Die Roeteboek van die Rapportryers 1949 – Rapportryerskorps
Die Roeteboek van die Rapportryers 1949 – Rapportryerskorps
Die Roeteboek van die Rapportryers 1949 (Scarce Cultural Commemorative Route Archive)
The Complete Logistic and Historical Guide to the Symbolic 1949 Voortrekker Monument Centenary Rides
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Die Roeteboek van die Rapportryers 1949
- Author/Compiler: Sentrale Rapportryerskomitee
- Publisher: Voortrekkerpers Beperk, Johannesburg
- Publication Date: 1949 (First Edition)
- ISBN: None Issued (Pre-dates modern ISBN systems).
- Edition Details: First Edition, Official Event Printing.
- Binding: Original publisher's stapled illustrative card wrappers.
- Physical Format: Small Octavo (8vo style handbook format). Enhanced with regional stage maps, rider schedules, and town celebration markers.
- Language: Afrikaans
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Wraps: The covers show expected age-related wear, with light rubbing at the corners, spine fold, and parameters. The booklet remains flat and free of deep folds.
- Interior: Remarkably well-preserved. The pages are crisp, clean, and beautifully white, showing no signs of the thumbing or water stains typical of field-use handbooks.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Die Roeteboek van die Rapportryers 1949 is the official logistical handbook prepared for the horse-riding relays that crossed South Africa to mark the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. The book charts every leg of the journey, detailing riders, times, and regional dispatch points across the country. It serves as a fascinating record of a massive cultural event that helped shape mid-century Afrikaner nationalist identity.
Historical Context: The 1949 Rapportryers
The 1949 relay rides were designed to mirror the historic communications networks of the Boer commandos, serving as a powerful symbol of unity and cultural pride for communities across South Africa.
