Die Siel van die Mier (first edition, 1934)

Marais, Eugene

Description:

As well as being rare and collectable, this book, in its original Afrikaans, is famous for its foreword, in which Eugene Marais summarises the proven charge that the noted Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck had plagiarised Marais's work. Maeterlinck had published, originally in French but also in English "The life of the white ant" as his own research. The substance of Marais's studies had first appeared in South African publications including "The Star" and "Huisgenoot" well before this time and had apparently found their way to Maeterlinck. This first edition of Marais's own book was published shortly after the leading English psychological journal "Psyche" had concluded in its Vol XIII of 1933 that "There cannot be any doubt whatever about Eugene Marais' priority." Marais had submitted the facts to the journal so that if he were to publish his work in book form he would not himself be accused of plagiarising Maeterlinck, who was then at the height of his reputation.

This is a collectable copy. The grey cloth-boards, green to all three faces, are unworn and fine. The binding, which includes head and tail bands, has loosened slightly. The free endpapers are lightly sunned. There is an owner's name, possibly in pencil, on the front free leaf. The untrimmed bottom page edges are foxed and there are two or three small foxing spots in the text itself. On the other hand, the frontispiece, the three other inserted plates and the 182 pp of text and line drawings are unmarked and undiscoloured, making this a desirable copy.

Details:

  • Publisher: Van Schaik
  • Publisher Place: Pretoria
  • Date of Publication: 1934
  • Edition: First
  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 205 x 150
  • Lot No: 251
  • Hammer Price: $197
  • Bids: 10
  • Visits: 177
  • Estimate: $150
  • Reserve: $100

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Seller Details:

  • Name: Fontein Books
  • Address: 27 Voortrekker Street, Philippolis 9970
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country of Origin: South Africa
  • Email: fontein@wol.co.za
  • Website:
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Internet bank transfer or Visa or Mastercard
  • Trade Association: AA Approved
  • Additional Information: Fontein Books has for several years participated in Antiquarian Auctions and its predecessor. It specialises in historical and contemporary books on the Free State and Northern Karoo, and is also an active buyer and seller on commission in these and other fields. Fontein's owner, Richard Proctor-Sims, was an editor, writer and small publisher until 2005, when he moved from Johannesburg to Philippolis, the first settlement (1822) north of the Gariep or Orange River, where he opened his first physical bookshop (to which buyers and sellers are welcome), with reasonable holdings in Africana, both Anglo-Boer wars, biography, history, military history, natural history and travel. He regularly visits Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and offers to deliver heavy or valuable books or sets to these cities on such visits. Richard Proctor-Sims retains the copyright of Fontein's Antiquarian Auction descriptions and these may not be reproduced without permission and acknowledgment.