Founded in 1990, family-owned Quagga Books has built a distinctive footprint in the antiquarian book trade with our eye for the unusual.
For an authentic experience, visit our Kalk Bay shop or browse through our interesting mix of books, maps and ephemera on our website.
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The Boer War in Postcards – McDonald, Ian
A unique record of how the 1899-1902 war was perceived by the people and countries involved. Includes appendix with background to postcards, chronology of the war, details of cards illustrated, and notes on postcard collecting. 179 pages. First edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: Bok Books International Date Published: 1990…
Mhudi – Plaatje, Sol T
A romantic epic of tribal ferment and upheaval in the 1830s. The first novel published in English by a Black African author. With woodcut illustrations by Cecil Skotnes. 165 pages. Foxing to the page edges. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Good. Some loss to the head of the spine. Edge wear. Light discolouration to…
Einiqualand. – Smith, Andrew B (Ed.)
Studies of the Orange River Frontier Seven chapters by various authors detailing ecological and archeological aspects of the Orange River and its hinterland. Includes many B&W figures and tables. 330 pages. Inscription to front free endpaper. Light foxing to prelims. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. General wear. Publisher: UCT Press Date Published: 1995 Publication Place: Cape…
The Destruction of the Zulu Kingdom. – Guy, Jeff
The Civil War in Zululand 1879-1884 From the rear cover: “An engrossing tale of political manoeuvre and counter-manoeuvre, of treachery and heroism, of strife and of a lots cause defended with evangelical zeal.” 273 Pages. 9 maps, 8 figures and 27 B&W photo plates. Light foxing to the page edges. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Binding:…
A Zulu King Speaks – KaMpande, Cetshwayo, Webb, C. (Ed.), Wright, J (Ed.)
Statements made by Cetshwayo kaMpande on the history and customs of his people. Includes twelve illustrations, five maps, and a glossary of Zulu words. 126 pages. Light toning to the endpapers. Reprint. Condition: Good to very good. Dust jacket: Very good. Light edge wear. Binding: Hardcover. A few small abrasions to the front board. Splitting…
Union-Castle Chronicle 1853-1953 – Murray, Marischal
The centenary history of a famous shipping line from its origins in the 1840s to the post-war period of 1947-1953. Numerous photo plates in half-tone, colour, and photogravure. 392 pages. Light foxing throughout. Clear tape repairs to gutter. Previous owner’s bookplate to the front free endpaper. First edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Some scuffing to…
Africa Pilot Part II – None identified
Comprising the West Coast of Africa (from Rio Del Rey to Cape Hangklip) the islands on the right of Biafra, the Islands of Ascension and St. Helena, and the Tristan Da Cunha Group and Gough Island. Notices, maps, topographical sketches, and photographs. 366 pages. Ninth edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Sunning and some wear to…
The Glamour of Prospecting. – Cornell, Fred C
Wanderings of a South African Prospector in Search of Copper, Gold, Emeralds and Diamonds An important first-hand account of early 20th-century exploration in Southern Africa. Cornell, often described as the “ideal prospector”, recounts his gruelling expeditions through the Kalahari desert, Namaqualand, and the Orange River regions. A vivid portrayal of “diamond fever” and the hardships…
Fairy Tales – Wilde, Oscar
Two collections of fairy tales by Oscar Wilde: “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” and “A House of Pomegranates”. Line drawings in sepia. 189 pages. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good. Light edge wear and a small tear to the dust jacket. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: The Bodley Head Date Published: 1980 Publication Place:…
Edward Lear’s Nonsense Omnibus – Lear, Edward
Nonsense stories, alphabets, rhymes, and songs, including classics like “The Owl and the Pussycat”. 480 pages. Previous owner’s name and details to front free endpaper. Light foxing to the page edges. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Good. Edge wear. Sunning to the dust jacket spine. Toning to the verso. Binding: Hardcover. Sunning to the…
Village of the Sea – Tredgold, Arderne
The story of Hermanus. 159 pages with fourteen pages of photographs and two maps. Some discolouration to lower page edges. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Light edge wear. Publisher: Human & Rosseau Date Published: 1986 Publication Place: Cape Town and Pretoria Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover.
Ericas in Southern Africa – Baker, H A & Oliver, E G H (Text)
This volume is a representative of a cross-section of the genus as a whole throughout Southern Africa with 167 species illustrated in full colour and great detail. Includes an index, fold-out map and list of colour plates. 180 Pages. Foxing to the page edges. First edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Good. Foxing and toning to…
A Colossus of Roads. Thomas Bain – Storrar, Patricia and Komnick, Gunther
Thomas Bain left the Cape an impressive bequest of mountain passes and a handful of roads. Working with the minimum of mchanical aids he made perhaps the biggest single contribution to the opening up of the Cape Colony. Illustrated map of Southern part of South Africa as end papers. Mild foxing to half title page….
The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa – Smith, Margaret M & Heemstra, Phillip C
A comprehesive scientific guide to the fishes found in the oceans of Southern Africa. Numerous illustrations. Foxing to all edges. This a large and heavy item and may incur additional postage. 580 Pages. 6th Edition. Good. Very good. Foxing to verso. Hardcover. Some abrasions to the cloth boards. Light edge-wear. Publisher: Central News Agency Ltd…
Southern and Central Namibia in Jonker Afrikaner’s Time. – Lau, Brigitte
Windhoek Archives Publication Series No. 8 Originally submitted by the author for a Masters degree in history, this is an historical account of southern and central Namibia in Jonker Afrikaner’s time, ie. 1800 to 1870. 162 pages. Condition: Good. binding: Softcover. Thick cardwraps with light edge-wear. 2 small creases to rear cover. Some scuff marks….
