Southern African Collections : Views in South Africa, circa 1899

Melvill, Edward H V, fl. 1879-1899 (government surveyor)

Southern African Collections

<p style='text-align: justify;'>A collection of loose prints presented by government surveyor E.H.V. Melvill. 1-14 are platinum prints. Most measure approximately 200 x 150 mm, with pencilled captions on the reverse. The captions have been used as titles and may include language which is offensive, inaccurate or inappropriate. They have been retained to reflect the context of their creation. Titles supplied by the cataloguer are enclosed in square brackets. The photographer's stamp is imprinted in relief in the bottom right-hand corner of each print.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Relatively little is known of E.H.V. Melvill. He is recorded in The Cape of Good Hope Civil Service Lists as having passed the required examinations in July 1879. However, no record of his being on the Civil Establishment of either the Cape or Natal has been found in the lists for either colony. He is recorded in the Cape of Good Hope General Directory for 1886 and 1887 (but not 1885) as a Government Surveyor, resident at 10 City Chambers, Grave Street, Cape Town. A similar collection to this, presented to the Royal Geographical Society in 1899, was given by E.H.V. Melvill, A.M.I.C.E., Government Surveyor (The Geographic Journal, Vol. XIII, Jan-June 1899, p. 464).</p>