Journal and letters from, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, 1838-1856, edited and introduced by Chris Hummel and Adrian Craig

25. Griqua Records, the Philippolis Captaincy, 1825-1861, compiled and edited by Karel Schoeman.

27.Norwegian missionaries in Natal and Zululand: selected correspondence (1844-1900), edited by Frederick Hale.

31. A Canadian Mounted Rifleman at War, 1899-1902: the reminiscences of A. E. Hilder, edited by A. G. Morris

32. The War Diary of Burgher Jack Lane, 1899-1900, edited by William Lane.

33. Sir Graham Bower's Secret History of the Jameson Raid and the South African Crisis, 1895-1902, edited by Deryck Schreuder and Jeffrey Butler.

35. Moravians in the Eastern Cape, 1828-1928: Four accounts of Moravian Mission Work on the Eastern Cape Frontier. Tr. by F.R. Baudert, edited by T.Keegan.

36. Trials of Slavery, Selected Documents Concerning Slaves from the Criminal Records of the Council of Justice at the Cape of Good Hope, 1705-1794, edited by Nigel Worden and Gerald Groenewald.

 

Skype

We now have Skype and you can talk to me Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.30 to 13.30 (South African time)! Our address is Van Riebeeck Society, South Africa and, in case you need further identification, our phone number is +27 21 423 8424

 

No more Credit Card facilities

Members, please note – we regret that we cannot offer credit card facilities any more. However, electronic fund transfers (internet banking) are becoming more and more popular with members. If you use internet banking,  remember, please, to put your name into the depositor field – “Membership 2009” doesn’t help me identify you!!

 

Cape Town International Book Fair

We shall be at the Book Fair (this year from Friday 30th July to Monday 2nd August 2010, so as not to interfere with the World Cup!) and, as usual, I am asking for brave, noble, beautiful volunteers. Please contact me by email or phone (vanriebk@mweb.co.za or 021 423 8424) to volunteer - you get in for free and it's lots of fun!

 

Report on 90th AGM of VRS, 29 October 2009

Our 90th AGM was held at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town on 29th October 2009. Attended by over 60 members, it heard that our financial position was solid and that we had gained 95 new members in the preceding twelve months, raising our total membership to 1199. Noting this fact, the chair, Professor Howard Phillips, urged those present to try and recruit one more member before the night was out, a challenge the audience met in style – by the end of the evening’s proceedings, the Society’s membership had risen to 1201!

In his annual report Professor Phillips reflected on a year filled with imagination, initiative and energy – for instance, a second launch of our 2008 volume in Grahamstown, the mounting of a lecture course on five VRS volumes at UCT’s 2009 Summer School, running stalls at seven conferences and book fairs in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg and Montreal, arranging an hour-long radio interview about the Society on a local station in Johannesburg and holding a first launch of our 2009 volume at a conference in Pietermaritzburg marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Alan Paton Centre there. Moreover, not only had the VRS’s presence on these occasions facilitated the recruitment of new members, but it had also seen over 200 of our volumes sold to non-members. For their willing contributions to these achievements, he thanked all members who had volunteered their services, especially those who were on the Society’s Council.

With several manuscripts jostling for publication next, he looked forward to a bumper crop of captivating VRS volumes in the coming years. The prospect of these would, he hoped, boost our membership to the next target, 1250, a figure the Society last boasted in 1995.

The AGM was followed by a short break, after which we were joined by some special guests for the launch of our 2009 volume, Alan Paton: Selected Letters. As the editor of this volume, Professor Peter Alexander, lives in Sydney, the speeches to launch the volume were delivered by two guests with very different ties to Alan Paton, his elder son, Dr David Paton, and a longtime friend, Mr Tony Morphet. A copy of the volume was presented to Dr Paton’s daughter, Carol, who was in the audience.

 

New Members

Caroline Jeannerat from Westdene, Jhb; Ryan Rutherford from Durbanville (gift membership from W A Neethling); Alet Greybe from Pinegowrie; Kristen Larkind from Kyalami; Zandile Motha from Eldorado Park; and Nicole Naude from Randpark Ridge (these last three lucky new members received gift subs from Gerald Groenewald); Mr Stephen de la Harpe of Potchefstroom; Mr Chris Roux of Hopetown; Miss A E Loubser of George, Valerie Irons of Edenvale; Bruce Dunlop of Glen Ashley (this is a gift membership from Mrs E M Batten); Jolyon and Jean Nuttall of Newlands; Eddie Buitenbos of Somerset West; Barry Firth of Heathfields and Marianne Gertenbach of Vredehoek (who joined at the AGM and launch of vol 40, the Paton Letters); Mike Mulcahy of Somerset West; Jan Henry Muller of Rondebosch; Hendril Taljaard from Ceres; Eduan Swanepoel from Swellendam; Jeanne Maartens from Paarl; David Paton from Randburg; J D Berens from Pringle Bay; P Bromley from Pumula; Tony Battaglene from Canberra, Australia; William Shepley from Cobourg, Canada; Christopher Cook from East London

