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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Die Kaapse Hugenote – Botha, Colin Graham (Cape Archives) & Malherbe-Leliveld (Trans)
Translated from the english title “The French Refugees at the Cape”. The author has endeavoured to give a brief account of the arrival and settlement of the French Refugees at the Cape in the 17th Century especially with regard to farming operations and their knowledge of viticulture. Name of previous owner on front-paste-down. Note regarding…
A Game Ranger’s Note Book – Percival, A Blayney
A highly regarded, classic account of wildlife observation and hunting in Africa, highlighting the daily life, challenges, and dedication involved in conservation, including anti-poaching, wildlife management, and field observations. The author spent nearly thirty years spent in Africa and in the Game Department of Kenya. Previous owner’s name to front fep. Untrimmed edges. 374 Pages….
No Ordinary Woman. – Gutsche, Thelma
The Life and Times of Florence Phillips Biography of an extraordinary woman who made an indelible mark on South Africa and the lives of her country-men. Some thumbing. Numerous illustrations. Some foxing to top edge. 432 Pages. Contents clean and binding sound. 1st edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Good. Some loss to head of spine…
Hanns Ludwig Katz – Proud, Hayden & Snyman, Wilhelm (Eds)
Catalogue published for the occasion of the opening of the Hanns Ludwig Katz exhibition in Cape Town on 24 November 1993. 127 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Mild edge-wear. Publisher: South African National Gallery Date Published: 1994 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover.
Water-Mills, Windmills and Horse-mills of South Africa – Walton, James
The first comprehensive account of the hand-mills, water-mills, windmills and horse-mills in South Africa. Numerous B&W photographs and sketches. 204 pages. First Edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Good. Edge-wear with some chipping to all extremities. Small loss to the head of spine. Foxing to verso. Binding. Hardcover. Wear to the edges. A few abrasions. Publisher:…
The Kavango Peoples in the Past – Fleisch, Axel & Möhlig, Wilhelm J G
Seven historical and cultural texts from Northern Namibia. A number of figures and photographs. Chronicles from the Tjaube, Geiriku, Shambyu and Kwangali. 344 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Cardwraps with mild edge-wear. Publisher: Rüdiger Köppe Date Published: 2002 Publication Place: Koln First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover.
‘n Boer in Argentinië (signed) – Henning, P H
Text: Afrikaans. Signed by the author with a few ink corrections to page vii. Handwritten notes and a newspaper cutting tipped in. After the defeat of the Boers (Afrikaners) in the Second Boer War, a large number emigrated to Argentina and settled in Patagonia establishing an agricultural community that retained the Afrikaans language. A180 Pages….
The Kalahari Bushmen Dance – Schadeberg, Jurgen & Hulme, George
B&W photographs and text detailing the lives of the Kalahari bushmen, with a focus on spiritual dance traditions. Bookplate to card wrap verso. First edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Edge wear. Scuffing to the spine. Publisher: Wildwood House Ltd Date Published: 1982 Publication Place: London Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover.
I Am Black. The Story of Shabala – Williams, J Grenfell & May, Henry John
The story of a young Zulu man who leaves his father’s kraal to go and work in the Johannesburg mines, the underground workings of which are magnificently described. Mild foxing and toning to the prelims. 206 pages. Third edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Good. Edge wear and chipping to the edges. Scuffing and a…
Rivonia Masker Af! – Strydom, Lauritz
The true, dramatic story of the Rivonia sabotage trial. Previous owner’s name and details to half-title. Includes B&W photo photographs. Previous owner’s name and details to front free endpaper. Discolouration spots to some of the pages. 162 pages. Third edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Some scuffing and edge wear to the boards. Publisher: Voortrekkerpers Date…
Baukunst in Südwestafrika 1884-1914 – Peters, Walter
German architecture between 1884-1914 in former German South-West Africa (Namibia). Text: German. 406 B&W illustrations. Scuffing to the covers. Sunning to the spine. 338 pages. First edition. Condition: Good to very good. Binding: Softcover. Mild edge wear. Publisher: Vorstand der SWA Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Windhoek First Edition: Yes Condition: Good. Binding:…
Precolonial Communities of Southwestern Africa – Williams, Frieda-Nela
A history of Owambo Kingdoms 1600-1920. Includes royal family trees. Previous owner’s signature to title page. Some marginalia and sections underlined in pencil. A small pen mark on the front cover. 204 pages. First edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Publisher: National Archives of Namibia Date Published: 1991 Publication Place: Windhoek First Edition: Yes Condition:…
Hai||om in the Etosha Region – Dieckmann, Ute
A history of colonial settlement, ethnicity, and nature conservation in the Etosha region of Namibia. Includes several tables and B&W photographs. 398 pages. First edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Lightly shaken. Mild edge wear. Publisher: Basler Afrika Bibliographien Date Published: 2007 Publication Place: Switzerland First Edition: Yes Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Dimensions: 24cmx17cmx2cm
Mushrooms of Southern Africa – Van der Westhuizen, GCA & Eicker, Albert
Field guide with over 250 colour photographs for easy identification. Features on collecting and preserving mushrooms and mushroom poisoning. 207 pages. First edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover. Publisher: Struik Date Published: 1994 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Binding: Softcover.
The Low-Veld. Its Wild Life and Its People – Stevenson-Hamilton, Lieut.-Col. J.
