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.
Stories, Dreams, and Allegories – Schreiner, Olive
A posthumous collection of writings by Schreiner inspired by dreams and her experiences living on a South African farm. Contents include: ‘The Buddhist Priest’s Wife’, ‘On the Banks of a Full River’, ‘Two Visions’, and many more. First edition. Condition: very good -slight bumping to corners and edge wear, age toning to free endpapers, light…
George Rex: Death of a Legend – Storrar, Patricia
1974 historical book by Patricia Storrar that debunks the long-standing myth regarding the life and lineage of George Rex. Contains 12 b&w plate illustrations. First Edition. Condition: very good – foxing to endpapers, light edge wear, foxing to page edges. Jacket condition: good – chunk missing from front panel, sunning to spine, foxing to inner…
Lightning Bird – Lyall, Watson
Lightning Bird the story of one man’s journey into Africa’s unknown past The true story of Adrian Boshier, a young Englishman who arrived in Africa at age 16 and ventured into the bush alone with only a pocket knife and salt. First Edition. Condition: very good – gilt letting on spine, light bumping to corners….
The Bell Jar – Lucas, Victoria (Plath, Sylvia)
A rare first edition second printing of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar” issued under the pseudonym of Victoria Lucas in 1963. Identical in all ways to the first printing other than the addition on the copyright page “reprinted in 1963”. Both printed in the same year that Sylvia Plath died. First edition, second printing. Condition:…
Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland. – Schreiner, Olive
Banned in the UK and when published excluded the hanging frontispiece. Bound in green cloth with a darker green border. Gilt lettering and design to front board and spine. First USA edition. Condition: very good – light bumping to corners, wear to spine edges, spot of discoloration to front board, minimal foxing scattered throughout. Hardcover…
Dream Life and Real Life. A Little African Story – Schreiner, Olive (Ralph Iron)
Three short stories by South African author, Olive Schreiner. Written under a pseudonym of Ralph Iron. Fourth impression. Condition: very good – age toning to free endpaper, lightly scattered foxing, bumping to corners, wear to edges. Hardcover binding. Publisher: T Fisher Unwin Date Published: 1893 Publication Place: London Condition: very good – age toning to…
The Dark Stream. The Story of Eugene Marais – Rousseau, Leon
The biography of Eugene Marais: journalist, pet, author, naturalist, hypnotist, doctor, psychologist, advocate, and magician. Reprint. Condition: very good – slight sunning to spine and very slight lean to spine. Softcover binding. Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers Date Published: 1999 Publication Place: Johannesburg Condition: very good – slight sunning to spine and very slight lean to…
A Natural history of Inhaca Island, Mocambique – MacNae, William and Kalk, Margaret (Eds)
A handbook dealing with this beautiful island at the entrance to the Bay of Lourenco Marques. Includes an account of early visits by scientists and descriptions of the ecology and distribution of animals and plants; General accounts of the animals and plants, terrestrial vegetation and animals; Keys for the identification and annotated lists are provided….
The Hill of Devi – Forster, E.M.
The Hill of Devi is an account by E. M. Forster of two visits to India in 1912–1913 and 1921, during which he worked as the private secretary to Tukojirao III, the Maharaja of the state of Dewas Senior. First edition, second impression. Condition: very good – slight age toning to edges, and scattered foxing…
Les Miserables – Hugo, Victor
Les MisĂ©rables is a French epic historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Translated and with introduction by Norman Denny. This edition of the Les Miserables is limited to 1750 numbered copies. Bound in real goatskin and blocked design…
Decameron – Boccaccio, Giovanni
Seven young women and three young men escape the Black Death in Florence and retreat to a countryside villa, passing the time by telling stories. Translated by Richard Aldington with aquatints by Buckland-Wright. This edition of the Decameron is limited to 1750 numbered copies. Bound in real goatskin and blocked design by Jeff Clements. Gilt…
Contemporary Israeli Women Poets: Burning Air and Clear Mind – Glazer, Myra (ed.)
Translated from Hebrew by Glazer, I. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight foxing to front wrap, sunning to spine, and edge wear to spine. Softcover binding. Publisher: Ohio University Press Date Published: 1981 Publication Place: Ohio First Edition: Yes Condition: very good – slight foxing to front wrap, sunning to spine, and edge wear…
The Florist, Fruitist, and Garden Miscellany – Various
a 19th century British horticultural magazine and periodical. Contains: 12 hand coloured plates and one fold out plate. Bound in green cloth. Condition: very good – foxing scattered throughout page contents, 8 cm close tear to fold out plate, and tape to fold out plate. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Unknown Date Published: 1861 Publication Place: London…
The End of the Affair – Greene, Graham
Set in London during and just after the Second World War, the novel examines the obsessions, jealousy and discernments within the relationships between three central characters: writer Maurice Bendrix; Sarah Miles; and her husband, civil servant Henry Miles. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight sunning to spine and age toning to front and back…
The Draper’s Dictionary. – Beck, S. William
A Manual of Textile Fabrics: Their History and Applications. No publication date. Debossed decorations to front board and spine. Condition: very good – slight bumped corners and minimal edge wear to spine, book plate pated to front paste down endpaper, ink inscription and signiture from prior owner to front free endpaper along with a small…
Studies in the History of Cape Town (five volumes) – Saunders, C., Phillips, H., van Heyningen, E., & Bickford-Smith, V. (Ed)
Five volumes. A compilation of papers on the topic of local history, many of them inspired by developments in the field of urban history, drawing on oral history and a commitment to writing the history of the ‘inarticulate’ ordinary men and women. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight sunning to spines and edge wear….
