Amptelike Program en Gedenkboek, Pretoria 13 tot 16 Desember 1949

Amptelike Program en Gedenkboek, Pretoria 13 tot 16 Desember 1949

Official Souvenir Programme and Commemorative Record for the Dedication of the Voortrekkermonument

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Amptelike Program en Gedenkboek: Inwyding van die Voortrekkermonument, Pretoria 13-16 Desember 1949
• Author: Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee (Editorial Board)
• Publisher: Voortrekkermonument-Inwydingskomitee / J.P. van der Walt, Pretoria
• Publication Date: 1949 (First Edition)
• ISBN: None Issued (Antiquarian ephemera / official state program)
• Edition Details: First Edition, Deluxe Ephemeral Softcover Souvenir Book. Released exclusively to attendees during the four-day national dedication festival.
• Binding: Original publisher's heavy-gauge textured card wrappers featuring a embossed graphic of the monument.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 128 pages. Richly illustrated with architectural blueprints, portrait photographs of Afrikaner leaders, historical frieze details, and local mid-century advertisements.
• Language: Afrikaans (with official diplomatic program outlines)

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G) / Antiquarian Collectible Copy
• Exterior / Wraps: Shows standard handling and age-related wear. The heavy card wraps exhibit age-toning, surface scuffing, and minor edge fraying. The spine cover displays light paper loss at the crown and foot, but the binding remains completely intact.
• Interior: Very Good. The internal pages show slight browning and natural tanning along the outer margins, consistent with 1940s paper stock. The sheets are clean and free of amateur repairs, tears, or text block separation.

Synopsis & Historical Value

This historic document is the official guide to the four-day opening ceremonies of the Voortrekkermonument in Pretoria, held from December 13 to 16, 1949. Attended by over 250,000 people, this event marked a major milestone in 20th-century Afrikaner nationalism. The book includes the complete schedule of dynamic religious services, historical reenactments, and speeches by figures like Dr D.F. Malan. It also features detailed architectural guides explaining the symbolic meaning behind Gerard Moerdijk’s granite design and the famous marble hero frieze inside.

Author Profile: Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee

The Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee was an elite council of historians, cultural leaders, and architects formed in the 1930s to oversee the funding, design, and construction of the Voortrekkermonument. Led by figures like E.G. Jansen, the committee carefully curated this commemorative book. Their goal was to create a lasting historical record that linked the sacrifices of the 1838 Voortrekkers with the political and cultural rise of the Afrikaner nation in the post-WWII era.