The French Refugees at the Cape (1919)

Written by the man who became South Africa\'s chief archivist, this is a concise but invaluable and well-illustrated record of the Huguenots who took refuge at the Cape in the late seventeenth century. Botha\'s introduction begins: \"The coming of the French Refugees to the Cape is one of the most important and interesting episodes in the history of South Africa. The late Dr George McCall Theal, in his \'History of South Africa\', has presented us with a vivid picture of the Refugees, but some additional facts will, it is hoped, prove not uninteresting . . . \"

Apart from the main text, the book is notable for its bibliography and its reproduction of some of the principal documents relating to the refugees, both in their original languages and in English translations. The two folding maps and the folding sheet of facsimile signatures of some of the French refugees, which are all perfectly preserved in this copy, add considerable value to the book.

The grey cloth-boards, with green titling to the spine, are in very good condition despite a few small brown stains, particularly to the spine. The plain endpapers are sunned and carry a signature and year in ink on the front free leaf. The front endpapers are lightly cracked. The viii + 171 pp of text, appendixes and index are unmarked and undiscoloured.