Anglo-Boer War Concentration Camp Bible
Usually seen in museum collections.
The following loose translation (with seller's annotations), from the black ink inscription on the Van Rooyen Bible's free end page: 'A Historic Bible. In 1900 my grandmother [probably Maria Cornelia van Rooyen, per the BCCD database] was captured by the enemy and transported to the Kroonstad concentration camp [the position of Kroonstad as a railway and supply centre was conducive to dissemination of disease and the camps population was decimated by epidemics]. Before they took us prisoner, the enemy forced us to carry all our belongings from our home and burnt down the house [Van Staden's Drift?]". We took the Bible with us to the camp. In 1901 we were transported by horse cart to the Kabusie camp [one of the camps established in the Cape Colony to take the overflow of people from the deplorable Orange Free State camps], and the Bible has been preserved to this day'.
Under Kitchener's 'Scorched Earth' policy, Boer farms were destroyed by the British, which included the destruction of crops, the slaughtering or removal of livestock, and the burning down of homesteads to prevent the Boers from resupplying themselves. As this happened, many tens of thousands of mostly women and children were forcibly removed to concentration camps.
Found inserted amongst the Bible pages is an antique print of Emily Hobhouse (who was prohibited from visiting the Kroonstad camp with its disgraceful reputation) captioned: 'De Englesche dame, die beroemd is geworden wegens de ontsluiering der akeligheid in de "Concentratie"-Kampen in Transvaal en Transoranje'. Also, a two page handwritten Cilliers family history.
Heavy, pre 1900, Staten-Generaal Bijbel. Fragile, commensurate with the Bible's history, recommended for preservation rather than restoration. The block has separated and is largely detached (with evidence of historic repair) from the leather binding which has fire damage, missing a single gilt clasp, some damp marks. Remarkably, all the pages seem to be present and both text and colour illustrations are crisp and clear.
Please have a look at my other Anglo-Boer War and ZAR listings in lieu of low, combined local shipping. International buyers, please confirm shipping totals with seller before placing your order.
