Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Authors not stated; preface by Count E Carton Wiart, former secretary of Leopold II

Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Bas-Congo au Katanga 1906-1956 (Sir Ernest Oppenheimer's presentation copy)

"History of the Railway Company known as 'Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Bas-Congo au Katanga' published in 1956, the year of its fiftieth anniversary"

Published: [Typeset and printed by M Weissenbruch, printer to the King", Brussels, 1956

Edition: Unique copy

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Congo (DRC) railways have been in the news, with the opening earlier this year of the Chinese-built 1500 km connection between the Angolan railhead and mineral-rich Katanga, allowing ore to be shipped from the Atlantic port of Matadi instead of being trucked through Zambia at rates which made mineral exports from the DRC uneconomic.

Our lot celebrates the 50th anniversary in 1956 of the Congo's first major rail-link, from Katanga to "Bas-Congo". This railway did not survive independence from Belgium in 1960, which was immediately followed by the Congo civil war of 1960-1964. This war was followed by the much longer Angolan civil war, which prevented any transport links between the two countries for some thirty years.

Our lot, which is in French with some inserted English translations, owes part of its significance to the presence in the then Belgian Congo of one of the world's leading mining companies of the time - the Anglo American Corporation. 

The copy in our lot was "specially produced . . . as a presentation copy for Sir Ernest Oppenheimer", who in December 1956 presented it "to the Library of the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa, Limited".

Full-bound in maroon faux leather, gilt to upper panel and spine, figured grey plain endpapers, 201 pp of b/w-illustrated prelims and text with second-colour chapter openings, including 3 pp of full-page colour maps + inserted colour gatefold map at back + imprimatur (which records the printer's, but not the publisher's, name).

CONDITION. The spine has been restored. There are a few library stamps, including one on the upper page-edge, but there is no indication that the book was ever lent out. This special copy includes handwritten pasted-in slips translating some of the French and noting Oppenheimer's presentation and the date of the library's letter of acknowledgment.  

  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 285 x 230; 1.3 kg
  • Sold By: Fontein Books
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 051 773 0050/048 079 546 4032
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Eft (South Africa), SWIFT (rest of world), or $ checks for US or Australian buyers
  • Trade Associations: AA Approved


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