Zacharias Wagner. Second Commander of the Cape (1967, ex-lib)

Spohr, O H

Description:

This book provides fascinating insights into the life of the Cape's little known second commander, a long-standing Dutch West and East Indies Company official of German nationality, usually known in South African history as Wagenaar, who served for just more than four years as Van Riebeeck's successor before resigning in relatively advanced age because of ill-health.

In addition to being an experienced administrator, Wagner was a man of of literary and artist accomplishments, being responsible for an "Animal Book" which he drew in Brazil during a relatively long 1634-1641 spell there in the service of the Dutch West Indian Company, and from which 30 examples are reproduced in this book.

This copy has not been badly treated by its library service and opportunities to procure better copies are rare. There is no dustjacket, the covers are quite extensively rubbed and there are library paraphernalia on the spine, front endpapers and title page. The 103 pp of text and illustrations, all on art paper, are in excellent condition, and the half-tone reproductions, especially those from the "Animal Book", again do credit, as in the book described in Lot 161, to the skill of Cape Town's Gothic Printing Company.

 

Details:

  • Publisher: A A Balkema
  • Publisher Place: Cape Town and Amsterdam
  • Date of Publication: 1967
  • Edition: First
  • Binding Condition: Good
  • Overall Condition: Good
  • Size: 245 x 152
  • Lot No: 165
  • Hammer Price: $25
  • Bids: 2
  • Visits: 19
  • Estimate: $25
  • Reserve: $20

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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.