Rare letters written by John Fairbairn and Thomas Pringle were sold for record prices in an online auction on 28 November.
Rare letters written by John Fairbairn and Thomas Pringle were sold for record prices in an online auction on 28 November.
The winning bid of over R100 000 was submitted by the National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown (Nelm).
The money was raised by supporters of Nelm.
Nelm raised this money with support from friends of NELM, ensuring that these historical documents remain in South Africa instead of heading overseas.
“We were excited to add John Fairbairn’s letters to our collection as their content deals with censorship and freedom of the press, and therefore also connects to our Eastern Star Gallery, which revolves around press history,” said Crystal Warren, manager of the Curatorial Division at NELM.
“The Fairbairn letters are not only important for South African literary history but provide important historical documentation of the 1820s era,” added Warren.
“We were also pleased to add the new item to the existing collection of Thomas Pringle’s documents we have in our possession," Warren said.
The collection comprises one letter written by Pringle, and eight by Fairbairn to their mutual friend Benjamin Moodie. They are dated between 1815 and 1828.
“I am happy that they have stayed in South Africa, and we should thank NELM for securing the finance necessary to ensure this,” said Fables book shop owner Ian Balchin, who was in possession of the letters.
