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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Schlavoniae, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae, Finitimarumque – Hirschvogel, Augustin
This copper plate engraved map spans the eastern Adriatic coast and the broader Western Balkans. It defines historic territories including Slavonia, Croatia, Carniola (Slovenia), Istria (Croatia/Slovenia/Italy), and Bosnia. Latin text to the verso, first line ending Regio-, indicating a first state of this important map of the Balkans. Condition: very good, uncoloured, wide margins, some…
Walachia, Servia, Bulgaria, Romania – Mercator, Gerard
A hand coloured copperplate engraved map covering the central and eastern portions of the Balkan Peninsula, tracking the lower basin of the Danube River down to the Black Sea, this region was the strategic frontier of the Ottoman Empire. Romania, Moldavia, Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia & Kosovo.Northern Greece & European Turkey are covered. Condition: very…
Sclavomia, Croatia, Bosnia cum Dalmatiae Parte – Mercator, Gerard
A hand coloured copperplate engraved map that spans from the Drava River in the north down into Dalmatia, and from present-day Slovenia in the west to Belgrade, Serbia in the east. German text to the verso. From the German edition of Blaeu’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Condition: good. Some wear and fraying to the lower part…
Leodiensis Dioecesis – Blaeu,
A hand coloured copperplate engraved map of the Belgian province of Liege, showing the course of the Meuse River and the cities of Antwerp, Liege, Namur, Maastricht, and many others. Oriented to the West. Very good condition, wide margin and center fold. Strong original colour. German text to the verso. Sheet size: 60.4 x 49.4cm…
le Gouvernement de Calais et Pays Reconquis – Blaeu, Joan
Hand coloured copperplate engraving. Two small repaired tears to the bottom edge. Latin text to the verso. Gilt to the sensitive hand colouring. Map of Calais and surrounds in France. Sheet size: 64.4 x 56.4cm Date Published: 1662
La Saxe Contenant les Routtes et les Postes – Le Rouge, G.L.
A post-rout map of Saxony in Germany. The map has the city of Leipzig at its center. Trimmed outside the platemark. One repaired hole (0.5cm). Platemark size: 55.5 x 49cm Date Published: 1743 Publication Place: Paris
Nobilis Hannoniae Comitatus Descriptio – Ortelius, Abraham
Hand coloured copperplate engraving from the French edition of Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. An area covering modern day Belgium and France. French text to the verso. Central fold and wide margins. Condition: very good Sheet size: 58 x 49cm Platemark: 49 x 38cm Date Published: 1598
Karstia Carniola Histria et Windorum Marchia – Mercator, Gerardus and Blaeu, Willem Janszoon
A copperplate engraving with hand colouring. Central fold and wide margins. French text to the verso and the number 602. Covering an area of modern day Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and the gulf of Venice. Engraved with cities, rivers, and rugged mountainous terrain rendered in the classic “molehill” style. A compass rose and a classic sailing…
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam – Fitzgerald, Edward (trans)
Eight illustrations all protected by tissue guards, with light foxing. Decorative boarders printed in two colours to the text pages. Printed on heavy stock with untrimmed edges. Inscription dated 25-12-1918. Condition: Very good. Binding: Hardcover. Dark blue calf boards with gilt borders. Front cover top left has discoloration mark. Back cover has sunning close to…
Cartoons of the Boer War – Staniforth, J M
Reprinted from the “Western Mail”. One cartoon with explanation per page. Toning to all pages. 112 Pages. 3rd Edition. Condition: Good. Bookbinder’s tape repair to the spine. Some general wear to the binding. Binding: Hardcover. Embossed patterned cloth boards. Edge-wear to all extremities. Publisher: Western Mail Date Published: 1900 Publication Place: Cardiff Condition: Good to…
Young Mrs. Murray Goes to Bloemfontein. – Murray, Joyce (Ed)
Letters edited by Joyce Murray The story of a bride who spent the first years of her married life in Bloemfontein in its early days. Light foxing to all edges. 156 Pages. Condition: Very good. Hardcover. Patterned boards over cloth spine. Some foxing to the spine. Publisher: A A Balkema Date Published: 1954 Publication Place:…
The Story of an African Farm – Iron, Ralph (Olive Schreiner)
An early edition of this classic South African novel. 296 Pages. Some scuffing to the dark green/black boards. Inscription to the fep. New Edition. (second). Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Publisher: Chapman and Hall Date Published: 1889 Publication Place: London Condition: Good Binding: Hardcover
The Complete Short Stories of Jack London Volumes I, II and III – Jack London
210 of the author’s short stories. The chronological collection highlights his incredible range across the Northern frontier, Southern Seas, and social science fiction. Condition: Good to very good. Hardcover. Dust jackets: Good, some rubbing and creasing (all 3 volumes). Volume one: 2cm closed tear to bottom edge of spine. Volume two: small tear at top…
The Historical ‘Conversations’ of Sir George Cory – Berning, J.M. (ed.)
