De Laatste Postzegels der Zuid-Afrikaansche-Republiek [and other subjects] (Nederlands and English; 118 loose pp in spring binder; no date) (from the library of Andre Bezuidenhout)

Anon

Description:

This collection of sheets may have been a draft or the start of a draft of a book or an article for a publication; but not a modern one as the main language is Nederlands (rather than Afrikaans), with some English. There are some names or sources in the text.

There are 118 sheets, sometimes numbered in pen, sometimes in typescript. They are written partly in top-copy typescript (the red of a black-red ribbon is sometimes visible), with some typographical errors corrected in pen; and partly in manuscript. There are a few figures. About half of the sheets are quarto unwatermarked white bond paper such as was in general office use in South Africa until the 1950s or early 1960s, and later in some other countries. Most of the rest are on feint-ruled quarto, torn out of a perforated writing block, while two sheets are folded A4 bond.

Some pages are curled and chipped at the edges, probably from frequent use. The plain paper is sunned, while most of the feint-ruled paper has retained its whiteness.

The sheets are in the order they were found in a loose green spring binder. The sections are not stapled but the front and back sheets of each section are marked with rust from paperclips; some have been separated by handwritten yellow "Post It"-type labels.

The sections are: (i) "De laatste postzegels der ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE-REPUBLIEK. De Pietersburg uitgifte van 1901" (pp 1-25); (ii) "Eenige Vervalschingen van Oranje Vrijstaat" (pp 1-17); (iii) "The So-Called Envelopes of he Transvaal" (pages 1-25), with "Leon de Raay" at the foot of p 25; (iv) "Proefvel 1/2d kwaste[?] druk op wit papier" (pp 27-63 - p 63 is an annotation for "Complete vel van 24 zegels" - plus, on better paper, Plate I: "First printing of the one penny" and Plate II: "Second printing of the one penny"); (v) "Commando Brief Zegels. Ontstaan daarvan en stryery daaroor" (pp 1-12); and (vi) two identical photostat sheets (p 19) of six 1900 stamps (1/2 penny to 1 shilling), with three-line handwritten caption.

Details:

  • Publisher: (Probably unpublished)
  • Binding Condition: (Loose sheets, some stapled into sections)
  • Overall Condition: Good
  • Size: Quarto (260 x 210)
  • Lot No: 98
  • Hammer Price: $175
  • Bids: 1
  • Visits: 110
  • Estimate: $300
  • Reserve: $175

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Seller Details:

  • Name: Fontein Books
  • Address: 27 Voortrekker Street, Philippolis 9970
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country of Origin: South Africa
  • Email: fontein@wol.co.za
  • Website:
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Internet bank transfer or Visa or Mastercard
  • Trade Association: AA Approved
  • Additional Information: Fontein Books has for several years participated in Antiquarian Auctions and its predecessor. It specialises in historical and contemporary books on the Free State and Northern Karoo, and is also an active buyer and seller on commission in these and other fields. Fontein's owner, Richard Proctor-Sims, was an editor, writer and small publisher until 2005, when he moved from Johannesburg to Philippolis, the first settlement (1822) north of the Gariep or Orange River, where he opened his first physical bookshop (to which buyers and sellers are welcome), with reasonable holdings in Africana, both Anglo-Boer wars, biography, history, military history, natural history and travel. He regularly visits Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and offers to deliver heavy or valuable books or sets to these cities on such visits. Richard Proctor-Sims retains the copyright of Fontein's Antiquarian Auction descriptions and these may not be reproduced without permission and acknowledgment.