Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Tomlinson, Professor F R (chairman), and nine other commissioners

Summary of the Report of the Commission for the Socio-Economic Development of the Bantu Areas within the Union of South Africa

Published: Government Printer, Pretoria, 1955

Edition: First

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Better known as the Tomlinson Commission, this commission (full name in title) was appointed by the Governor-General "to conduct an exhaustive inquiry into and to report on a comprehensive scheme for the rehabilitation of the Native Areas with a view to developing them in a social structure in keeping with the social structure of the Native and based on effective socio-economic planning". This proved too much even for a commission whose full report (never published, but issued in roneoed form with chapters in Afrikaans and English "to university and another important libraries") ran to "3755 pp, 508 tables and an atlas of 66 large-scale maps". 

Instead, 6000 copies of this English summary were published in 1955. Despite the large number of copies printed, copies are now scarce, which is why this copy, although only fair to good, is being offered. 

In retrospect, this commission's report was seen as [the apartheid government] of the National Party's "scientific" justification for confirming only the unconsolidated 1910 total of 13% of South Africa's land area to its overwhelmingly large "Bantu" population.Among other things, the Tomlinson Commission hailed this 13% as having the South Africa's greatest potential for farming, mining, and so on.

And thus, sixty years later, the present government is grappling with the enormous problem of how to redistribute the whole of South Africa's land area, including urban areas, fairly and with or without compensation to the legal owners.

Brown cloth limp covers, printed in black to the front and spine, side-stitched on to xviii + 213 pp of double-column text + 64 maps (some in colour).

CONDITION. The bottom edge of the covers and text has a damp stain varying in extent from the page-edge only (most of the book) to up to 40 mm (the front cover and the first few leaves).

  • Binding Condition: Fair
  • Overall Condition: Fair to Good
  • Size: 275 x 205
  • 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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