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Pietermaritzburg – A frenetic auction saw Nelson Mandela’s letter, found in Pietermaritzburg, sold for R65,000 at Cannon’s Auctioneers on Wednesday. The letter was bought by a South African man whose name was not disclosed.
He competed with local and international bidders, from America and the United Kingdom, who made their bids over the phone.
The pre-sale estimate of the letter was R60,290.
The letter was originally written by Nelson Mandela, while he was incarcerated at Robben Island, to the University of South Africa in 1977.
In the letter, Mandela had written to the registrar at Unisa in Pretoria to submit an assignment and inquire about tutorials.
Meanwhile, Pietermaritzburg resident Penny Delport paid R5,000 for a photograph signed by Mandela.
Cannon’s Auctioneers’ Noelene Cannon said the phone bidders always push for a high bid.
“The memorabilia auction is a sentimental thing. The woman who bought the photograph said her late father once met Nelson Mandela. I think that’s the reason people buy this items,” she said.
Cannon said she believes both items fetched a fairly good price.
“I can’t remember the last time we had such an exciting auction,” she said.
David Cannon told the The Witness that the letter had been checked and authenticated.
Cannon said he had acquired the letter from a Pietermaritzburg man but he did not disclose his name.
He said the man was a Unisa employee at the time Mandela posted the letter to the institution.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter