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 Voyage of the Beagle. The Illustrated edition of Charles Darwin’s Travel Memoir and Field Journal – Darwin, Charles
Condition:very good, no jacketBinding: hardcover Publisher: Zenith Press Date Published: 2015 Publication Place: USA Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Jacket Condition: no jacket
The Wonder Book of Nature for Boys and Girls – Golding, Harry (ed.)
With 8 colour plates and nearly 350 illustrations. sixth edition. Condition: good. Binding: hardcover Publisher: Ward. Lock & Co. Publication Place: London Condition: good Binding: hardcover
Western Provincial. An Album of Paintings & Drawings of the Western Cape. De Luxe signed edition – Picton-Seymour, Desiree & Webster, RIB (text)
Drawings and paintings of buildings of the Cape Georgian, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian era. Includes examples in Stellenbosch and Worcester. 36 Plates. Tipped-in line and wash drawings in colour. b&w drawings. Aspects include steeples, gables, mosques, stoeps, chimney-pieces, amongst others. This is the de luxe edition, bound in full black calf, numbered 54 of 250…
Gems, Minerals and Rocks in Southern Africa – McIver, J R
With 40 full colour plates and 80 b&w photographs, diagrams, maps and charts. Light foxing and edge-wear to rear fep. 268 Pages. Contents clean and binding sound. 1st Edition. Condition: very good. Edge-wear to extremities with some abrasions and rubbing. Hardcover. Blue cloth boards with dust jacket Publisher: Purnell and Sons (SA) Ptd Ltd Date…
Little Ann and Other Poems – Taylor, Jane and Ann. Greenaway, Kate (illus.)
Front free end paper and half title torn out. Tidemark to the top edge. Covers grubby. Illustrated by Kate Greenaway and printed in colour by Edmund Evans. Condition: fair to poor. Binding: hardcover Publisher: Frederick Warne Publication Place: London Condition: fair to poor Binding: hardcover Dimensions: 8vo
The Big Oyster. New York in the World. A Molluscular History – Kurlansky, Mark
An historical exploration of oyster farming and consumption in New York. Condition:very good. Binding: softcover. Publisher: Jonathan Cape Date Published: 2006 Publication Place: London Condition: very good Binding: softcover Dimensions: 8vo
Salt. A World History – Kurlansky, Mark
A thourough investigation into this essential mineral Condition: very good. Binding: softcover Publisher: Vintage Date Published: 2002 Publication Place: London Condition: very good Binding: softcover Dimensions: 8vo
Cod. A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World – Kurlansky, Mark
A crisp, unread copy. Condition: very good. Binding: softcover Publisher: Vintage Date Published: 1999 Publication Place: London Condition: very good Binding: softcover Dimensions: 9v0
Zulu Battle Piece – Coupland, Reginald
An historical look at the British defeat at Isandhlwana. Scarce in the decorative dust jacket. Illustrated with photographs and maps. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: good+, some loss to the top and bottom edges. Binding: hardcover. Publisher: Collins Date Published: 1948 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Jacket Condition: good+…
African Insect Life – Skaife, S H & Ledger, John (revised by)
Intended for the amateur student of natural history, for the farmer, gardener and householder to wish to know something about the numerous insects they see around them. Colour plates, b&w photographs and numerous line-drawings. Fourth impression, condition: very good. Ddust jacket: good, some loss to the top edge at the spine. Binding: hardcover Publisher: C…
Rhodesian Epic – Baxter, T W and Turner, R W
A pictorial history of Rhodesia from the earliest times down to the granting of self-government in 1923. 1st Edition. Condition: Good+. Dust jacket: Good. Edge-wear to extremities especially the spine and fold edges. 1.5cm open tear to the lower spine edge. 0.5mm open tear on lower front edge. Some light foxing on the verso. Binding:…
Port Natal. A Pioneer Story – Malherebe, Janie
A mostly colonial history of the Durban area. Well illustrated and researched. Condition: very good. Dust jacket: very good. Binding: hardcover. Publisher: Howard Timmins Date Published: 1965 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover Jacket Condition: very good
Himba, Nomads of Namibia – Pickford, Peter and Beverly (photog.) and Jacobssohn, Margaret
Numerous colour photos and an essay on the Himba tribe of northern Namibia. Withdrawn from the Bishops library. Condition: good. Dust jacket: good. Binding: hardcover. Publisher: Struik Date Published: 1990 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: good Binding: hardcover Jacket Condition: good
From Lucy to Language – Johnson, Donald and Edgar, Blake
Illustrated with vivid photographs of the humanoid fossils, this book traces the career of paleoanthropologist Donald Johnson. From his discovery of “Lucy”, the oldest and best preserved skeleton of any erect-walking human ever found, to his further discoveries in the Great Rift Valley and beyond. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good, with light wear….
A Voyage to Abyssinia and Travels into the Interior of that Country Executed Under the Orders of the British Government, in the Years 1809 and 1810. – Salt, Henry
In which are Included An Account of the Portuguese Settlements on the East Coast of Africa, Visited in the Course of the Voyage; A Concise Narrative of Late Events in Arabia Felix; and Some Particulars Respecting the Aboriginal African Tribes, Extending from Mozambique to the Borders of Egypt; together with Vocabularies of their Respective Languages….
