This collection was created to give scholars and interested public access to the raw data of Robert Jacob Gordon’s Journal.Since few people have the opportunity to travel to the Brenthurst Library in Johannesburg to view the original documents, we have reproduced the first transcription of the original Dutch. We have also included Patrick Cullinan’s translation of the Journal, which was produced from a photographic copy made while the diary was still in the Stafford County Library, U.K., before it was acquired by the Brenthurst Library in 1979. No attempt has been made at providing the reader with comments on places, people or events mentioned by Gordon. The reader should consult Raper & Boucher (1988) for such comment.

Equally, to situate Gordon’s Journal within its time-frame, the reader is encouraged to refer to Cullinan (1992) for a full biography. Gordon drew, or had drawn, 456 sketches in full colour, which were meant to accompany his journal. Of these, 157 have appeared in various forms in Raper & Boucher (1988), Cullinan (1992), Rookmaaker (1979) and Forbes (1965). The drawings are owned by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, who retain full copyright for publication. Access them here.