In Memoriam

Mr G S Hofmeyr from Somerset West; Prof L M Thompson of Yale University

 

Appeal to Potchefstroom, Oudtshoorn and Grahamstown members

We believe that there will be literary festivals held in Oudtshoorn, Potchefstroom and Grahamstown during the course of the year. We would really appreciate it if local VRS members would be willing to show a VRS presence by distributing leaflet/membership application forms. If you feel brave enough, how about offering a short talk about the VRS on such an occasion? Contact Cora Ovens for advice and help at vanriebk@mweb.co.za or 021 423 8424 (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9.30 to 13.30)!

 

Series One volumes wanted

Mrs Ione Rudner would like to acquire the following Series One volumes: 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29. Please contact her direct at 021 712 3060.

 

Volumes on offer

Mrs Gillian Knight is offering Series I, vols 48, 49 & 50, as well as Series II, vols 1-33 for sale. Please contact her direct at 021 782 2223.

 

Reprints

According to members’ preferences, surveyed in 2007, we have decided to reprint 2 volumes this year in the by now well-known pale blue paperback format:

Series I, vol 12: Journals of the expedition of the Honourable Ensign Olof Bergh [1682 and 1683] and Isaq Schrijver [1689]; transcribed and translated into English and edited . . . by Dr E.E. Mossop.

Series I, vol 15: The Journal of Hendrik Jacob Wikar [1799] with an English translation by A.W. van der Horst; and the Journals of Jacobus Coetse Jansz [1760] and Willem van Reenen [1791] translated and edited by Dr E.E. Mossop.

We shall be offering this exciting duo for a special price of R240 for both. Single copies will be R120 for vol 12 and R130 for vol 13. Please remember to add postage and packaging of R25 for the set or R20 for a single copy. You will find an order form on the back of page 3 of this newsletter. Just some feedback on the hard-bound 3-volume set of the Van Riebeeck Diaries – we sold all fifty copies of our print run before the end of last year. I have had several enquiries by members and non-members who wish for copies, but I need to have at least ten firm (prepaid [R600 + postage of R50 for members]) orders before I can re-reprint this set. Please let me know if you would like to order a set.

 

Donations

We would like to thank very much all those members who donated money to the Society in 2009. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

 

New edition

One of our members, Mr Alkis Doucakis, is nearing completion of a second edition of the following book: History of north-eastern Johannesburg It  includes, inter alia, the abodes of  Gandhi, the Shah of Iran and the Yugoslav royal family ; the remount depot; the Indian monument; wetlands; pioneer ballooning and aviation. Over 200 colour photos; over 200 pages, 2nd. edition  approx. R380. Reserve your copy by contacting Nancy, 011 402 7141; doucakis@cybertrade.co.za

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled by Cora Ovens & Howard Phillips. Afrikaans by Chris van der Merwe.

Van Riebeeck Society, P O Box 15151, VLAEBERG, 8018, South Africa.

Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, CAPE TOWN, 8000, South Africa.

Tel: +27 (0)21 423-8424 Fax: 086 670 9828

Email: vanriebk@mweb.co.za.   Website: www.vanriebeecksociety.co.za

 

ORDER FORM FOR VRS REPRINT SERIES

(Please complete this form and send it with your payment to:

The Secretary, VRS, PO Box 15151, Vlaeberg, 8018, South Africa)

 

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We assume that only one copy of each volume is being ordered. If additional copies are required then please indicate this clearly and make the appropriate payment.

 

Postage: If you order more than one reprint (excluding the Van Riebeeck Journals), count up to 3 reprints per parcel. Each 3-volume parcel costs about R35 to pack and post.

 

TOTAL ENCLOSED (please include postage): ………………………………………………………………………

 

Or, make a direct deposit into our bank account:

Standard Bank ,

Adderley Street, Cape Town

Branch Code (02 000 9)

Account number – 07 051 2035

Account name – Van Riebeeck Society

If you make a direct deposit – kindly fax us proof of payment at 086 670 9828

 

NB. Reprints already available:

Reprint Series I                                                                                   Reprint Series II

Vol 1: Chavonne/Van Imhoff (R75)                                                              Vols 6 & 7 Sparrman vols 1 & 2 (R80 each)

Vol 2: Mentzel: Alleman (R75)

Vol 3: De Mist (R110)

Vols 4,6,25 Mentzel: Cape …vols 1,2,3 (R75, R75, R120)

Vol 5: Collectanea (R75)

New: Reprint Series I                                                                        Van Riebeeck Journals vols I, II, III (R600+R50 postage)

Vol 12: Bergh (R120)  ┐ set R240

Vol 15: Wikar (R130)   

 

PLUS POSTAGE!!!