Kirk on the Zambesi. A Chapter of African History – Coupland, Sir Reginald
An account of the Zambesi Expedition of 1858-63 based mainly on the daily journal kept by Sir John Kirk, Livingstone’s lieutenant on the expedition. Kirk was one of the first explorers to carry a camera and the book is illustrated from his own photographs. Map at the rear. Light foxing to edges. 286 Pages. Reprint….
From Mining Camp to Metropolis – Van der Waal, Gerhard-Mark
Architecture styles, old buildings and places, outlay of the city and social economic usage of the spacious inner and outer buildings. In-depth descriptions of the historical development of the Johannesburg. 267 Pages. First English Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good. 2cm tear to top edge. Hardcover. Cloth boards. Mild edge-wear. Publisher: Chris van…
Map of the Goldfields showing Sutherland, Murchison, Roodepoort at Wood Bush Ranges – [Stahl, Jurgen]
An original field survey manuscript map drawn around 1880 showing many unexplored ranges. The area shown is boarded by Sutherland Gold Belt in the north; Portuguese Territory to the east; the Olifants River and Wood Bush Gold Belt in the south and Marabastad to the west. It is likely the work of either Friedrich Jeppe…
The Cape of Good Hope 1806 to 1872. Aspects of the Life and Times of British Society in and around Cape Town. Brenthurst Second Series 10. – Graham Viney and Phillida Brooke Simons
A glimpse into British social life in the Cape Peninsula during some sixty years of the nineteenth century. 128 illustrations including frontispiece. Green tint to top-edge. Bookplate to front fixed end paper. 236 Pages. Standard edition. Condition: Near fine. Dust jacket: Near fine. Binding: Hardcover. Light blue/green cloth boards with pale. Publisher: The Brenthurst Press…
Britain at the Cape 1795 to 1803. Brenthurst second series 9. – Boucher, Maurice and Penn, Nigel (eds)
A significant historical period, illuminating the major events, issues and personalities. 72 illustrations including frontispiece. Blue tint to top edge of pages. 263 Pages. Standard Edition. Condition: Near fine. Dust jacket: Very good. Two small nicks to front flap. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards. Publisher: The Brenthurst Press Date Published: 1992 Publication Place: Johannesburg Condition: Near…
John Blades Currey 1850 to 1900. Fifty Years in the Cape Colony. – Brooke Simons, Phillida (Ed)
Brenthurst Second Series Memoirs of John Currey. From the labours of soldiering, farming and copper mining to politics, eventually ending up as Steward of the Groote Schuur Estate in Cape Town. Standard edition of 850 copies bound in cloth. Signed by Editor. A small watermark to the rose tint to top page edges. Bookplate to…
A Soldier in South Africa. The Experiences of Eustace Abadie 1899 to 1902. – Spies, S B (Ed)
Brenthurst Second Series No. 6. From the fly-leaf. Previously unpublished story of one man’s experience of three years of war, written in the heat of the moment as seen through the eyes of an observant young cavalryman. Eustace Abadie of the 9th Lancers arrived in South Africa on 10th October 1899. The next day the…
The Mariners New Kalendar – Colson, Nathaniel
Containing the principles of Arithmetic and Geometry with the extraction of the square and cube roots. Rules for finding the Prime, Epact, Moon’s Age, Time of High-Water, with Tables for the same. The author was a student in Mathematics. Margenalia to rear end papers. 136 Pages. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Lacks the leather covering to…
Angola. District Maps –
15 District maps. Numbers in ink on the front cover. Some handling marks to cardwraps. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Thin cardwraps. Mild edge-wear. Publisher: Edicoes Spal Publication Place: Luanda Condition: Good Binding: Softcover. Thin cardwraps. Mild edge-wear.
Travels of Rolando –
Small booklet consisting of two chapters only from the children’s adventure story by Louis-François Jauffret, translated into English by Lucy Aikin. It details a fictional tour around the world, describing the geography, natural history, and cultures of various countries. Featuring Chapter XXVII: Storm in the channel of Mozambique, shipwreck on the coast of Africa, departure…
Wireless Map of the World. –
Featuring: stations opened to Public Service; Stations open to Ship and Shore Communication; High Power Public Service; Private Stations; High Power Private Stations; Imperial Scheme; Trans-Ocean Service; Lightships; Lighthouses. Page 208 to 246 of Lloyds calendar attached to the rear. Tears to a number of folds some of which have been re-inforced with old cellotape….
Vergeten? – Neethling, Mev wijlen ds. H L
The Afrikaans/Dutch version of the author’s 1902 book, “Should we forget?”, focusing on the experiences of women and children in the British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War.Toning to pages. Paper repairs to the gutter on the front end papers. Previous owner’s details. Tears to the gutter area of the prelims. 282 Pages. First Edition….
Waterberg. On the History of the Mission Station Otjozondjupa, the Kambazembi Tribe and Hereroland – Dr. N. Mossolow
Text: German. 15 black and white photographs and a map. 56 Pages. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Limp cardwraps. Crease to upper corner of front cover. Publisher: John Meinert Date Published: 1992 Publication Place: Windhoek Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Limp cardwraps. Crease to upper corner of front cover.
Lines of Sights. Perspectives on South African Photography – None identified
Catalogue published for the photographic exhibition “Lines of Sights” held at the South African National Gallery July – October 1999. Cover photograph by Peter Magubane. 110 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Some mild edge-wear and handling marks. Publisher: South African National Gallery Date Published: 1999 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition:…
The Wild Sports of Southern Africa – Cornwallis Harris, Captain W.
Arriving at the Cape in 1836 the author spent two years travelling and hunting in South Africa whilst making detailed observations about the conditions of the Trekkers and of their initial conflict with indigenous people. Some light toning to front and rear free end pages. 26 plates and 1 map. Facsimile Reprint from the 1967…