Journal of Jan Van Riebeeck

(Cape Town: A. A. Balkema, for the Van Riebeeck Society, 1952, 1954, 1958) 3 Royal 8vo volumes; original red cloth, with spines titled in gilt, and gilt device to upper board in each case; top edges tinted; pp. xlvi + 395, xviii + 406, xviii + 531, incl. index; frontis. portrait and several other plates in each volume; map at end of 1st volume; route maps and plans of the fort in 1st volume. Spines ever so slightly sunned; occasional fox spot. Very good condition. The content of the three volumes is as follows: Volume I, 1651-1655; Volume II, 1656-1658; Volume III, 1659-1662. 'Almost a century ago - on 12 November 1853, to be exact - the Editor of the influential Cape newspaper, The South African Commercial Advertiser, drew the attention of his readers to the fascination and importance of the Journal of Jan van Riebeeck. It was a document, he stated, "which should be as precious to the Cape Colonist as Doomsday Book is to the Englishman". ... With the approach of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in Table Bay, it would have been strange indeed if the thoughts of South Africans had not turned once again to the Journal of the Founder. And what could be more fitting than that a Society which bears the name of the Founder, and has been responsible for the publication of a large number of important South African historical documents, should take upon itself the task of publishing the Journal on this occasion?' - Editor's introduction