Davis, Alexander; Boam, Joseph

The Buluwayo Sketch (Saturday August 25, 1894)

Softcover, Bulawayo, Rhodesia: 1894. First Edition. Good. Original 9 page newspaper published on Saturday August 25, 1894 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe). This is an original, not a copy. The Buluwayo Sketch was the first newspaper in Rhodesia to be regularly illustrated, it was also one of the country's prime papers and was known for having a dark sense of humor about the First Matebele War (in which the British colonials did not at first do well) and the citizens of Rhodesia in general. This particular issue contains a long mocking article about Bulawayo's fervent hopes to become the next South Africa in terms of wealthy gold mines. There is gold in Zimbabwe, but it is not on a par with the rich seams of South Africa that created the Randlords. The Buluwayo Sketch was handwritten and hand-drawn by locals and then reproduced in small quantities using a cyclostyle duplicating process, which is a form of stencil copying that was brand new at the time (being invented in England in 1890). The newspaper follows the easy pattern of advertising on the front page, with article content on the back. There is 1 large illustration of gold miners. The 9th page is a supplemental page containing a large illustration of a proposed monument to Major Allan Wilson & comrades. Wilson was considered a founding father of Rhodesia and the date of his death was a national holiday. Wilson lead the Shangani Patrol in the First Matabele War. He and 33 of his men were searching for King Lobengula when they were cut off and surrounded by Ndebele Warriors. Wilson and his men fought to the death in a desperate last stand. Newspaper condition is Good only. Closed tears, some age spotting - it's a very local handmade newspaper that is 126 years old at the time I write this. At the time I write this, there are no other issues available for sale and only a very few preserved in libraries. Quite scarce. Ships same or next business day well protected in a box. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall; 9 pages. [Item #79530]

Price: $1,200.00