In the Early Days. Reminiscences of Pioneer Life on the South African Diamond Fields (1910)

Overall, this is only a good copy of Angove's Reminiscences, which take us back to the diggings as they began in 1870: hence the low reserve. A year later, in 1871, only six months after the rush, the development of the Kimberley Mine was very considerable, as shown in one of the 21 plates, all present, though not in the order listed at the front of the book; these take us up to 1910, the year of the book's publication, with "Market Square, Kimberley, 1910", contrasted with the same view 38 years earlier. There are two chapters on "I D B" (illicit diamond buying), one on its early stages and the second with the title "More I D B Tricks".

Though still presentable, as the image shows, the original red cloth-boards, black to the front and spine, are rubbed and stained and soft at the spine. Both endpapers are cracked, with the front two leaves loose, but not detached, and the binding is shaken. There are 1916 and 1933 ownership names on the front free endpaper. For the rest, the ix + 213 pp of text + 21 pp of inserted plates are unmarked and unfoxed and retain their original crisp whiteness.

The copy deserves a small spine-strengthening repair, without disturbing the attractive and unusual original case.