Strate sonder Pad – Claerhout, Frans
Hand produced book which has handwritten poetry in ink accompanied by 12 tipped in Claerhout graphics. Contains 3 original sketches to the front. Signed and inscribed by the author. Translated by M. Piennar. Bound in blue cloth with blue paper cover boards. First Edition. Condition: very good – paste in plates loosening slightly, paste down…
Out of Africa – Blixen, Karen
An exploration of a vanishing land and its peoples. Day to day events on the struggling farm, eccentric European settlers, the African peoples and the magnificent wild land in which the story is set. Numerous decorative illustrations and photographs. First Edition, Second Impression. Condition: very good – slight lean to spine, sunning to spine, foxing…
The Illuminated Blake – Erdman, David V.
William Blake’s Complete Illuminated Works with a Plate-by-Plate Commentary Compilation of William Blake’s poetic and pictorial legacy. A compilation of William Blake’s art and poetry and annotated by a Blake scholar. Republication. Condition: very good – edge wear and corner bumping, slight lean to spine, crease in spine. Softcover binding. Publisher: Dover Publications Inc Date…
The Prophet – Gibran, Kahlil
The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry fables written in English by the Lebanese-American poet and writer Kahlil Gibran. Includes 12 illustrations reproduced from original drawings by the author. Reprint. Condition: very good – age toning to front board. Jacket condition: very good – edge wear, clipped, and light foxing. Hardcover binding. Publisher:…
The Game Animals of Southern Africa – Maberly, C T Astley
A comprehensive pocket encyclopedia covering the wild game in all the game reserves and national parks of Southern Africa. Illustrated in detail. First Edition. Condition: very good – age toning to pages. Jacket condition: very good – slight edge wear, unclipped. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Thomas Nelson and Sons Date Published: 1963 Publication Place: Johannesburg First…
Die Baas Tert Bakker – Bester, A.W.
Spesialis in Skilwerkos, ens. ‘n Famielie erfstuk vir die Suidafrikaanse huisvroue. “The master pie baker—specialist in flaky pastry, etc. A family heirloom for South African housewives.” Afrikaans text. First Edition. Condition: fair – age toning and foxing to front and back wrap, page 41 torn and missing a chunk. Softcover binding. Publisher: A. W. Bester…
Old Hendrik’s Tales – Captain Vaughan, A.O.
Short stories and tales including African folklore. Longmans’ colonial library book. First Edition. Condition: fair – binding loosening along spine, edge wear, and light foxing to front wrap. Softcover binding. Publisher: Longmans, Green, and Co. Date Published: 1904 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: fair – binding loosening along spine, edge wear, and light…
The Joyful Way – Baker, Barbara
Religious poems for children, illustrated in b&w ink. First Edition. Condition: good – wear to spine, foxing to front board, ink inscription to half title by prior owner. Hardcover binding. Publisher: A.R. Mowbray & Co Date Published: 1925 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: good – wear to spine, foxing to front board, ink…
Hints on Fruit Growing – Pickstone, H.E.V
Originally published in 1895. A guide to growing fruits in South Africa. Contains b&w illustrated adverts. Ninth Edition. Condition: good – illustrated cover, slight edge wear, age appropriate wear to spine, and light bumping to corners. Hardcover binding. Date Published: 1928 Condition: good – illustrated cover, slight edge wear, age appropriate wear to spine, and…
The South African Home Garden – Carter, Geo. (ed.)
A practical treatise on the various aspects of Home Gardening in South Africa, with two special articles on Fungus and Insect Garden Pests. Contains illustrations and b&w photography. Articles by: Doidge, Ethal M., Fuller, Claude, Stayner, F.J., Sim, T.R., Bishenden, W., Powell, D.C., Weaver, A.J., Wood, D., Patten, E., and Carter, Geo. First Edition. Condition:…
The Trilingual Cookery Book – Erasmus, Yvonne
Simple Recipes in English, South Sotho, and Zulu Translators: Mrs. Constance Motsumi for Zulu and Miss Eddie Malukwa for South Sotho. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight staining to front board, tape to front paste down endpaper, some age toning to pages. Jacket condition: fair – missing chunks, edge wear. sunning to spine, splitting…
Quality & Quantity – Reitz, V.G.
The South African Cookery Book For Hostess & Chef Foreword by Mr J.J. Hoffmann, President of the Federated Hotel Associations of Southern Africa. Classic South African cookbook. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight foxing to front and back board as well as pages. Jacket condition: good – edge wear, close tear to spine of…