“Wonderful fauna, sub-tropical flora, unrivalled scenery, and the mysterious eerie subtle Spirit which broods over this vast solitude.” Two labels and a stamp to front end papers. Light foxig throughout. 17 illustrations. Scattered foxing. 287 Pages. Second Edition. Condition: Fair to good. Binding: Hardcover. Clear plastic adhesive covering to cloth boards. Some loss to head…
The Magic Staff. – Davis, Andrew Jackson
An autobiography of Andrew Jackson Davis. A readable history of a clairvoyant’s experience as well as his public and private career. Loss to the rear fixed end paper. Some mild scattered foxing. 552 Pages. Thirteenth Edition. Condition: Fair to good. Binding: Hardcover. New spine. Edge-wear to all extremities. Abrasions. Publisher: William White & Comnpany Date…
Caliphs and Sultans. – Hanley, Sylvanus (re-written and re-arranged)
Being tales omitted in the usual editions of the Arabian Nights Entertainments 20 Tales. Lacks front marble end paper and feps. Some loss to the corner of the title page. Some mild scattered foxing. Faded tint to all edges. 363 Pages. Reprint. Condition: Fair. Binding: Hardcover. Half leather with marbled boards. Crack to front board,…
Lighthouses of South Africa. – Hoberman, Gerald
A multifaceted insight into every aspect of lighthouses. Profusely illustrated with dramatic photographs from the land, sea and air. 384 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Near fine. Binding: Hardcover. Some light handling marks to the cloth boards. Publisher: The Hoberman Collection Date Published: 2009 Publication Place: Cape Town, London, New York First Edition: Yes Condition: Near…
Adventures of an Insurance Agent – Cavanagh, Jas A
The author’s experiences whilst discharging the functions of an Insurance Agent in South Africa at a time when the political history of the country was in process of transformation. This was before, during and immediately after the Anglo-Boer War. Previous owner’s name to front fixed end paper. 145 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding:…
In the Kerkhof. An Old Worcester Story – de Vos Hugo, D
A slim volume, reprinted from the South African Magazine. The accompanying illustration, by Hugo Naude, the well-known local artist, is of the Worcester Kerkhof as it appeared at the period in which the action of the tale took place. 7 Pages. Condition: Fair to good. Binding: Softcover. Limp cardwraps with some edge-wear and handling marks….
A Short History of Grahamstown – Thomson, D H
The arrival of British settlers transformed the outpost into a major administrative and cultural hub. By the mid-19th century, Grahamstown was the second largest city in South Africa. Bookplate to front fep. 34 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Red cloth. Publisher: Grocott & Sherry Date Published: Circa 1952 Publication Place: Grahamstown First…
Robben Island. An account of thirty-four years’ gospel work amongst the lepers of South Africa – Fish, James W
The diary of the visitations and evangelisings of the lepers on Robben Island are recorded as they occurred from week to week. 23 illustrations and photographs. Loss to front end page with splitting to the rear endpapers. Bookplate. Decorative stamp of previous owner to frontispiece page. Tidemarks to the fore-edges from prelims to Page 34….
Sir Redvers H Buller, V.C. – Jerrold, Walter
The story of his life and campaigns A sketch of the career of a distinguished leader. Battles include: the Ashanti War; the Zulu War; The Boer War; Egyptian Campaign; The Transvaal War, and others. With 8 illustrations. A few stamps, writing and label remnants to the patterned end papers. Toning to front and rear feps….
Paul Kruger. His Life and Times – Nathan, Manfred
A biography on Paul Kruger. A man whose life was bound up and inseparable from the story of South Africa during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Pencil underlining and marginalia throughout. Foxing to prelims with mild scattered foxing to contents. Splitting to end papers. 510 Pages. Second Edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Fair….
The Risen Christ. A Vision of the Great Forty Days: and other poems – Kett, George
Some poems relating to the Boer War. Splitting to the front and rear endpapers. Some scattered foxing. 80 pages. Fourth Edition. Condition: Fair. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards. Wear to spine and extremities. Discolouration marks to covers. Publication Place: Cape Town Condition: Fair. Binding: Hardcover.
The Bantu-speaking Tribes of South Africa. – I. Schapera
An Ethnographical Survey An ethnographical survey of the different Bantu-speaking tribes of South Africa. Includes black and white plates. Previous owner’s details end papers. 24 b&w plates. Fold out map at the rear. Small spot of foxing to the lower edge of a couple of pages. 453 Pages. Third Impression. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket:…
The Rapture of the River. The Autobiography of a South African Fisherman – Hey, S A
A fascinating story of happy days spent on rivers, lakes and estuaries in various parts of the Union (now South Africa) over a period of fifty years to indulge the author’s main passion of angling. Sketches of birds and animals and over a 100 b&w photographs of river and estuary scenes of fish and fishermen….
Pinelands. South Africa’s first Garden City –
A brochure detailing the development of Pinelands into a Garden City. Chronological table of events at the rear. Centre-fold has come loose from the staples. Bookplate to verso of front cover. Some edge-wear to the fore-edges. Condition: Fair to good. Binding: Softcover. A few tide-marks to the cardwraps. Light edge-wear. Staple-bound. Publisher: Garden Cities Date…
Direcão dos Serviços de Obras Públicas E Transportes. Mapa Rodoviario. –
Provincia de Angola Folding map of Angola in four sections. Some pencil maginalia to the map. Tears to the cover does not affect the map sections. Previous owner name. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. 4cm tear across the spine and covers. Tears to the head and foot of spine. Some edge-wear to extremities. Map Publisher: Directorate…
Cape Town Harbour. 1652 to the Present – Newall, Peter
The author takes you through the evolution of Cape Town harbour from Van Riebeeck’s wooden jetty to the first safe haven for ships, the Alfred Basin and beyond into the 20th Century with the building of the Victoria Basin, the Duncan Dock and the Ben Schoeman container dock. B&w photographs of the various stages of…