This full-page illustration titled "Letterstedt Pool, Newlands" from The South African Illustrated News (July 19, 1884, page 163) highlights several fascinating elements of 19th-century Cape industrial history, social life, and publishing:

1. The Heritage of Jacob Letterstedt & Newlands Brewing

 The Pioneer of Cape Industry: The pool featured in the illustration takes its name from Jacob Letterstedt (1796–1862), an influential Swedish immigrant who became a prominent merchant and industrialist at the Cape.

 From Mill to Brewery: Letterstedt established extensive operations in Newlands driven by the crystal-clear waters of the Liesbeek River—building the iconic Josephine Mill (named after the Crown Princess of Sweden) and expanding the local brewing industry. His landholdings and water rights in Newlands laid the direct foundation for what later became Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries and the historical Newlands Brewery site.

2. "The Home of the Water Lily" & Victorian Cape Social Life

A Favorite Picnic Spot: According to the issue's accompanying commentary on page 163 under "Our Illustrations," the pool at Newlands was described as one of Cape Town's most cherished resorts for weekend picnics:

"The pool at Newlands with its water lilies is one of our favourite resorts for picnics..."

Botanical Detail & Local Figure: The illustration features arum lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) in the foreground alongside a figure seated by the water's edge wearing a red fez—a characteristic depiction of Cape Muslim / Malay residents of the period, who frequented the spring-fed waters of the southern suburbs.

3. Key Historical Flashpoints in the Accompanying Text (Page 163)

The text page accompanying the print captures a extraordinary snapshot of South African and global events in July 1884:

 The Sepinare vs. Samuel Moroko Feud: The text details the violent conflict in Thaba 'Nchu within the Barolong territory, noting the killing of Chief Sepinare and the subsequent annexation of the region by President Johannes Brand of the Orange Free State.

 Paul Kruger’s European Mission: The column reports on President Paul Kruger’s diplomatic tour in Europe following the London Convention of 1884, dryly noting that while Europeans expressed great affection for "Oom Paul," actual financial loans for the Transvaal Republic were hard to come by.

 Smallpox Epidemic at the Cape: The news notes a smallpox outbreak spreading through Cape Town and Claremont, bringing grim reports of mortality and quarantine measures across the Peninsula.

280mm x 400mm

Published uncloured, hand coloured later; some minor tears to the edges.

R1,250