Place Names of the Orange Free State
Queenstown: Daily Representative Limited, 1922. Place Names of the Orange Free State, Rev. Charles Pettman, First Edition 1922; Daily Representative Ltd., Queenstown, Cape Province, South Africa. Octavo, 54pp including index. Bound in stapled stiff, buff paper wraps with black titles to front. Inscribed by the author on the dedication page: "Stan from C.P."
Front wrapper has tears and edge wear and along with the title page is loose from the block. Moderate water splotching. Edges are browned and interior leaves lightly toned. Corners are rounded. Staples rusting. Good condition.
A very rare early work with much content difficult to find elsewhere, this is a scholarly but very readable study of the origins of place names in South Africa. Includes land, landforms, rivers, settlements, etc. plus names of the Bushman, Korannas, Griquas, Bantu, Hottentot, Basut, Kaffir, Voortrekker and Sesuto. Of interest to linguists and regional historians, it contains many references to historical, linguistic, and cultural studies embedded in the text.
At the time, the author was the foremost expert in the world on the etymology of South African place names. It is interesting that Pettman completely dismisses the important historical role of the Griqua as the first settlers of this region (they preceded the Boers by many years).
Charles Pettman, the son of Richard Pettman and Mary Wells was born in Whitstable on 14 August 1851. Brought up as a Baptist, he became a Methodist local preacher while in business in Folkestone. He attended the Richmond Theological College from 1873 to 1876, where after, ordained, he went to South Africa. There he became the first minister of any denomination to serve in East London. He laid the foundation stone of the Central Methodist Church in East London; thereafter serving in Port Elizabeth, King William's Town, Graaf-Reinet, and Kimberley.
He went to Queenstown in 1907 where he remained for the rest of his life. For 5 years, he was secretary, and in 1910 President, of Conference of Methodist Church of Southern Africa. In Queenstown, he was member of Town Council and chairman of the library committee. A respected clergyman and pioneer philologist and lexicographer, he became best known for his writings about South African place names and colloquialisms, embodied in his treatise Afrikanderisms. He died in Queenstown on 4 April 1935. In his will, Charles Pettmann left his books, stamps and savings of just over £ 3178 to the Queenstown Library directing that "the Africana be kept together and intact".
Signed by the author. None in commerce as of October 2026. Item #2740
Price: $135.00