Messages on Postal Stationery Cards

The message on this Vürtheim postal stationery card* relates to the weekly newspaper which was established on 6^th January 1871 as the Eastern Star or Grahamstown Advertiser and Anglo-African, which subsequently passed into the hands of Thomas and George Sheffield. Monetary problems led to the newspaper being relocated to Johannesburg, where it was renamed Eastern Star and printed twice weekly from 17^th October 1887. Following this the name was changed to the Star on 1^st April, 1889 and appeared daily.

This postal stationery card was addressed to the Prime Minister of Cape Colony (Sir John Gordon Sprigg) from Johannesburg on 12^th August 1889 and posted the same day. According to the oval handstamp in purple the sender was 'T & G SHEFFIELD. JOHANNESBURG.' and the message was in connection with an account which remained unpaid by the Cape Government.

“Subsn to Eastern Star

Oct 1887 – 31 March 89 }£2.5.0

_____________________________

We beg again to direct your attention to our a/c as above and as the liquidation of our late business is much retarded by the non-adjustment of these smalls [sic.] accounts we shall take it as a special favour if you will kindly remit us Treasury Draft by return post together with usual vouchers which we shall have much pleasure in returning duly receipted by following post
12.8.89."

Sprigg’s initials and “adjust a/c” are written on the left of the address side.

T & G Sheffield used the postal stationery card to recover the sum due. It seems somewhat unusual to send private correspondence of this nature through the post unsealed, especially to the premier of the Cape government, but perhaps they felt this would produce a swift response.

A Raphael Tuck & Sons ‘Empire” Postcard. Series 5103’. Reversed out in white on the picture, ‘The Right Hon. Sir JOHN GORDON SPRIGG K.C.M.G / Premier of Cape Colony’. For this printing the last line has been cruelly applied and perhaps added following his success in forming the 1900 Cape ministry. The photograph was taken by 'Russell & Sons.'

John Gordon Sprigg, was born, Ipswich in 1830. He worked as a shorthand writer for the renowned firm of Gurney while attached to Westminster Parliament. During 1858 he visited Cape Colony, where he was to remain; dairy and sheep farming near to King Williams Town. He was elected in 1876 as Member of East London in the House of Assembly. Later in 1878 he was asked to form a Cabinet by the Cape Governor, Sir Bartle Frere. He remained in Office as Prime Minster and Colonial Secretary until 1881. In those days it was a standard constitutional task that a Prime Minster also held a Cabinet post. He was Premier on four occasions 1878-1881, 1886-1890, 1896-1998, and 1900-1904. When Cecil Rhodes became Prime Minister of Cape Colony, questions were asked regarding Rhodes having two separate positions simultaneously of managing director of the British South Africa Company and Cape Prime Minister. Moreover, it was Sprigg who told Rhodes that apart from being premier he was required to run a department, which was backed up by the speaker of the House. It would seem that Rhodes was unclear of the Cape’s constitution, and that a prime minister without portfolio was prohibited by law. Clearly Sprigg had rattled the otherwise, cavalier Rhodes. In June 1897 Sprigg was in London for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. He enjoyed his premierships. Sir Alfred Milner, Governor, sent for Sir John Gordon Sprigg as leader of the Progressive Opposition Party, who at the age of seventy, was able to form the 1900 Government. This was his fourth and his last premiership. He died in Cape Town on the 4^th February 1913.†

Note
* J. Vürtheim was the name of the designer of the stamp, for the Dutch company, Enschedé & Son, of Haarlem. Here it is printed on a one-penny South African Republic postal stationery card.

† see also on this website: 'The "Mrs. Head" Correspondence', where Mr. and Mrs. Head paid a visit to see Lady Sprigg.

Reference
The year Book and Guide to Southern Africa, (1952), Robert Hale Limited, London.

Marlowe, J., (1976), Milner, Apostle of Empire, Hamish Hamilton, London.

Rosenthal, E., (1973), Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, sixth edition, Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London and New York.

Shore, M.F., (1988), The Founder, Cecil Rhodes and the Pursuit of Power, Oxford University Press.