An important association copy of the first edition of this high spot of South African story telling, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to William Wolpert, the MD of the CNA (Central News Agency) who initially commissioned Bosman to compile this book from his Oom Schalk Lourens short stories, and subsequently published the book. The inscription reads "For William Wolpert/with warm regards and in appreciation/of the help you have given me/with this book/H.C.Bosman/18/12/47".
Apart from mild offsetting to the free endpapers, this is a fine copy in the original grey cloth. In a defective dustwrapper which is missing about 1/3rd. of the spine and has several other chips and tears. However the front panel is largely intact. A friable and scarce dustwrapper in any condition.
Craig MacKenzie, who edited a later edition of this title, writes as follows: In late 1946, Bosman was unexpectedly approached by William Wolpert, managing director of the Central News Agency (CNA) – which was in the process of finalizing Bosman’s first published work, Jacaranda in the Night – who said that the CNA would be interested in producing a collection of Bosman’s Schalk Lourens stories. In his November 1946 “Talk of the town” column in the Opinion, Bosman describes how he went about gathering the material for this proposed volume: “I was engaged for a couple of days last week going through files of old newspapers and magazines, making a collection of stories which I had written over the past fifteen years”.
Arguably the most important association copy of this title extant.
- Jacket Condition: Good
- Binding Condition: About Fine
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: 8vo.
- Sold By: Ronald Levine - Modern First Editions
- Contact Person: Ronald Levine
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 011643 8437
- Preferred Payment Methods: EFT for South African customers and International Bank Tranfer for customers abroad. I am unable to accept payment by credit card.
- Trade Associations: SABDA
