[NEW ZEALAND; JUDAICA] Two letters written by Samuel Samuels, a Jewish gold miner in the Grey Valley, West Coast, South Island, during the Great War.

SAMUELS, Samuel

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From Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Armadale, VIC, Australia

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Newspaper notices from the 1870s inform us that Samuel Samuels was a pioneer settler in the Ahaura district of Westland. Like many others, he had arrived during the West Coast gold rush and had been involved in gold mining ventures. By 1917, when Samuels wrote both of these letters to one of his nephews (in Australia?), he was probably one of the oldest residents in the township of Ahaura, situated at the junction of the Ahaura and Grey Rivers.His letters provide a small insight into the life of Jewry on the West Coast of the South Island during World War One. 1. Ahaura [no date, but probably 1916 or 1917]. 2 pp, quarto, headed 'Ahaura', and signed at the foot 'Sam. Samuels, Ahaura, Grey Valley, West Coast, New Zealand'; original folds; complete and legible. The letter discusses 'the scarcity of things' on the West Coast, and the high prices of various commodities, including even local produce; all of the young men are 'at the War, a great many coming back crippled, not able to do any work at the coal mines'; the miners are making only 20/- per day and a strike is expected to be organised by the Labour unions; 'I receive the Jewish Chronicle from a friend living in Westlands, also the American Hebrew from nephew S.M. Norton'. 2. Ahaura, May 3 1917. 1 page, quarto (incomplete, lacking second page). The letter mentions conscription, in particular the fact that only 'duffers', who have been passed unfit for service, are left behind to be the future generation; 'In proportion to population N. Zealand has sent more to the front than any other country. The public want to stop more from leaving'; inflation means that 'everything is double the price'; the 'coal miners [are] striking, saw mills closing down, & all my Jewish friends have left this distant [place]'. Seller Inventory # 16015

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Title: [NEW ZEALAND; JUDAICA] Two letters written ...

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Douglas Stewart Fine Books is an antiquarian bookseller based in Melbourne, Australia. Our showroom is in High Street, Armadale, a precinct famous for its antique dealers, art galleries and bookshops. We buy and sell books both locally and around the world, working closely with clients to understand their collecting priorities and to source appropriate material. Our clients include libraries, galleries, museums, private collectors and fellow members of the trade. Douglas Stewart is a member of the major international trade associations, and his business is conducted according to their high ethical standards. For many years he has been a Board member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB) and is currently its President; he is also a Mentor for the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Douglas Stewart Fine Books sells rare books across all fields, but our strengths are in travel and exploration ? particularly of Australia and the Pacific ? and Australian art. In addition, we deal in all types of heritage material, including photographs, manuscripts, ephemera, maps and globes, and fine art. Each month we issue a new online catalogue of recent acquisitions; we recommend that you join our email list so you can be among the first to see what?s available. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any works you see online ? we are always happy to assist with your enquiries. We are also keen to buy rare and interesting books, photographs and ephemera, from important single items to entire libraries or collections. You are welcome to contact us if you have something to sell which you think may be of interest to us. We love meeting new people and welcoming visitors to our shop (open Monday to Saturday), but if you can't make it to Melbourne you can find probably find us at one of the major fairs in London, New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Toronto, San Francisco, Boston, Hong Kong or Sydney - all places we have exhibited in since 2009. Douglas Stewart Fine Books

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