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.
Records of South-Eastern Africa. Nine Volumes – Theal, George McCall
Collected in Various Libraries and Archive Departments in Europe A scarce set of nine volumes bound in black cloth. Published between 1898 and 1903. This set from the private library of Abraham Fischer, 1st Prime Minister of the Orange River Colony, with his name to the fep of some volumes. Condition:very good. Light wear to…
History and Ethnography of Africa South of the Zambesi – Theal. George McCall
From the Settlement of the Portuguese at Sofala in Septembkhoier 1505 to the Conquest of the Cape Colony by the British in September 1795. In three volumes with maps and plates. Three volumes bound in red pebbled cloth with gilt titles to the spine. From the private library of Abraham Fischer, 1st Prime Minister of…
History of South Africa. 11 Volumes – Theal, George McCall
An excellent set of the facsimile reprint of the “Star” edition (1916-1927). The following titles included: Volume I: Ethnography and Condition of South Africa before A.D. 1505. Volumes II, III and IV: History of South Africa Before 1795. Volumes V, VI, VII, VIII and IX: History of South Africa Since 1795. Volumes X and XI:…
Heldin uit die Vreemde. Die Verhaal van Emily Hobhouse – Van Reenen, Rykie
School book prize to the fep. Vyfde druk. Condition: very good good, some general wear. Publisher: Tafelberg Date Published: 1973 Publication Place: Cape Town Condition: Very good Jacket Condition: good, some general wear.
Lady Anne – Krog, Antjie
Afrikaans poetry from this award winning South African author. Second edition. Condition: very good, softcover. Publisher: Human & Rousseau Date Published: 2004 Publication Place: Kaapstad Condition: very good Binding: softcover
Onder Suidersterre. Tussen die Ooste en die Weste 1652-1795 – Boeseken, A.J.
Early history of the colonisation of the Cape, up to the end of the Dutch period. Text in Afrikaans. Condition:very good, hardcover Publisher: Kaap en Transvaal Drukkers Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Parrow First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover
Strelitzias of the World A Historical & Contemporary Exploration – Baijnath, Himansu and McCracken, Patricia A.
Signed by the authors and illustrators. A richly illustrated deep dive into the species and its lore. Condition:very good, hardcover Publisher: Durban Botanical Gardens Date Published: 2018 Publication Place: Durban First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Dimensions: 22 x 25cm, 300 pp.
Sefer Tel-Aviv – Druyanov, Alex (ed.)
Text in Hebrew. Lacks the maps called for on the title page. 464 pages with illustrations, photographs, plans and index. 12 pages of advertisements. The textblock is sound but covers and spine are detached but included. Ex-library. First edition. Condition: Fair Publisher: Tel-Aviv Book Committee with participation of the Tel-Aviv Municipality Date Published: 1936 Publication…
Choice, Not Fate. The life and times of Trevor Manuel – Green, Pippa
Condition:very good. Dust jacket: very good, hardcover Publisher: Penguin Date Published: 2008 Publication Place: South Africa First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: very good
Seven Pillars of Wisdom. A Triumph – Lawrence, T E
Lawrence of Arabia’s covert activities in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Ceramic head of T E Lawrence as the frontispiece. 4 maps. 54 illustrations (including frontispiece). Light foxing throughout. Pencil inscription to the fep. Page edges untrimmed and foxed. Second impression. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards with some…
Montanha in Zoutpansberg – Ferreira, O.J.O.
‘n Portugese Handelsending van Inhambane se Besoek aan Schoemansdal 1855-1856 A look at the trade mission of Pater Joaquim de Santa Rita Montanha (ca. 1806-1870) from Inhambane to Schoemansdal in the Zoutpansberg, (1855-1856) Publisher: Protea Boekhuis Date Published: 2002 Publication Place: Pretoria First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket…
Rocklands, on the Old Britstown Road – Blomerus, Etienne
A collection of true stories set in the Karoo where the author spent his children on a sheep farm during the fifties and early sixties. 179 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Date Published: 2018 First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: softcover
The Colonisation of the Southern Tswana 1870-1900 – Shillington, Kevin
Scarce work dealing with the pre-colonial period, the colonisation of Griqualand West and of British Bechuanaland. Publisher: Ravan Press Date Published: 1985 Publication Place: 2017 First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Light wear and age toning Binding: softcover
Route Map of Rhodesia. From information received from military sources. With notes on road from Limpopo to Pietersburg. 1″ to 20″ inches. – J T Wood and A A Ortlepp
An extremely scarce map crammed with fascinating notes and directions to traverse a wild country. Eg. “From Limpopo to Old Brack River Store. Country unoccupied. Waters few and bad . A few Dutch farms can be on Hout River . Eight Transvaal police stationed here… sparsely occupied by Boer farmers… Pont Drift . strong positions ….
