Wetboek van den Oranjevrijstaat 1891 [1854-1891] (1892)

Volksraad Legislative Commission

Description:

This volume was prepared by order of [the Free State Republic's] Ordinance 16 of 1891, which (freely translated) "requires the appointment of a Commission to assemble, arrange, revise and, in terms of the requirements of the Constitution as published in the Government Gazette, to have printed and published the Acts and Ordinances of the Volksraad up to and including the year 1891 as the Law Book of the Orange Free State 1891, whose authority, in the courts of law and otherwise, shall replace and supersede all previous law books".

After the contents and other preliminary pages (pp i-viii), the book begins with the 23 February 1854 Treaty between Sir George Russell Clerk, Her Majesty's Special Commissioner, and representatives of the Orange Free State (pp 1-7). Next are the nine chapters of the Constitution (pp 9-17), followed by the bulk of the book, the Laws (Statutes), arranged in 146 chapters (pp 19-824), and an Appendix containing the Convention of Aliwal and 12 Treaties and Allied Agreements with and involving various other States (pp 825-876). Then follows the index (i-xl). In all, therefore, the volume comprises 924 pp.

These volumes are difficult to find and our copy is exceptional, given its age of 119 years.

The original binding - half-bound tan calf and mottled blue cloth-boards - is retained. The spine is covered with light cracks, with slight material loss at the head and foot, and the leather corners are worn. The cloth is only lightly damaged, with two small edge-tears and slight staining, both to the front cover.

The binding shows no deterioration. The paste-downs of the original one-sided light-olive endpapers have been covered with later blue endpapers, mainly to strengthen the joins between the covers and the spine, so that there are now two free endpaper leaves at the front and back. Tape has also been used to reinforce the title-page in the binding.

There is a faded ownership signature in pen on the earlier front free endpaper and a pencilled date 6/16/95 at the back; but no other ownership or other marks.

The text-block remains in near-original condition. The thread-sewn sections in the rounded spine have retained all the pages in a tight rounded book. Save for a few pencil notes, the pages are unmarked and have no foxing or other discolouration. There are three very small dark stains to the lower edge of the text-block.

This archive-quality production reflects the materals used by and the skilled workmanship available in C Borckenhagen's Bloemfontein printing house - translated as "The Steam Printing Works of the Orange Free State Newspaper Company" in Bloemfontein.

Details:

  • Publisher: Volksraad van den Oranjevrijstaat
  • Publisher Place: Bloemfontein
  • Date of Publication: 1892
  • Edition: First thus
  • Binding Condition: Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 250 x 175 x 45; (1.5 kg)
  • Lot No: 103
  • Hammer Price: $200
  • Bids: 1
  • Visits: 83
  • Estimate: $400
  • Reserve: $200

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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.