\"Real\" comes from \"Reaal van Achten\" or Pieces of Eight, which were in currency at the Cape in the seventeenth century. The writer takes the story from the Cape\'s victualling station days (when \"whatever currency came its way\" was used) through the republican days (when the business of coin minting was very active) and the half century of Union (when British-style currency was in use) to monetary decimalisation fifty years ago. Medals are also covered.
Becklake, the first director of the South African Mint, has written a fine book (ix + 83 pp), with excellent illustrations (the book is printed on coated stock) and a comprehensive bibliography.
The two-colour printed dustjacket is complete and unclipped (R1.65), although rubbed and chipped and with two small unclosed tears, but no loss. The brown cloth-board covers, gilt to front and spine, are near-fine, with hardly noticeable rubbing at the lower corners and spine extremity. The binding remains tight but there is slight cracking between sections 3 and 4 and 4 and 5. The endpapers are plain, with an owner name in pen on the front free sheet. The text is clean and undiscoloured
This is an excellent copy of a book that no longer easily found.
- Jacket Condition: Fair to Good
- Binding Condition: Very Good
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: 220 x 140
- 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
