The Romance and Reality of the Vaal Diamond Diggings

First edition published by The Diamond Fields Advertiser in Kimberley, 1917. Pages 118 + ix (index at rear) and over ninety text illustrations. Original red printed wrappers – paperback. Stapled.

Contents include: Part I: Memories of the Past by George Beet.The Great Discovery. On Trek to the New Eldorado. Early Diggers' Committees and Diamond Valuations. Political and Social Amenities. Memories of Cecil Rhodes. 

Part II: The Diggings of Today by Thos. Laurent-Terpend. Science and the Diamond. Digging and Washing the Alluvial. Some Historic Alluvial and River-Bed Diamonds. Diamond Values and Diamond Buyers. Administration and Officials. Towns, Villages and Camps. Sport along the River. Communal Organisations.

Condition: The rear wrapper is loose from the book itself. Brown marks to bottom section of a third of the pages. (see picture) Three pages are missing a 1 cm section of the corner (see picture) Good as a research copy.

Inscription reads: J & P.R. Thomas Esq, Barkly West, With Compliments. Dated 26/9/17.