AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY THE SCOTTISH CONGREGATIONALIST MISSIONARY TO AFRICA ROBERT MOFFAT, FATHER-IN-LAW OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE. by Moffat, Robert. (1795-1883). Scottish Congregationalist missionary to Africa, father-in-law of David Livingstone, of Stanley and Livingstone fame, and translator of the Bible into Setswana - 1874.

Buxton, Surrey, U.K.: February 3, 1874., 1874.. Good. - Letter penned in black ink & filling a 5-1/4 inch high by 3-1/2 inch wide sheet of cream-colored paper which has been mounted on a blue stiff paper sheet of the same size. Signed "Robert Moffat". The top & bottom edges of the letter are darkened from offsetting by the glue used in the mounting. Good.

The letter is addressed to a Mr. Friendship. Moffat writes that it is with great pleasure that he sends his correspondent his autograph. "I regret that it is not in my power to supply you with one of Livingstone, but may be able to do so by & bye, & have therefore retained your envelope & address." David Livingstone [1813-1873] was the explorer and missionary of Stanley and Livingstone fame and was married to Moffat's eldest daughter Mary.

The Scottish Congregationalist missionary to Africa Robert Moffat (1795-1883) worked as a gardener before applying to the London Missionary Society to work as an overseas missionary. In the interim, he met his future wife while working at a plantation farm in Dukinfield. Commissioned as a missionary at Surrey Chapel he was sent out to South Africa, his fiancee joining him three years later in Cape Town. Together, they settled at Kuruman among the Batswana people [Botswana as it later came to be known, was then still part of South Africa] where they worked passionately for the missionary cause. Both endured hardships and Moffat, who frequently journeyed into neighboring regions, often bound his stomach to endure fasting when he could not find food. He sent reports of his journeys to the Royal Geographical Society and, during a visit to England, published an account of his family's experiences, "Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa". Moffat translated the Bible and "The Pilgrim's Progress" into Setswana.