Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #115 begins on 30 May 2024

Le Cordeur (Basil) & Saunders (Christopher)

THE WAR OF THE AXE, 1847 (Presentation edition)

Published: The Brenthurst Press, Johannesburg, 1981

Edition: Presentation edition

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Correspondence between the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Henry Pottinger, and the Commander of the British forces at the Cape, Sir George Berkeley, and others.

Brenthurst Press First Series, number 7:

Presentation Edition: Copy with letter "U" of 25 the Presentation Edition limited to 25 copies numbered A to Y.

287 pages, colour frontispiece, 54 plates, 4 maps, full green morocco with red leather title label on the spines, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, contained in green cloth solander cases with a green morocco back and red leather title labels and line with suede leather.

The bindings of the Presentation Edition were made by Alan Winstanley of Salisbury, England in Russell Oasis Morocco leather which was specially manufactured by James Garnar & Sons Ltd. London.

With the Compliment Slip of Mr Harry Oppenheimer. 

A fine copy.

'In 1846, a man was caught stealing an axe in Fort Beaufort, a small Eastern-frontier town. The group escorting the thief was attacked by a party of Xhosa who killed a guard and released the prisoner. This incident sparked off hostilities which became known as the War of the Axe, or the Seventh Frontier War.
In 1847 a new governor arrived at the Cape Colony - Sir Henry Pottinger. He was destined to spend the entire period of his governorship on the frontier, mainly in Grahamstown and Fort Peddie. His correspondence with the commander of the British forces at the Cape, Sir George Berkeley, forms the basis of this volume. Other key figures include Colonel Henry Somerset of the Cape Mounted Rifles; Sandile, head of the main group of western Xhosa (Ngqika) and Phatho of the Gqunukhwebe.' Editor's note.

  • Overall Condition: Fine
  • Size: Square 4to (270 x 270 mm)
  • Sold By: Clarke's Africana & Rare Books
  • Contact Person: Paul Mills
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 021 794 0600
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Visa & Mastercard via PayGate secure links and Bank transfers.
  • Trade Associations: ABA - ILAB, SABDA


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