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.
We ship worldwide using a secure airmail process.
Mantis Poets – Roy Macnab & Douglas Reid Skinner – Cope, Jack (ed.)
Collection of Mantis edition South African Poets. First Edition Condition: very good – slight foxing to page edges. Jacket condition: very good – sunning to spine. Softcover binding. Publisher: David Philip Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Cape Town Condition: very good – slight foxing to page edges Binding: Softcover Jacket Condition: very good – sunning…
Poems of Black Africa – Soyinka, Wole (ed.)
Poems of Black Africa is a poetry anthology edited and introduced by Wole Soyinka. Reprint Condition: very good – slight sunning to spine. Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1982 Publication Place: London Condition: very good – slight sunning to spine Dimensions: 8vo. 380 pg.
To Every Birth its Blood – Serote, Mongane
An exploration of the uprising and turmoil of 1970s Apartheid South Africa. Mongane Serote’s debut novel. First Edition Condition: very good. Publisher: Ravan Press Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Dimensions: 8vo. 370pg
The Writing of Wole Soyinka – Jones, Eldred Durosimi (ed.)
Includes sections on Wole Soyinka’s autobiographical work Ake, some of his plays, some collections of poetry and of two of his novels. Third Edition Condition: good: slight insect damage to the edges of the front wrap. Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1988 Publication Place: London Condition: good: slight insect damage to the edges of…
Arrow of God – Achebe, Chinua
Arrow of God, published in 1964, is the third novel by Chinua Achebe. Along with Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease, it is considered part of The African Trilogy, sharing similar settings and themes. Second revised edition Condition: very good: slight sunning to spine. Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1978 Publication Place:…
A Man of the People – Achebe, Chinua
Written as a satirical piece, A Man of the People follows the story told by Odili, a young and educated narrator, about his conflict with Chief Nanga, his former teacher, who enters a career in politics in an unnamed fictional 20th century African country. Reprint Condition: very good: slight sunning to spine. Publisher: Heinemann Educational…
No Longer at Ease – Achebe, Chinua
The novel foolows an Igbo man, Obi Okonkwo, who leaves his village for an education in Britain and then a job in the Colonial Nigeria civil service, but is conflicted between his African culture and Western lifestyle. Reprin Condition: good: slight wear and pencil marginalia and underlining Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1978 Publication…
Weep Not, Child – Thiong’o, Ngugi Wa
Weep Not, Child is the 1964 debut novel by Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o. The novel follows a young Kenyan boy named Njoroge who dreams of getting an education while his family and community face the violence and land theft of British colonial rule during the 1950s Mau Mau Uprising. Reprint Condition: good: leading edge…
Efuru – Nwapa, Flora
First book written by a Nigerian woman, or any sub-Saharan African woman, to be published internationally. The novel follows an Igbo woman in a small village in colonial West Africa. Reprint Condition: good: slight wear Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1970 Publication Place: London Condition: good: slight edge wear Dimensions: 8vo. 284 pg
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born – Armah, Ayi Kwei
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born is the debut novel by Ghanaian writer Ayi Kwei Armah. The novel explores corruption, moral decay, and disillusionment in post-independence Ghana. Reprint Condition: very good: slight foxing to edges Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books Date Published: 1979 Publication Place: London Condition: very good: slight foxing to edges Dimensions: 8vo….
Dispossessed – Dikobe, Modikwe
Dikobe’s Poetry collection. Modikwe Dikobe was a South African novelist, poet, trade unionist, and actavist in Johannesburg in the 1940s. Fist Edition Condition: very good. Publisher: Ravan Press Date Published: 1983 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: very good. Slight edge wear Dimensions: 8vo. 117pg
The Only Son – Munonye, John
Debut novel of Nigerian author John Munonye. Follows a widowed Igbo woman raising her son who receives a Western education. Reprint Condition: fair: slight edge wear and peeling on front cover. Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books LTD Date Published: 1971 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: fair: slight edge wear nand peeling on front cover….
