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.
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:…
Landscape to Literature. Catalogue – Skotnes, Pippa (Curated)
A scrapbook catalogue published for the small exhibition to honour Lucy Lloyd’s achievement, the vision of Wilhelm Bleek and the courage of lllkabbo. Numerous illustration. First Edition. Condition: very good. Softcover binding. Publisher: Michaelis School of Fine Art Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: very good. Binding: Softcover Dimensions: 8vo.
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 Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902. Volume VI only. – Breytenbach, J H
Deel VI Die Beleg Van Makeking Tot Met Die Slag Van Bergendal Text: Afrikaans. Deel VI Die Beleg Van Makeking Tot Met Die Slag Van Bergendal. Uitegee met toestemming van die Minister van Kuns, Kultuur, Wetenskap en Tegnologie. A number of maps and b&w photographs. First Edition. Condition: very good – very slight lean to…
Die Baas Tert Bakker – Bester, A.W.
Spesialis in Skilwerkos, ens. ‘n Famielie erfstuk vir die Suidafrikaanse huisvroue. “The master pie bakerspecialist 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…
The Hollow Tree – Paine, Albert Bigelow
A collection of children’s short stories written by American author and biographer Albert Bigelow Paine. First Edition. Condition: fair – sunning to spine, edge wear, bumping to corners, some age appropriate wear to front and back board, last page torn with some loss. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Archibald Constable & co Date Published: 1898 Publication Place:…
Age of Iron – Coetzee, J M
A novel set in Cape Town in 1986. “A lament for a country on the brink of change and for all the children lost to South Africa’s revolutionary violence and repression. ” First Edition. Condition: very good – slight lean to spine and age toning to pages. Jacket condition: very good – sunning to spine…
New Selected Poems 1966-1987 – Heaney, Seamus
Collection of Seamus Heaney Poems. Seamus Justin Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight lean to spine and edge wear to spine. Softcover binding. Publisher: Faber & Faber Date Published: 1990 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes Condition: very…
Cheese – Van Slyke, Lucius L. & Price, Walter V.
A Treatise on the Manufacture of American Cheddar Cheese and Some Other Varieties – Intended as a Text-Book for the Use of Dairy Teachers and Students in Classroom and Workroom – Prepared Also as a Handbook and Work of Reference for the Daily Use of Practical Cheese-Makers in Cheese Factory Operations. Contains b&w illustrations and…
Tom Gringle’s Log – Scott, Michael
Introduction by Mowbray Morris. The adventurous life of a young midshipman, Tom Cringle, during the Napoleonic Wars and in the Caribbean. First Edition. Condition: very good – embossed decorative cover, sunning to edges of front board, and bumping to edges. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Macmillan & Co. Date Published: 1895 Publication Place: London First Edition: Yes…
The Life of the Bee – Maeterlinck, Maurice
Translated by Alfred Sutro. Maeterlinck awarded the Nobel award in literature in 1911. Ownership signature of John X Merriman the first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. First English Edition. Condition: very good – red staining to front and back board, bumping to corners, and slight edge wear. Hardcover binding. Publisher: George Allen Date Published:…
Thunderball – Fleming, Ian
Thunderball is the ninth book and the eighth novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Debossed skeleton hand on front board. Gilt lettering on spine. First Edition. Condition: very good – very slight lean to spine, foxing on page edges, and book label affixed to paste down endpaper. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Jonathan Cape Date Published:…
Goldfinger – Fleming, Ian
Goldfinger is the seventh novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Debossed skull on cover with gilt gold coins in eye sockets. Gilt lettering on spine. First Edition. Condition: good – slight lean to spine, light splitting of cover from spine, foxing to page edges, and prior owner’s name written in ink on free endpaper….
The Little Karoo. – Jose Burman
Also known as Kanaland. Chapters on the rise and fall of ostrich-towns, Cango Caves, kloofs and passes and social life of the villages. A number of colour and b&w photographs. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight edge wear to corners. Jacket condition: good – edge wear, foxing to front and back panel, edges folding….
The Plains of Camdeboo – Palmer, Eve
A personal account of the Karoo, one of the world’s strangest and most unfamiliar regions. Part biography, part history, part natural history. B&W photographs and illustrations. First Edition. Condition: very good – very slight foxing to page edges and paste-down endpapers, prior owner’s name written in ink to half-title page. Jacket condition: very good –…
Return to Camdeboo – Palmer, Eve
Return to Camdeboo: A Century’s Karoo Foods and Flavours Memoir and regional food book. First Edition. Condition: very good – edge wear and slight crease to front panel, ink writing on free endpaper from prior owner. Softcover binding. Publisher: Tafelberg Date Published: 1992 Publication Place: Cape Town First Edition: Yes Condition: very good – edge…
Trout Fishing in natal – Crass, R.S.
Includes fold out map. History and practice of trout fishing in Natal along the rivers and other water features. Revised edition. Condition: good – wear to spine, folds in front wrap, loosening of spine, foxing to paste-down endpapers. Softcover binding. Publisher: The Daily News Date Published: 1975 Publication Place: Kimberley Condition: good – wear to…
Major-General Francis James Claude Pigott – Carr, Peter
Appears to be Major-General Francis James Claude Pigott. Inscribed: “Always affectionately you second son, Frank”. Major-General Francis James Claude Pigott was born 1910 in Tokyo and spent the beginning part of his life in the army in Japan as a linguist and fighting against the Japanese in WW2. In 1933 he was commissioned into the…
Die Groot Afrikaanse Familienaamboek – Pama, C
Language: Afrikaans. Approximately 3000 Afrikaans families and 450 colour family emblems are discussed in this volume. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight edge wear and tide mark to front paste-down endpaper. Jacket condition: very good – tide marks on inner wrap, and bumping and wear to corners. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Human & Rousseau Date…
Die Beste van Eugene Marais – Rousseau, Leon (ed.)
Anthologized collection of works by the pioneering South African poet, writer, and naturalist Eugene N. Marais. In Afrikaans. First Edition. Condition: very good – slight bumping to edges and foxing to endpapers. Jacket condition: very good – slight edge wear and sunning to spine. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Rubion-Pers Date Published: 1986 Publication Place: Cape Town…
Black in White America – Freed, Leonard
Photo-essay by documentary photographer Leonard Freed that documents African American life and the civil rights movement between 1963 and 1965 Unknown Edition. Condition: very good – slight edge wear, two dimples top front wrap, and rear wrap corner is folded. Softcover binding. Publisher: Grossman Publishers Date Published: c.1969 Publication Place: New York Condition: very good…
Cook and Enjoy it – de Villiers, S.J.A.
Cook and Enjoy It is the English version of the original Afrikaans cookbook, Kook en Geniet. Seventh Completely Revised Edition. Condition: very good – sunning to spine, bumped edges, and foxing to paste down and free endpapers. Hardcover binding. Publisher: Human & Rousseau Date Published: 1992 Publication Place: Cape Town Condition: very good – sunning…