South African Forces World War II. 7 of 9 Volumes. Deluxe signed edition – Orpen, Neil, Ambrose-Brown, James and Martin, H.J.
5 of 9 volumes. Bound in full blue leather, this is an incomplete author’s presentation set. Each volume with a tipped in leaf addressed to Sir Keith C Acutt. Ex- deputy chair of Anglo-American. The following titles are present: Volume 1, East African and Abyssinian Campaigns. Very good condition. Some light wear to the leather…
Under a Grudging Sun. Photographs from Haiti Libéré 1986-1988 – Webb, Alex
Photobook telling the story of the revolution in Haiti. Its brutality, sadness and complexity. Publisher: Thames and Hudson Date Published: 1989 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Some sunning to the spine Binding: Softcover Dimensions: 25 x 31cm
Historic Illustrations of the Bible. Principally after the Old Masters –
Engravings of religious scenes. Parallel text in English, French and German. Some foxing. fourth series. Condition: fair. Spine replaced with tape. Some cracks to the gutters. Hardcover. Publisher: Fisher, Son & Co. Date Published: circa 1880 Publication Place: London Condition: fair. Spine replaced with tape. Some cracks to the gutters Binding: Hardcover
African Elegance – Blauer, Ettagale
A look a the artistic expression of Sub Saharan Africa. Its cultural importance and narrative throughout African life. Inscribed by the author on the title page. 1st edition. Condition: Very good. Jacket: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: New Holland Date Published: 1999 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: very good Binding: hardcover…
Die Buiteposte – Sleigh, D.
An historical study of the 57 VOC military and trading stations that supported the Dutch Cape Colony between 1652 and 1795. It details the daily lives of the posvolk (outpost workers) and the impact of these settlements on local Khoi communities. Text in Afrikaans. Derde druk, condition: very good. Dust jacket: very goo, hardcover. Publisher:…
Mr. Mkhize’s portrait & other stories from the new South Africa – Broomberg, Adam and Chanarin, Oliver
Photobook detailing the stories of South Africans in a changing country. Very good Softcover Publisher: The Photographer’s Gallery Date Published: 2004 Publication Place: Great Britain First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Softcover
David Goldblatt 55 – signed – lawson, Lesley
Phaidon 55 series of pocket books. Size: 14 x 16cm. Signed by Goldblatt on the title page. Condition:Very good, light sunning to the spine, softcover. Publisher: Phaidon Date Published: circa 2002 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: Very good, light sunning to the spine Binding: softcover
Jan Christian Smuts – Smuts, J C
An interim biography of a great statesman and a father written by his son. With 23 pages of halftone illustrations and 5 maps. Light foxing to the feps. Contents clean. 568 Pages. Pages still firmly bound. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards. Edge-wear and rubbing to the expremities. Publisher: Cassell & Company Ltd Date Published:…
Dictionary of Southern African Place Names – Raper, P E
A fascinating journey with the author of the highways and byways of Southern Africa exploring the origins of the names of towns and villages, mountains and rivers. Contains a wealth of social, linguistic and historical information. Previous owner’s name on front fep. 368 Pages. First edition. Condition: Good+. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: Lowry Publishers Date Published:…
The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Presentation Copy – Smith, J.L.B.
A comprehensive scientific guide to the fishes found in the oceans of Southern Africa. 1232 B&W illustrations with 102 colour plates. 550 Pages. Some old tape marks to the feps. Presentation copy, signed by Professor Smith. Presented to Mrs T. Campbell, noted scientific illustrator and the artist who painted the frontis piece. 100 copies of…
Koraalboek. De Psalmen en Evangelische Geangen – de Villiers, Rocco C.
Sheet music for the organ. Third edition compiled by the important South African composer Rocco Cartozina de Villiers (1838-1902). He served as a long-time organist for the Dutch Reformed Church in Caledon and the famous Strooidakkerk in Paarl. He was a major figure in shaping early South African musical culture, composing numerous hymns and pieces,…
Five Hundred Years Rediscovered Southern African Precedents and Prospects – Swanepoel, Natalie, Esterhuysen, Amanda and Bonner, Philip (ed.)
Proceedings of the 2007 Conference – 500 Year Initiative. This work challenges colonial-era myths that African societies were isolated and unchanging before Europeans arrived. Combining archaeology and history, it proves that local communities were innovative, dynamic, and connected through complex trade networks for over 500 years. Condition: very good, soft cover Publisher: Wits University Press…
District Six – Small, Adam & Wissema, Jansje
A selection of Jansje Wissema’s District Six from her complete portfolio is brought to life and complimented by a text specially written for the occasion by Adam Small, one of District Six’s greatest interpreters. First edition Very good condition, Slight curling to the wraps sofcover Publisher: Fontein Date Published: 1986 Publication Place: Cape Town First…
Die Plaag – Van Reybrouck, David
Die stil geknaag van skrywers, termiete en Suid-Afrika Uit Nederlands vertaal deur Daniel Hugo. Very good soft cover Publisher: Protea Boekhuis Date Published: 2003 Publication Place: Pretoria Condition: Very good Binding: soft cover
Wild Flowers of South Africa for the Garden – van der Spuy, Una
Previous owner’s stamp and names to the paste down. Tape marks to the fep’s. 286 pp, numerous colour photographs Condition: Very good No jacket Hardcover Publisher: Hugh Keartland Date Published: 1971 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover Jacket Condition: No jacket