Letter from 1820 Settler John Centlivres Chase (1827)

Manuscript letter from 1820 settler John Centlivres Chase to James Sharpe Esq., Gunpowder Office, Birchin Lane, London.

This is an exceptional example of an 1820 Settler "Crossed Letter," written from the Albany District (Eastern Cape) in June 1827.

The letter is not just a historical document but a testament to the practicalities of 19th-century postal costs. To save on postage—which was charged per sheet—the author wrote the initial letter, then turned the page 90 degrees and wrote across the existing text.

Document Overview

• Sender: John Centlivres Chase (his distinctive signature is visible in the third image).

• Recipient: James Sharpe Esq., Gunpowder Office, Birchin Lane, London.

• Date: June 5th, 1827.

• Origin: Albany, South Africa.

Key Historical Content

John Centlivres Chase was a prominent 1820 Settler, author, and politician. In this letter, he discusses his professional rise and the state of the Cape Colony:

• Professional Status: He mentions his appointment as a Member of the Board and his role as a District Accountant. He notes that his name has been sent to the Governor for sanction, showing his upward mobility in the colonial administration.

• The 1820 Settlers' Progress: He writes optimistically that "The prospects of the settlement continue to improve," and expresses hope that the year will witness the "location" of more settlers.

• Financial & Legal Matters: Much of the "crossed" text involves complex financial arrangements, including mentions of Messrs. Borradaile, Thompson, and Pillans (a major Cape Town merchant firm) and discussions regarding dividends and capital.

• Personal Notes: He mentions his wife and children, and apologizes for the "extreme pain" in his right hand, which likely explains some of the shaky script.

Postal History Significance

The fourth image shows the "address leaf" with several fascinating postal markings:

1. Postage Rate: The "1/4" indicates the cost of 1 shilling and 4 pence paid for the delivery to London.
2. Handstamps: You can see a circular "G.P.O" (General Post Office) stamp from Cape Town and an arrival stamp from London dated November 1827.
3. Black Wax Seal: Part of the original seal used to close the letter before envelopes were common is still intact.

For a researcher and specialist bookseller, this letter is a "triple threat":

• Provenance: Written by John Centlivres Chase, a man who literally wrote the history of the 1820 Settlers (The Cape of Good Hope and the Eastern Province of Algoa Bay).
• Technique: It is a perfect specimen of "crossing," a technique that became obsolete after the Uniform Penny Post was introduced in 1840.
• Context: It provides a first-hand account of the Albany settlement’s transition from a struggling frontier to a structured colonial district.

Condition: Torn along most of the folds. Some mellowing. Outside section of the letter soiled.

200mm x 320mm

R10,000