This volume records the 62 conversations or oral interviews Cory conducted with elderly people, black and white, about the history of South Africa in general, and the Eastern Cape frontier area in particular. Volume 9 of The Grahamstown Series. Condition: Very good. Dustjacket: very good. Binding: Hardcover. Brown cloth boards. Gilt lettering on spine, gilt…
Pioneer Travellers of South Africa. – Forbes, Vernon S
A Geographical Comentary upon Routes, Records, Observations and Opinions of Travellers at the Cape 1750 – 1800. The period between 1750-1800 saw great advances in exploration of the interior regions and expansion of knowledge of the physical and biological sciences. Notable travellers discussed are A Beutler, C P Thunberg, Francis Masson, Andrew Sparrman, Hendrik Swellengrebel,…
The Reminiscences of Amelia de Henningsen (Notre Mère). – Young, Margaret (ed)
Life story of the remarkable nun who dedicated her life to the orphans, the sick and the poor for 55 years in the Eastern Cape including the turbulent period of the Frontier War of 1850-3. Volume 10 of The Graham’s Town Series. Condition: Very good. Jacket condition: Very good Binding: Hard cover. Brown cloth boards…
Sir Andrew Smith. His Life, Letters and Works – Kirby, Percival R
Sir Andrew Smith, known for his scientific and anthropological studies spent fifteen years in South Africa where he found much scope for his talents as a naturalist. Inscription to front fep. 358 Pages. Included is a letter in the author’s hand. Condition:Very good. Hardcover. No dustjacket. Publisher: A A Balkema Date Published: 1965 Publication Place:…
The First South African. The Life and Times of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick – Cartwright, A P
No. 110 of the special de luxe edition of 250 copies. Bound in full green leather. Some small patches of loss to the green leather at the head and foot of spine and foredges of the binding. Condition: Good to very good. Hardcover Publisher: Purnell Date Published: 1971 Publication Place: Cape Town, Johannesburg, London First…
Heraldry of South African Families. Coats of Arms / Crests / Ancestry – Pama, C
Dealing with South African coats of arms as a whole. Tipped in colour plate of the Van Imhoff crest. Chapters include: Origin and development of heraldry in Western Europe; dutch heraldry; Bell- Krynauw collection; Heraldry in England; and Armorial. Includes a bibliography and Index of arms. 365 Pages. Inscribed by the author on the fep….
