[SWAN RIVER COLONY]. The South African Almanac and Directory for the year 1833

Cape Town : Printed and Published by the Proprietor, George Greig, Keizersgracht, [1832]. Octavo, printed blue wrappers (light edge wear), pp. [xviii – advertisements]; five lithographed plates of views of Cape Town; title leaf; preface leaf; lxxxiii; [i]; 13 – 292, occasional light foxing or spotting, a very good copy.

A scarce Cape Town colonial imprint detailing all manager of life and business within the colony, including the civil, judicial and church establishments, the army, shipping lists, imports and exports, postage rates, suburbs directory, old and new wine and beer measures, names of inhabitants, salaries of public servants, as well as section on Cape Trade with Mauritius, Bourbon, Rio de Janeiro, New South Wales, Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land, including wine exports.

A page is dedicated to trade with ‘Swan River, Western Australia’, with a colourful description of the inhabitants of the nascent settlement. ‘The Population of the Colony is estimates at about 2,000 persons; and as the idler, the proliferate, and the mere speculator are fast disappearing and no longer encumbering the Industry of the true Emigrant, Discontent is nearly displaced by Cheerfulness, and Sloth by Activity and Enterprise. Wages of all kind are very high, and steady Mechanics much wanted’.

No copies recorded in Australian libraries.