Caravan Verse (A medley of South African Caravan Verse), was authored and illustrated by artist and journalist - Barbara Tyrrell. She joyfully highlights events she had experienced on her own as a young woman with Nixie, after her first years recording indigenous dress in the field. The booklet was produced in November 1945 by the KNOX Publishing Company in Durban South Africa. The cover includes comics of Barbara and Nixie, her caravan.

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Caravan Verse

Barbara has agreed to share the book with you in its entirety on the web. What follows is found on the booklets inside cover...

The Occasion is the advent of Nixie, a square and solid caravan, lately promoted from delivery van, that has ambled its decorous way of the highways and byways of the Union

The Character is Barbara Harcourt Tyrrell, painter in watercolours and oils (at present doing an exhaustive colour-study of Native costume types) who has turned to fantasy in verse as a counter to Nixie's stolid influence.

The Result a unique picture of our country, faithfully portrayed. A most extraordinary and pleasing result, which a vein of honesty traversing the most capricious sentiments, and often a thread of iron which is in keeping with many things that lie under the brightness of the South African sun.

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This is an indigenous work. It's ideal entertainment and 'gift' value coincide with its merits as an introducer of the  spirit of  "ons land", a few of its people and many of its moods.

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Of historic note, Barbara gave this particular booklet to her friend Erma Elliott, wife of author and photographer Aubrey Elliott. Aubrey Elliott and Barbara Tyrrell shared a lifelong passion of native South African dress. Aubrey's photographic collections and material culture were bequeathed to the Duggan-Cronin Gallery in Kimberly. This was fitting in that Alfred Martin Duggan-Cronin had been both Barbara Tyrrell and Aubrey Elliott's friend.

More than half a century later, the current owner found the book through a US dealer, then brought it to Barbara to confirm the Elliott connection. How it found its way around the world remains unknown, but certainly Aubrey, Barbara and Alfred were peas of the same pod - which is key to the circle! ☺

Hamba kahle - Barbara Tyrrell