Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #118 begins on 03 Oct 2024

By An Observer

SOUTH AFRICAN BALLOONS - A SKIT ON THE BOOM (1895) - a very early Johannesburg printing

Published: Argus Printing & Publishing Co., Johannesburg, 1895

Edition: First Edition

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Publisher's staple bound pamphlet with title on front panel.

13pp. A few spots but overall still very good indeed.

Early Johannesburg publications are extremely scarce. None are known to exist from 1886, the year that the "Golden City" was founded. There are only a handful from 1887 (see previous auction #81, lot #113: The Groot Paardekraal Gold Mining Syndicate), and Jo'burg publications from the last decade of the nineteenth century are very uncommon.

'This pamphlet by a nameless satirist, is about the establishment of mining companies (balloons), "their inflation" and "their collapse". In the article Rhodes is referred to as the "Colossus" and the De Beers Consolidated Mines as the "monster balloon".' - Catalogue of State Library Reprints

'A little brochure referring to the share speculation in South Africa during 1895, with references to some of the Rand financiers and the Jameson Raid.' - Mendelssohn Vol.II, page 348

  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 8vo.
  • Sold By: Rare Paper
  • Contact Person: Armandt Marais
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 0741235861
  • Preferred Payment Methods: EFT, Bank Deposit. For International Customers: Paypal with 6% surcharge, International Transfer
  • Trade Associations: A. A. Approved


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