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SNOW IN THE TRANSVAAL 1909

First time that Johannesburg was covered by snow

Jeff Woolgar

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The message

Illustrated here is a picture postcard, ex Joan Matthews’ collection. The message on the address side is a 1909 snow related item and reads:
“... We had a very big snow storm on Tuesday [17 August 1909] just like English weather.”
A nice message and cancelled with a neat Central South African Railways railway 'C.S.A.R. JOHANNESBURG' circular date stamp set at '23.AUG. A.09'.

The Postcard

The R.O. Füsslein, (spelling ‘Fuesslein’ on this postcard, with Johannesburg post office box 6345) coloured picture postcard, numbered 8128, is captioned in pale red 'The Transvaal University College, Johannesburg.' This impressive stone clad building, in the classical style of the day, shows a pleasing contrast between the horizontal rustic-work of the lower story and the less severe ashlar upper story. Giant columns with Ionic capitals give the building the illusion of height, caryatids support the main portico and there are three well-proportioned balustrades Addressed to England; the divided address side is also printed in pale red, and was written and entered the post on the 23^rd August 1909.

References

Board, C., (2009), Notable Snow Fall in Johannesburg, The Transvaal Philatelist August 2009, issue number 171, pp.64-68.

Norwich, O.I., (1986), A Johannesburg Album: Historical Postcards, A.D. Donker, Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Craighall, South Africa, p.78