A Ride on the Whirlwind – Sepamla, Sipho
Set during the 1976 Soweto uprising and explores the tensions and, intrigue, and confusion which enveloped the township and nation. 1st Edition Condition: very good: very slight edge wear Publisher: AD. Donker/Publisher Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: very good: very slight edge wear Dimensions: 8vo. 245 pg
Coming of the Dry Season – Mungoshi, Charles
10 short stories by Zimbabwean writer Charles Mungoshi. Originally banned in Rhodesia and published in England. Number 2 in the ZPH series. Condition: very good: slight sunning to spine and age toning to pages Publisher: Zimbabwe Publishing House Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Harare Condition: good: slight fading to spine Dimensions: 8vo. 61 pg
Mantis Poets – Jack Cape, C J Driver – Cope, Jack & Driver, C J
Collection of Mantis edition South African Poets. 1st Edition. Condition: good. Slight foxing to the page edges. Dustjacket: good. Sight edge wear. Softcover binding. Publisher: David Philip Date Published: 1979 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: good. Slight staining Binding: Softcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: good. Sight edge wear Dimensions: 8vo,…
Life & Times of Michael K – Coetzee, J M
Neat, clean contents. Some light edge-wear to dust jacket 1st Edition Book Condition: Very Good Jacket Condition: Very Good. Slight edge wear Hardcover. Publisher: Ravan Press Date Published: 1983 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: Very Good Binding: Hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: Good. Slight edge wear Dimensions: 8vo
The Dun Emer Press, Later The Cuala Press – Miller, Liam
With a List of The Books, Broadsides and Other Pieces Printed at The Press. Number 206 of 250 copies signed by the author. Limited edition, Private Press very good hardcover Publisher: Cuala Press Date Published: 1973 Publication Place: Dublin First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover
W.B. Yeats and Japan – Oshima, Shotaro
Number 747 of 1000 copies printed on special Honshu paper. Contains the replacement plates for plates 1, 38, 39 and 40. Housed in the original card slipcase Limited edition very good very good hardcover Publisher: Hokuseido Press Date Published: 1965 Publication Place: Japan First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes…
A Fair Horse, Versions of Irish Poetry, Letters from Bedford Park, A Little Book of Drawings and A List of Books Published by the Dun Emer Press and the Cuala Press… – Montague, John and Yeats, J.B. and Yeats, Jack
A small collection of Cuala Press publications housed in what appears to be a later slipcase. 1. A Fair Horse, Versions of Irish Poetry by John Montague, no. 345 of 350 copies published in Dublin in 1972. With some foxing to the cloth spine and a small area of discolouration to the bottom edge. In…
The Speckled Bird – Yeats, W.B.
Two volumes in plain flimsy dustwraps, along with A Brief Account of the Cuala Press… (6pg.), housed in the publisher’s original slipcase. Limited edition 341 of 500 copies. Edited by William H. O’Donnell. Uncut pages. A few small marks and some age toning but still a very good set. Limited edition, private press. Condition: very…
Dragon’s Wrth. Drakensberg Climbs, Accidents and Rescues – Pearse, R.O and Byrom, James
Inscribed on the title page by Reg Pearse and signed by both authors. A very good signed copy. First edition. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: very good. Binding: hardcover. Publisher: Macmillan Date Published: 1986 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: very good Binding: Hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: very good…
The Soul of the White Ant – Marais, Eugene N
With a biographical note by his son & translated by Winifred de Kok. Illustrated. Some mild foxing. 184 pages. Contents clean. Some spots of white paint to the black cloth boards and general wear. Third edition good hardcover Publisher: Methuen & Co Ltd Date Published: 1938 Publication Place: London Condition: good Binding: hardcover
Portrait of Cape Town. (Signed) – Collier, Joy
Signed by the author. No. 132 of a special edition limited to 200 copies in three quarter cal. The story of Cape Town, the Mother City, its origins, founders and growth. Numerous entertaining anecdotes of people and events accompanied by delightful illustrations. Light toning to the endpapers. 108 Pages. Reprint. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover….
The March Hares and their Friends – Gibson, Arthur S.
Children’s book. Some illustrations have been coloured by hand. Some foxing. Wear to the boards. Condition: fair. Publisher: Griffityh & Farran Date Published: circa 1883 Publication Place: London Dimensions: 25 x 18cm
The Space / Die Ruimte / Indawo. March 1970 – September 1979 (Signed) – Astbury, Brian
Signed by Yvonne Bryceland and Brian Astbury. No. 31 of only 100 autographed copies. The story of how The Space theater came into being. First Edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Some mild edge-wear. A spot of insect damage and age toning to the fep with the limitation. Included is a prospectus and a poster. Publisher:…
Voels van die Krugerwildtuin en ander Nasionale Parke / Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks. Vols 1-4 – van der Merwe, Dr. N J and Campbell, T and Findlay R (illus.)
Colour plates and descriptions in English and Afrikaans. Publisher: Nasional Parks Date Published: 1973 Publication Place: Pretoria Condition: very good Binding: softcover Dimensions: 21 x 30cm
Historical Simon’s Town – Edited by B. B. Brock and B. G. Brock in close collaboration with H. C. Willis
Vignettes, reminiscences and illustrations of the harbour and community from the days of the VOC and the Royal Navy with notes on administrators, personalities, old buildings, navigation and shipwrecks. Foxing to all edges. 217 Pages. First Edition. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: good. Some sunning to spine and tide marks. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: A. A….
The Flame Trees of Thika. Memories of an African Childhood – Huxley, Elspeth
Illustrated by Francesca Pelizzoli, with a new introduction by the author. Gift inscription to the fep. Condition: very good. Dustjacket: very good, light edgewear hardcover Publisher: Chatto & Windus Date Published: 1987 Publication Place: London Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: very good, light edgewear
A Short Guide to the Cultivation of Non-Suculent South African Plants – Mathews, J.W.
78 pages, card wraps, very good condition with a library sticker to the spine. Publisher: Specialty Press Publication Place: Cape Town
Victorian Patterns and Designs. In Full Color. – Ashdown Audsley, George and Maurice
All 100 Plates from “The Practical Decorator and Ornamentist” good softcover. Previous owner’s name to fep. Publisher: Dover Date Published: 1988 Publication Place: New York First Edition: Yes Condition: good Binding: softcover Dimensions: 24 x 31cm