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.
The Transvaal from Within: A Private Record of Public Affairs – J.P. FitzPatrick
A firsthand account of political life in the Transvaal leading up to the second Boer War. Ink inscription to free end page. Paste down book plate to paste down end paper. 452 pages. 6th Impression. Condition: Good. Hardcover Publisher: William Heinemann Date Published: 1899 Publication Place: London Condition: Good Binding: Hardcover
Thrice Through the Dark Continent: A Record of Journeyings across Africa during the years 1913-1916 – J. Du Plessis
A historical travel and missionary account, through Congo, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Mozambique, Cameroon. and Nigeria, written by South African theologian and author Johannes du Plessis. Contains 60 plate photographs and a map. 351 pages. 1st edition. Condition: Good. Slight edge wear. Hardcover Publisher: Longmans, Green and Co. Date Published: 1917 Publication Place: London First Edition:…
A Guide to the Plant & Soil Nematodes of South Africa – Juan Heyns
A botanical guide to plant parasites within Southern Africa. 233 Pages. 1st edition. Condition: Very Good. Softcover. Publisher: A.A.Baalkema Date Published: 1971 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Softcover
An Epoch of the Political History of South Africa: In the life of Frederic Hugh Page Cresswell. (With a letter) – Margret Creswell
An in-depth historical account of the life and political career of Frederic Hugh Page Cresswell written by his wife. Contains a hand written letter from the author. 174 Pages. 1st Edition. Condition: Very Good. Hardcover. Publisher: A.A.Balkema Date Published: 1956 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very Good Binding: Hardcover
Man en Monument: die lewe en werk van Gerard Moerdijk – Irma Vermeulen
An Afrikaans biography of the achitect Gerard Moerdijk written by his daughter. 155 pages. 1st edition. Condition: Very Good. Hardcover Publisher: J.L van Schaik Date Published: 1999 Publication Place: Pretoria First Edition: Yes Condition: Very Good Binding: Hardcover
Afstande – Dan Sleigh
An Afrikaans historical novel exploring the foundation of Western Civilization based on the Anabasis by the Greek soldier and writer Xenophon. 620 Pages. 1st edition, condition: Very good, dustjacket: Very good. Hardcover Publisher: Tafelberg Date Published: 2010 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition:…
Paul du Toit: A Painter’s Journey – Kevan Martin
A historical overview of Paul du Toit’s life and work. Contains colour images of Paul du Toit’s illustrations and paintings. 112 pages. Condition very good, dustjacket: very good. 1cm closed teat to front panel and edgewear to head of spine. Publisher: Fernwood Press Date Published: 2004 Publication Place: Johannesburg First Edition: Yes Binding: Hardcover Has…
Thomas Bowler in Mauritius – Frank R. Bradlow
A Detail in the History of Contacts between the Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius Contains 16 black and white plate illustrations after Thomas Bowler. 4 folding plates. 64 Pages. Publisher: A.A.Balkema Date Published: 1970 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover
Peter and Wendy – J.M. Barrie
1st edition copy of Peter and Wendy containing 13 black and white illustrated plates by F.D. Bedford. Shows first edition points: undated; verso of title-page is blank; verso of half title has a list of eight books “By The Same Author”; the frontispiece. “the Neverland” is not included in the pagination. 267 Pages. Condition: good….
Eilande – D. Sleigh
An Afrikaans historical novel exploring the first 50 years of Dutch settlement at the Cape. 757 Pages. Publisher: Tafelberg Date Published: 2002 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: Very good
A History of the South African Museum 1825-1975 – R.F.H. Summers
A historical account of the South African Museum fr0m 1825 to 1975, containg illustrations and photographs. 245 pages. 1st edition. Condition: Very good. Dust jacket: Very good. Slight edge wear to front panel. Hardcover Publisher: A.A.Baalkema Date Published: 1975 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover Has Dust Jacket: Yes…
From Refugee to Citizen: A Sociological Study of the Immigrants from Hitler-Europe who settled in Southern Africa – Frieda H Sichel
A sociological study of World War II European refugees who settled in Southern Africa. 8 pages containg black and white photographs. 169 pages. Condition: very good. Publisher: Pioneer Press Date Published: 1966 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Very good Binding: Hardcover
Bridging the Divide: The Story of a Boer-British Family – Angela Read Lloyd
A family memoir and historical account of a Boer-British family. Contains 47 pages of black and white and colour photographs. 465 pages. 1st editon. Condition: Good Dustjacket: Good. Slight sunning to the spine. Hardcover Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers Date Published: 2002 Publication Place: Johannesburg and Cape Town First Edition: Yes Signed: Yes Condition: Good Binding:…
A Colossus of Roads: Thomas Bain – Patricia Storrar
Thomas Bain left the Cape an impressive bequest of mountain passes and a handful of roads. Working with the minimum of mchanical aids he made perhaps the biggest single contribution to the opening up of the Cape Colony. Illustrated map of Southern part of South Africa as end papers. Some foxing to the prelims. 108…
In Our Own Skins: A political History of the Coloured People – Richard van der Ross
An 84 year historical perspective on the Coloured community. 216 Pages. Contains a foreword by Franklin Sonn. Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers Date Published: 2015 Publication Place: Johannesburg and Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: Good Binding: Paperback
From Cape Town to Ladysmith: An Unfinished Record of the South African War – G.W. Steevens
An account of the author’s time during the Boer war edited by Vernon Blackburn. Previous owner’s address in black ink on both the paste down and free end paper. 180 Pages. Contains 2 maps one of which is a fold out. Publisher: William Blackwood and Sons Date Published: 1900 Publication Place: Edinburgh and London Condition:…
Jock of the Bushveld – Fitzpatrick, Percy
Classic African children’s story. 475 Pages. Condition: good, in a poor jacket. Later edition Publisher: Longmans, Green and Co. Date Published: 1964 Publication Place: London Condition: good Has Dust Jacket: Yes Jacket Condition: poor
Jean Welz 1975. Portfolio – Welz, Jean
Portfolio containing 10 colour lithographed prints and one signed and numbered charcoal reproduction. Also contained in the portfolio is a prospectus for the work, a short introductory text by W.E.G. Louw and a signed note from the publisher. Produced to the finest standards for the artists 75th birthday and limited to 300 copies. A small…
Serious Business – Dowd, J.H. and Spender, B.E.
