Letters by George William Stow (2) - Vaal River Coal Mines
R7,500

Two separate letters (1880/1881) both double-sided.

Written by George William Stow (1822–1882), a foundational figure in South African geology and ethnology. Stow is famously credited with discovering the coal fields in the Vaal River region that led to the founding of the town of Vereeniging.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/mining-and-industry/letters-by-george-william-stow

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There are currently 29 items on the website in this category.

The Antiquities of Scotland by Francis Grose, 1789 & 1791 (2 vols)
R6.500

Francis Grose (c. 1731–1791) was a noted English antiquary, draughtsman, lexicographer and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA). The work is famous for its numerous copper-plate engravings of castles, abbeys, and ruins. Grose often sketched these himself on-site, providing a visual record of many structures that have since decayed or vanished.

While touring Scotland to collect material for this book, Grose met Scottish poet Robert Burns at Friars Carse. Their friendship led to two major cultural contributions.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/books-rest-of-the-world/antiquities-of-scotland-2-vols

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There are currently 21 books on the website in this category.

Transkei Land transaction - Possibly between Warner and Henry Francis Fynn jnr.
R5,000

3 manuscript pages.

This letter appears to be a draft or a copy of correspondence addressed to Henry Francis Fynn (likely H.F. Fynn Jr., given the mid-to-late 19th-century context), discussing land grants and political arrangements involving high-ranking colonial officials and Xhosa and Thembu leaders.

The letter is written by someone who is the son of a former colonial official (likely an agent or magistrate). He is clarifying the history of land "claims" or promises made to Fynn.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/kwazulu-natal/transkei-land-transaction

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There are currently 10 items on the website in this new category.

The Life of a South African Tribe (2 vols) First Edition (1912)
R5,000

Ex Libris and signed by the pioneer missionary Andrew Charles Murray
(1828 – 1917) of the Dutch Reform Church Mission.

A seminal two-volume ethnographical study by Henri-Alexandre Junod, a Swiss missionary and anthropologist. It is considered one of the most comprehensive and definitive monographs ever written on an African tribe, specifically the Thonga (Tsonga) people of Southern Mozambique and South Africa.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/books-on-africa/the-life-of-a-south-african-tribe-2-vols-first-edition-1912

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There are currently 38 books on the website in this category.

Limited Edition 'Drawn from Life' by Zakkie Eloff, signed (1982)
R4,500

Drawn from Life: A Portfolio of Wildlife Drawings showcases the artistry of Zakkie Eloff, South Africa's pre-eminent wildlife painter, paired with prose by author Sue Hart.

The De Luxe Limited Edition is limited to 26 copies designated A–Z.
This is edition A. Bound in full leather and housed in a matching leather slipcase.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/art-books/drawn-from-life-by-zakkie-eloff-1982

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There are currently 36 books on the website in this category, including Rock Art Books.

A leaf from the Nuremberg Chronicle depicting
The Archangel Michael (1493)
R3,000

From the German edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle (Das Buch der Chroniken), published by Anton Koberger in 1493. It is identified by the folio number CLXXIII (173).

The woodcut is a classic depiction of Saint Michael the Archangel in his dual role as a celestial warrior and the judge of souls.

For more details and images, go to the website:
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/religion/a-leaf-from-the-nuremberg-chronicle-depicting-the-archangel-michael-1493

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There are currently 10 books on the website in this category.

Africa by Sebastião Salgado (2007)
R2,000

Published by Taschen, 2007.

Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior (1944 – 2025) was a Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist.

“Sebastião Salgado’s stark black-and-white images of Africa come together in this remarkable photographic collection, shot over a period of 30 years. These images tell the tale of a continent ravaged by troubles but immensely rich in history and culture. With humility and insight, Salgado draws us into multiple and diverse regions surviving in the face of environmental and humanitarian crises.” Taschen

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/photography/africa-by-sebastio-salgado

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There are currently 17 items on the website in this category.

Five First Editions by Breyten Breytenbach
R1,500

Breyten Breytenbach (16 September 1939 – 24 November 2024) was a South African writer, poet, and painter. He became internationally well-known as a dissident poet and vocal critic of South Africa under apartheid, and as a political prisoner of the National Party–led South African Government. He was also known as a founding member of the Sestigers, a dissident literary movement, and was one of the most important poets in Afrikaans literature.

For more info and images, go to the website:
https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/afrikaans-books/five-breyten-breytenbach-first-editions

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There are currently 10 books on the website in this category.

Casino Royale Facsimile First Edition (1981)
R1,250

The Casino Royale Facsimile First Edition released in 1981 is a high-quality reproduction of the original 1953 James Bond novel. It was published by the First Edition Library (FEL) and is designed to mimic the exact look and feel of the true first edition. Unlike the true 1953 first edition, this facsimile is issued in a sturdy protective slipcase, which often features its own unique artwork or series branding.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/first-editions/casino-royale-facsimile-first-edition-1981

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There are currently 29 books on the website in this category.

Italian campaign WWll Wermacht Propaganda (1944)  
R1,250

"Italienreise" (Journey to Italy), with the subtitle "Ein Kriegsbilderbüchlein für die Kleinen daheim" (A Little War Picture Book for the Little Ones at Home).

Dated 1944, a prime example of late-war German propaganda aimed at the domestic front. Published in 1944 by SS Südstern (South Star), a propaganda unit of the Waffen-SS active in Italy during the later stages of the war.

At this point in 1944, German forces were engaged in a brutal defensive campaign in Italy (the "forgotten front") against Allied advances.

For more details and images, go to the website: https://jamesfindlaycollectablebooks.com/militaria/italian-campaign-wwll-wermacht-propaganda-1944

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There are currently 46 items on the website in this category.

As of April 2026 the business has moved completely online after many happy years of operating retail stores in Saxonwold, Rand Club and The Cape Town Club.

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

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