Purchased from Struik, 1957; Thorolds, 1983. 4 items; MSS.
Joachim Nikolaus von Dessin came to the Cape in 1727 as a soldier in the service of the VOC. In 1728 he was appointed assistant in the office of the Council of Justice. He served as Bookkeeper, 1728-1736 and later Secretary of the Cape Orphan Chamber. Von Dessin died in 1761 and in his will bequeathed his Library (3800 printed works and many manuscripts) to the Colony to become the foundation of a public library for the benefit of the community. Before a proper library could be established custody of Von Dessin's collection was granted to the Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town. This collection now forms the Dessinian collection at the SA Library. The Dessinian manuscripts are listed in this Guide in the MSD series. Purchased Struik, 1957.
-- Note to Heer Slotsboo from JN von Dessin, 23 Feb. 1740. Purchased Thorolds, 1983.
-- Three envelopes with seals addressed to JN von Dessin, c.1732, 1734. Vide Quart.Bull.SA Lib. Vol. 37 no. 3, March 1983.