Gravelinga Gallis Gravelines Dicta – Blaeu, Joan and Willem Janzoon
Copperplate engraved map / plan of the French town of Gravelines. Central fold, uncoloured, old tape to the edges,. very good condition. Dutch text to the verso Sheet size: 59.4 x 48cm Platemark: 51 x 39.5cm Date Published: 1649
Nobilibus ac Amplissimis Dominis Urbis ac territorii Bergansis – de la Fontaine
A hand coloured copperplate engraved map of the Bergen district in Flanders. Central fold, Latin text to the verso. Old repaired tear to the upper left margin. Old tape to the page edges, well outside the platemark. Some mount burn outside the platemark. Sheet size: 58.5 x 49.5cm Platemark: 53.5 x 42cm Condition very good…
Descriptio veteris Agri Batavi et Frisii – Alting, Menso
Copperplate engraved map of old Netherlands and Friesland. Uncoloured, some age toning, tape to the page edges, well clear of the platemark. Verso blank. Sheet size: 49 x 38cm Platemark: 42.5 x 32.5cm Condition: very good Date Published: 1697
Artesia Comitatus Amstelodami – Hondius, Henricus
Copperplate engraved map of Artois (Artesia) in northern France, including the towns of Calais, Lille and Boulogne. Latin text to the verso. Hand colouring. Small patch of repaired loss to the central bottom edge. Central fold, old tape to the edges, well outside the platemark. Sheet size: 54.6 x 44.6cm Platemark: 49 x 38cm Date…
Comitatuum Hannoniae et Namurci Descriptio – Jansonius, Joannes
Copperplate engraving with early hand colouring. This map shows the countries of Hainaut and Namur, modern dy Belgium and northern France. Latin text to the verso. Central fold, old tape to the edges, well outside the plate mark. Sheet size: 54.5 x 44.5cm Platemark: 50 x 39cm. Condition: very good Date Published: circa 1643 Condition:…
Nova Antiquae Flandriae – Fabius, Nicasius
A new map old ancient Flanders. Copperplate engraving with central fold. Some age toning, old tape to the edges, outside of the platemark. Sheet size: 45.5 x 40.5cm Image: 45.5 x 33.3cm Date Published: circa 1641 Condition: very good Dimensions: 45.5 x 33.5cm
“Briton or Boer” Special Map of the Boer Republics – Wood & Ortlepp
A highly detailed folding map compiled for the British Field Intelligence Department during the Anglo-Boer War. Showing the sphere of war with insets of Pretoria, Kimberley, South Africa, Dundee, Ladysmith and Johannesburg. Condition: Very good. Some age appropriate toning and foxing. Some professional repairs to the folding wraps. Size: 91 x 61cm. Paper laid down…
The Stars at Noon. Inscribed. – Cochran, Jacqueline
With inscribed photograph and other ephemera First edition copy of this pioneering aviatrix’s biography, inscribed by Cochran to fellow aviator Mike Vialls of 1 Squadron SANDF. Also pasted to the fep is Cochran’s postage stamp and one of Eddie Rickenbacker. A 20.5 x 25.5cm inscribed photograph of Cochran, another unsigned photograph, a printed obituary and…
Colombia Prima or South America Drawn from the Large Map in Eight Sheets – De la Rochette
Some hand colouring to the borders of countries. A large map in four sheets, a reduction of the larger 8 section, first state map of 1811. Condition: good. Some age toning and spotting, short tears to the margins. This is the 5th state with additional Humbolt data along the bottom. Publisher: James Wyld Date Published:…
Carte Particuliere de la Cotte Occidentale de l’Afrique…de la Senega et de Gambie – d’ Anville, Jean
Western coastline of Africa from Mauritania to Guinea-Bissau. Showing Senegal and Gambia with much detail of the coast and along the main rivers. Copper plate engraving printed on two elephant folio sheets of heavy laid paper. Each sheet 83 x 55.5cm. Condition : good. Some light fraying to the edges. Date Published: 1751
Carta Esferica de Las Islas de Los Azores o Terceras… – Tofino, Vincente Miguel de San
This chart by Vincente Tofino, a prominent Spanish cartographer, is from the “Atlas Maritimo de Espana” and engraved by F. Selma. The chart focuses on the Azores Islands, a crucial mid-Atlantic archipelago for navigation during the Age of Sail. Condition: good. Neatly repaired central damage with small amount of repaired loss. Copper plate engraving on…