The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion – Smithers, Reay H N
Emphasis on the distribution of species, type of habitat, characteristic habits, their food and reproduction. 30 full colour plates with numerous b&w drawings illustrating the text. 736 Pages. Mild thumbing. Light foxing to page edges. Previous owner’s name to fep. First edition. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: very good, hardcover. Publisher: University of Pretoria Date…
The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals – Mills, Gus and Hes, Lex (comp.)
Illustrated on every page with colour photographs and distribution maps. Very good condition in a slipcase. Publisher: Struik Winchester Date Published: 1997 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: very good
Sports and Sportsmen. South Africa and Rhodesia (2 vols.) – Cape Times (comp.)
Number 470 of 500 copies. Lavishly produced in a full pebbled morocco binding with gilt titles, ruling and dentilles. Crimson and gold marbled endpapers. Inscription to the Rhodesia volume. Very good condition with signs of edgewear and age toning. Heavy set Publisher: Atkinson & Partners Date Published: 1929 Publication Place: Cape Town Dimensions: 29 x…
Racing Illustrated. Vols II and III. With Sir Abe Bailey –
Volume II is December 1895 to June 1896 (no’s 23 to 52) and volume III is July 1896 to December 1896 (no’s 53 to 79). Both volumes bear the bookplate of Sir Abe Bailey to the front paste down. Bound volumes of this illustrated horse racing journal. Condition good to fair: volume II missing the…
The People of Kau – Riefenstahl, Leni
A first English edition of Riefenstahl’s classic photographic essay. Previous owner’s bookplate to the fep. Condition:very good. Dust jacket: very good, hardcover Publisher: Collins Date Published: 1976 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Jacket Condition: very good Dimensions: 32 x 24.5cm
Private View. The Lively World of British Art – Robertson, Russell and Snowdon
A close up look at the London Art Scene in the 1960’s. Publisher: Thomas Nelson Date Published: 1965 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Jacket Condition: very good
Catalogue of Prints in the Africana Museum – Kennedy, R.F.
and in books in the Strange Collection of Africana in the Johannesburg Public Library up to 1870. (2 volumes) Excellent, fully illustrated reference work in 2 volumes. Condition:very good.Some sunning and insect damage to the boards. Publisher: Africana Museum Date Published: 1975 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good.Some sunning and insect damage…
UIA. International Architect. Southern Africa. Issue 8 – Beck, Haig (ed.)
Issue 8 of this international architectural journal. Focussing on work in South Africa, Bophuthatswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Card wraps slightly curled. Condition: good Publisher: International Architect Date Published: 1985 Publication Place: London
Paul Klee on Modern Art – Klee, Paul
With an introduction by Herbert Read. Klee’d short treatise on modern art accompanied by his drawings. Condition:good, some pages losening, softcover Publisher: Faber and Faber Date Published: 1966 Publication Place: London Condition: good Binding: softcover
The Collected Poems of Kathleen Raine – Raine, Kathleen
First edition, first impression. Blue paper covered boards with some wear and staining. Sunning to the spine. Previous owner’s names to the fep. Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Date Published: 1956 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: good
The Quality of Life – Miszewski, Maciek
“As illustrated by architecture in Southern Africa.” Pictorial exploration of architecture as contributing to quality of life. Number 262 of a limited edition of 1500 copies. Condition:very good. Dust jacket: very good, hardcover Publisher: Murray & Steward Date Published: 1977 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Has Dust Jacket:…
The Architecture of Luis Barragan – Ambasz, Emilio
THe first book to be produced on this Mexican bornlarchitect. Photographic reference to 7 of Barragan’s most accomplished projects followed by a Lost of Works at the end of the book. 128 pp. Third printing. Condition: very good, some light edge wear to the wraps. softcover Publisher: The Museum of Modern Art Date Published: 1982…
The Poetical Works of John Milton, Complete in one volume – Milton, John
Bound together with the works of Goldsmith, Cowper, Gray and Beattie. Full paneled green calf with marble end papers. Finely printed text in two columns. Some light wear. Publisher: Jones & Company Date Published: 1824 Publication Place: London Condition: good Dimensions: 11.5 x 18cm
Venture to the Interior – van der Post, Laurens
A classic travel memoir detailing the author’s British government-commissioned mapping expedition to Nyasaland (now Malawi). The narrative chronicles his physical survey of the remote Mlanje mountain and Nyika Plateau alongside his deep psychological reflections. 5th impression. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: very good. Publisher: The Hogarth Press Date Published: 1952 Publication Place: London Condition: very…
Man Eaters of Kumaon – Corbett, Jim
The author’s exploits with man-eating tigers in India. Condition: good. Dust jacket: poor Publisher: Readers Union Date Published: 1947 Publication Place: London Condition: good Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: poor
Trail of the Copper King – Bulpin, T. V.
Story of Orlando Baragwanath and the colourful company of prospectors who changed the destiny of Southern Africa in his quest to find the Copper Belt of Northern Rhodesia. Map as end papers. 239 Pages. Inscribed by the author to aunt Lou on the half title. 1st Edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Fair-. Edge-wear and some…