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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Pygmies & Bushmen of the Kalahari. – Dornan, S S
Numbered 464 of a limited edition of 1000 numbered copies. An account of the hunting tribes inhabiting the great arid plateau of the Kalahari Desert, their precarious manner of living, their habits, customs & beliefs with some reference to Bushman art, both early & of recent date & to the neighbouring African tribes. 37 Illustrations…
Pastoral Nomads of the Central Namib Desert. The People History Forgot – Kinahan, John
Uncovering evidence for the development of an indigenous pastoral society during the last two millennia from remains of seasonal encampments and integrated system of herd management. 167 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Softcover. Some light edge-wear and scuffing. Publisher: Namibia Archaeological Trust. New Namibia Books Date Published: 1991 Publication Place: Windhoek First Edition: Yes…
Zulu Legends – Bleek, Wm. H I / Engelbrecht, J A (Ed)
No. 205 of only 350 copies. Edited manuscript No. 1204 of Bleek’s catalogue of the Grey Collection. Presents some of Bleek’s findings and manuscripts related to Zulu traditions, showcasing the breadth of his interest in Southern African oral traditions beyond just the San. Parallel English and Zulu text. Small bookseller label on front fixed end…
Zulu Proverbs – Nyembezi, C L Sibusiso
A work on Zulu proverbs, often used in academic and cultural studies, with classifications by usage and according to the situation in which they are employed. Foxing to top and fore edges. 238 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Red cloth with faded gilt lettering to spine. Light edge-wear. Publisher: Witwatersrand University Press…
The Bantu in the City. – Phillips, Ray E
A Study of Cultural Adjustment on the Witwatersrand The author attempts to present the results of his study into an accurate, large-scale view of the process of acculturation of Africans adapting themselves to a modern industrial life in South Africa. His research includes personal investigations, interviews, questionnaires, official government papers and publications and municipal documents,…
Tribal Peoples of Southern Africa – Barbara Tyrrell
96 Colour plates, 76 line drawings, and 256 pages of text all dealing with the migrations, traditions, customs, and the intricately patterned costumes of the tribal peoples. Light foxing to top and fore edges. 206 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Good. Some light edge-wear. Two tears to lower edge. A few specks…
The Great Wall of China and other pieces – Kafka, Franz
Quasi-historical report on the Great Wall of China. 285 Pages. First UK Edition. Condition: Fair. Binding: Hardcover. Edge-wear to head of spine. Light edge-wear to extremities. Sunning to cloth boards with a reddish blemish to rear board. Publisher: Martin Secker Date Published: 1933 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: Fair Binding: Hardcover.
Intruder in the Dust – Faulkner. William
Crime novel exploring racial injustice in the American South. An elderly Black farmer, Lucas Beauchamp is wrongfully accused of murdering a white man. Featuring Gavin Stevens as detective. Small bookseller label to front fixed end paper. Some toning with foxing to front and rear end prelims. A spot of foxing to some pages. Grey tint…
Knight’s Gambit – Faulkner. William
Set in Yoknapatawpha County featuring Gavin Stevens, a recurring character as a detective in this collection of six stories. Small bookseller label to front fixed end paper. Some light foxing to front and rear prelims and to all edges. Grey tint to top edge. 218 Pages. First UK Edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Good. Edge-wear…
Het Nieuwe TestamentΒ A Dutch New Testament with a Cape Silver Clasp and interesting provenance. – None identified
Bound in black crushed Morocco. With a Cape Silver clasp by Lodewyk Willem Beck. Stamped “LB”. It is likely Lodewijk Williem Carl Beck, baptised at the Cape in 1785. He is known to have worked at Shortmarket Street 1842 to 1849, although a son of the same name could have taken over. Inscription in Dutch…
The Ship That Sailed to Mars – A Fantasy. – Timlin, William M
A delightful whimsical fantasy tale with 48 extraordinary colour plates and 48 pages of hand-mounted calligraphic text. A very good clean copy. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Half-vellum with gilt decoration and grey paper-covered boards. Publisher: george G Harrap & Company Ltd Date Published: 1923 Publication Place: London Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover.
The Book of Book-Plates. Vol.1-5. – Simpson, Joseph W. (ed.) and Guthrie, J. (ed.)
Published quarterly, vols. I-III bound with the original card wraps for each of the quarterly issues. By volume IV the title changes to Books and Book-Plates, a quarterly for collectors and it is now edited by James J. Guthrie. Vol. V the title changes again to The Book-Lover’s Magazine. Both volumes uniformly bound but there…
Pelargoniums of Southern Africa. 3 Volumes. – Van der Walt, J J A & Vorster, P J
Complete 3 volume set. Some toning with light foxing to front and rear end papers. Small bookseller label in Vol 1. Inscription on front fep of Vol 3. Contents clean and binding sound. Condition: Very good. Dust jackets: Good to very good. Some light edge-wear with a few small tears. Binding: Hardcover. Some light edge-wear….
Shipwrecks on and off the Coasts of Southern Africa. – Kennedy, R F (Compiled by)
A typed script catalogue and index of the books in the Johannesburg Public Library which have accounts of or references to shipwrecks on or off the South African coast between the Kunene River in South-West Africa (Namibia) and LourenΓ§o Marques. Inscription on title page. 147 Pages. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Blue faux leather boards…
John Fairbairn in South Africa – Botha, H.C
As a journalist, John Fairbairn played an important role in the campaign for a free press at the cape, abolition of slavery and the Great Trek into the interior. Bookplate on front fixed end paper. 336 pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good. Light edge-wear with some scuffing and sunning. Binding:Hardcover. Green…
Jewry and Cape Society. The Origins and Activities of the Jewish Board of Deputies for the Cape Colony. – Milton Shain.
