Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice older book in good condition. Pages in great condition. Some very light tanning. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> Far too little has been written about the life of Sir Thomas Cullinan and the Premier Mine and much that has been written is inaccurate. Nigel Helme here sets out to rectify matters and he succeeds admirably. For the first time the full fascinating story probably as accurate as it will ever be of the pre-Boer War discovery of diamonds east of Pretoria and of the several diamond pipes and mines in the area is told. Here too the myth is exploded of Oom Prinsloo sitting on his stoep clutching his rifle and threatening death to any trespasser on his property. Then there is the revelation that Government officials as well as Cullinan had a shrewd idea before the War of the existence of the great pipe. The strain of having to wait for four years until Cullinan was enabled to buy the property from the Prinsloo family is brought out clearly. The story goes on to show by actual quotes from a secret agent’s reports how a few influential De Beers’ men were led to believe for almost a year after the opening up of the pipe that it was of little importance. Helme then traces the spectacular growth of the mine through to the acquisition of control first by Solly Joel’s Barnato Brothers and then by De Beers. A most interesting summary of the Premier Mine’s exceptional claims to fame appears in the Appendices. The diamond story. including a separate chapter on the great Cullinan stone itself is enhanced by many historic photographs. (SP)