Klare Besgryving van Cabo de Bona Esperanca (facsimile of Dutch black-letter text of 1652; with English translation)

The Hondius family, of which the compiler of the original of the short work republished in 1952 was the third-generation Jodocus, were competitors in Amsterdam to the Blaeu family of map-makers. Serton tells us this in his introduction. Further, he tells us, the 33-page "Klare Besgryving" was compiled to give Amsterdammers an idea of the land to which Van Riebeeck was sailing in 1652. The sources included Linschoten as well as Houtman, Van Spilbergen, Van der Hagen, Both, and many others. Reproduced with the text are two fold-out illustrations and a 12-panel folding map. The introduction, Hondius's text and the editor's notes are all translated into Englsh.

Quarter-bound in blue and grey cloth, gilt design and lettering to the upper panel and spine; plain endpapers; xvi + 33 pp of facsimile and inserts + 37 pp of translations, notes and Van Riebeeck Festival committees and members. (These included a distinguished Book Exhibition Committee - which was responsible for the publication of the present volume - under the chairmanship of D H Varley.)

The spine is lightly rubbed and the covers are sunned towards the edges. The binding is tight, and internally the book is fine, unmarked and undiscoloured. A very good copy.