The role played by various individuals in the formation of the community and its major institution, the Jewish Board of Deputies for the Cape Colony. An adaptation of a disseration accepted for a masters degree in history by the author. 17 illustrations. 2 small labels to front end papers. 144 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very…
Bishop for the Hottentots. African Memories 1883-1909 – John Marie Simon O.S.F.S & Bouchard, Angeline (Transl)
Memoir of a catholic bishop in Namibia. Bookplate. Faint tide-mark to frontispiece. Some pencil notes at the rear. 235 Pages. Condition: Good. Dust jacket: Fair. Edge-wear to extremities. Abrasions. Reinforced with paper on the verso. Binding:Hardcover. Mild edge-wear. Publisher: Benziger Brothers, Inc. Date Published: 1959 Publication Place: New York Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Has Dust…
Twenty-Five Years in a Waggon. Sport and Travel in South Africa. – Anderson, Andrew A
No. 790 of a limited edition of 1000 numbered copies. From the flyleaf: “The author was a Colonial magistrate at the Cape before he embarked on his adventures, travelling to virtually every area of Southern Africa including the Kalahari Desert, Namaqualand, Damaraland and Ovamboland.” His writing provides much of interest to the anthropologist; botanist and…
The Rock-Engravings of Griqualand West & Bechuanaland South Africa – Wilman, M.
From the flap: “An historical introduction to the study of rock engravings and their distribution throughout Southern Africa…”. Includes a bibliography, index and 16 figures. 70 Plates most of which have two or more photographic illustrations. Fold-out map at the rear. 77 Pages of text. Numerous black and white photographs. Small inscription with previous owner’s…
The Korana. An Account of their Customs and their History. – Engelbrecht, J A
An important historical resource on the culture and history of this nomadic Khoiokhoi group who lived primarily along the the Orange (Gariep), Vaal, and Harts rivers in Southern Africa. Documenting their traditional way of life, including their origin, migrational, history, culture, social structure, customs, hunting practices and spiritual beliefs. Errata note tipped in. 9 Plates…
The Life of a South African Tribe. (2 Vols) – Junod, Henri A
Names of previous owners to front feps. Vol 1. Social Life. (Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Publ. 1927). Split to front end papers. Mild scattered foxing. Light toning to edges. 559 Pages. Vol 2. The Psychic Life. (First Edition. Publ. 1913). Mild foxing to prelims with foxing to all page edges. Faded gilt lettering to…
Bantu Heritage – Junod, H P. Duggan-Cronin (photography)
A study of the Bantu groups of Southern Africa, based on the author’s lectures given to the Transvaal Mine Medical Officers’ Association who were responsible for the medical care of the workmen on the gold mines. 40 plates, 1 frontispiece. Faint smokey odour. 155 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Black boards with…
The Natives of South Africa. Their Economic and Social Condition – South African Native Races Committee (edited by)
A factual report by a committee documenting the welfare of Black South Africans before Union, detailing their social and economic realities. 3 maps. Uncut pages. Toning to end papers. Scattered foxing to contents. Foxing to all page edges. 360 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Light blue cloth boards with reddish lettering to front…
Sex and Repression in Savage Society – Malinowski, Bronislav
A study of the Melanesian insular communities, analysing the constitution of the family and describing the life of a typical matriarchal community. The second part deals with complexes in their myths, dreams, obscene language and mental disorders. Small name stamp of previous owner on front fep. 285 Pages. Fourth Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket:…
Slave Trade with Madagascar. / Slawe-Handel met Madagaskar – Westra, Pieter & Armstrong, James C (Eds)
The journals of the Cape Slaver Leijdsman, 1715 / Die joernale van die Kaapse slaweskip Leijdsman, 1715 Insribed by the author. Hendrik FrappΓ© and Willem van die Lint were sent to Madagascar to secure more slaves after the Small Epidemic at the Cape in 1713 decimated the slave labour force of the Dutch East India…
Masters of the Castle – Picard, Hymen
Pen sketches of the Dutch Commanders and Governors of the Cape of Good Hope. 1652-1795 and 1803 – 1806. Some mild foxing to front and rear end papers, top and fore-edges. 231 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Good. Some edge-wear and scuffing with sunning to spine. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards with gilt…
The South African Household Guide. – Barnes, A R & Glossop, Allerley (Revision)
Practical hints on plain cooking, with recipes, useful general hints; medical advice to mothers, etc; household work; notes for farmers; to which have been added special articles on hygiene, physical culture, dairying, gardening and poultry. Reinforced at the front gutter. Discolouration marks from old cellotape to the front fep. Scattered spots of foxing. 348 Pages….
Die Siel van die Mier – Marais, Eugene N
A fascinating study on the psychology and collective intelligence of termites originally published in Afrikaans. Some toning and a spot of foxing to some of the pages. No dust jacket. 182 Pages. First Edition. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Cloth boards with mild edge-wear to corners and head and foot of spine Publisher: J L…
Olduvai Gorge: My Search for Early Man – Leakey, Mary D
The discovery of the fossilized skull of Australopithecus boisei by the author. Here she describes her life at the gorge, the advancement of archaeological methods, the different stratigraphic levels or beds, various tool industries discovered and the fossil flora and fauna. 2 maps and a stratigraphic column. Bookplate of previous owner to front fixed end…
The Travellers’ Guide to Kenya and Uganda. No. 8 – None Identified
Numerous b&w illustrations, vintage advertising and routies. Colour map at the rear. Includes an extra map from the Royal Geographical Society No. 26th 1900. Some mild cockling to lower corners. 246 Pages. Condition: Fair to good. Binding: Softcover. Lacks the spine title and a small piece of the head of the spine. Some small abrasions…