Nostlgic illustrations of children at play. Wear to the boards. Internally clean Publisher: Country Life Date Published: 1946 Publication Place: London
Adamastor – Campbell, Roy
Contains early poems, Adamastor and satirical fragments. With a preface and seven drawings. Very good. Half calf over blue linen boards. Binding lightly worn Publisher: Paul Koston Date Published: 1950 Publication Place: London Condition: Very good
History of Cape Silver 1700 – 1870 – Heller, David
A History of Cape Silver : signed by the author on title page. Illustrations showing Cape silversmiths’ marks, decorations, examples of silverware produced between 1700 and 1870. 90 plates plus frontispiece. Inscription to front pastedown. Some toning to front and rear feps. 276 Pages. Contents clean and binding sound. 1st Edition. Condition: Very good. Dust…
Her South African Ancestors (Including the Featherstones) – Cronwright, Samuel Cron
First Edition. Octavo (23cm); 101pp; illustrated with photographic plates. A family history compiled by the husband of renowned South African author Olive Schreiner. The work traces the lineage of the Featherstone and Cronwright families and their contemporaries, providing a detailed record of 19th-century settler life and colonial genealogy in the Cape. A valuable primary resource…
Full Many A Glorious Morning – Lawrence G.Green
“A recent journey by rail and road in four countries of Southern Africa with the traveller going back on old tracks, striking out in new directions and moving along the highways and byways of memory.” Travelling through Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Kalahari, Kakamas, Keimoes, and other little-known places. Age-toning to page-edges. Previous owners names on end…
Grow Lovely, Growing Old – Green, Lawrence G
Capturing the atmosphere of the Cape in far off days. The story of Cape Town’s three centuries – the streets, the houses, the characters, the legends, traditions and folklore, the laughter and tears. Sketches by Sir Charles D’Oyly. 12 illustrations. 271 Pages. Contents clean and binding sound. Inscription to the half title 1st editin. Condition:…
The Great War 1899 – 1900 – Docking, A. Shipway
Scarce volume of Anglo-Boer War poetry. Wear to head and foot of spine. Sight sunning to the spine. Condition: good Publisher: Greening & Co. Date Published: 1902 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes
The White Tribe of Africa. South Africa in Perspective – Harrison, David
An historical survey documenting the rise of Afrikaner nationalism from the Great Trek through the peak of the Apartheid era. Originally written to accompany the acclaimed BBC television series of the same name, Harrison’s work offers a nuanced look into the Afrikaner world-view, exploring the historical forces—from the Anglo-Boer War to the 1948 Nationalist victory—that…
Plans for a Better World – Smuts. J.C.
A selection of speeches by Smuts. Very scarce in the original dustjacket. Previous owner’s name, some light foxing and sunning to the jacket. A very good copy. Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton Date Published: 1942 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Has Dust Jacket: Yes
A Guide to the Official Records of the Colony of Natal – Webb, C de B.
An invaluable resource for researchers. It includes Unpublished Government Record, Principal Publications, Statistical Returns, Tabular Statements, Sessional Papers, Reports of Commissions and Papers Published for General Information. Publisher: University of Natal Press Date Published: 1968 Publication Place: Natal Condition: Very good
Khaki and Blue. Thirty-Five Years’ Service in South Africa – Godley, R S
Of historic importance as an authentic account of the Revolutionary strike at Johannesburg in 1922. The author’s reminiscences cover a period of continuous service with the Police Force from 1896 to 1921. B&W photographs. Some wormholes to boards and first few pages. Tinted top edge. 269 pages. Binding firm. 1st Edition. Condition: Good. Dust jacket:…
Through Shot and Flame – Kestell, J.D.
An account of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). Kestell, who served as a chaplain and was part of the “Orange Free State triumvirate,” provides an eyewitness narrative of key battles like Colenso and the storming of Platrand, as well as the “Great De Wet Hunts”. The book is noted for its moving descriptions of the…