The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1876)
R20,000

Sixth Edition, with additions and corrections to 1872.
Eighteenth Thousand printing.

Published in 1876, this version of "The Origin of Species" represents the final significant revision of Charles Darwin's seminal work during his lifetime. While the first edition was published in 1859, the 1872 sixth edition (and its 1876 reprint) is notable for containing Darwin's final defenses against contemporary critics and his most refined terminology.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/natural-history/the-origin-of-species-by-charles-darwin-1876

See more on Natural History on the website.

A Visit to the South African Gold Fields (1870)
R20,000

A very rare and highly fugitive booklet, an account of an expedition to the goldfields of the Tati (Tatin) in what is now Botswana, Southern Africa's first gold rush. The discovery there had been made by the explorer Karl Mauch, who announced it in a letter in the Transvaal Argus in December of 1867. This caused enormous excitement, but it transpired that the gold ore was low grade and not widely distributed, and the boom fizzled.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/zimbabwe-rhodesia/a-visit-to-the-south-african-gold-fields-1870

See more books on Zimbabwe & Rhodesia on the website.

Maud Sumner By Charles Eglington
R8,000

Together with various dedicated cards and exhibition catalogues.
Inscribed to the famous South African surgeon Dr Isidore Kaplan.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/art-books/maud-sumner-by-charles-eglington

See more Art Books on the website  

Ocean Highways: The Geographical Review
(Sir Richard Burton and Sir Thomas Maclear interest)
R7,500 

New Series. February 1874. No. 11. Volume I.

Article by Richard F. Burton. "Two Trips on the Gold Coast. (First Trip, The Beulah Gardens and the Ajumanti Hills. Second Trip - Along the Shore to the Volta River). 2 maps. Short paragraph on page 476: "The Rumour Respecting Dr. Livingstone" which confirms the death of David Livingstone and the circumstances of his death.
Signature of Sir Theo Maclear as well as L van Thyssen on both front wrappers.

For more info and images, go to the website:
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/books-on-africa/ocean-highways-the-geographical-review

See more Books on Africa on the website  

Thornton's Herbal (1814)
R6,000

A Family Herbal or Familiar Account of The Medical Properties of British and Foreign Plants, also their use in dying, and the various arts, arranged according to the Linnaean System.

By Robert John Thornton M.D.

Member of the University of Cambridge and the Royal London College of Physicians; Lecturer on Botany at Guy’s Hospital; Author of a Grammar of Botany, The Philosophy of Medicine.

Second Edition (enlarged and improved).

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/natural-history/thorntons-herbal-1814

See more on Natural History on the website.

The Geographical Journal
R5,000

Vol 1 January to June 1893
Published by The Royal Geographical Society

Ex Library copy.

P.289 article by Frederick Courteney Selous

For more info and images, go to the website:
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/hunting/the-geographical-journal-1893

See more books on Hunting on the website

Through the Dark Continent (2 vols) by Sir Henry Morton Stanley
R4,000

The Sources of the Nile Around the Great Lakes of Equatorial Africa and Down the Livingstone River to the Atlantic Ocean.

1899
New Edition

All illustrations and maps present.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/books-on-africa/through-the-dark-continent-1899

See more Books on Africa on the website 

Life with the Zulus of Natal (1855) by George Holditch Mason  
R3,000

First Edition.

The adventures of Mason and his brother, who travelled to Natal under the "Byrne" emigration scheme. It offers insights into the social and physical landscape of Natal (now part of KwaZulu-Natal) in the mid-1850s, including descriptions of the local population. It was published as part of "The Traveller's Library" series.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/books-on-africa/life-with-the-zulus-of-natal-by-gh-mason-1855

See more Books on Africa on the website 

Cape Town Directory (1923)
R2,500 

Donaldson & Braby’s Cape Town and Suburban Directory 1923
Including all suburbs between Sea Point and Plumstead.
Fifth Issue.

No map as published.
 
For more info and images, go to the website:
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/the-cape/cape-town-directory-1923

See more on The Cape on the website

Thrilling Experiences of the First British Woman Relieved by Lord Roberts (1900)
R2,000 

By J.R
Printed at the Aberdeen Journal Office

Preface
The following pages contain a narrative of my experiences as a resident of Jacobsdal, a small village in the Orange Free State, about 30 miles south-east of Kimberley.

For more info and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/boer-war/thrilling-experiences-of-the-first-british-woman-relieved-by-lord-roberts-1900

See more on the Boer War on the website.

We havea selection of unique Decor items on the website
and in-store.
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/decor

Storytelling Dinners

James Joyce and the Pagan Soul of Publishers – Storytelling Dinner with Professor Donal McCracken
Friday, 6 February 2026

Lines of Least Resistance - Storytelling Dinner with Riaan Vorster
Thursday, 19 February 2026

For more information contact James
+27 (0) 79 779 4574
jamesfindlaycollectablebooks@gmail.com

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