ENVIRONS OF THE GOLDEN CITY AND PRETORIA &

1. Macmillan (Allister) ENVIRONS OF THE GOLDEN CITY AND PRETORIA

417 pages, numerous black and white photographs, faux leather boards titled gilt with gilt crest on the upper cover and the spine, gilt page edges.

Boards are worn and scuffed. Some foxing to front papers and marks on pages. A fair copy.

The book explores the early development, social atmosphere, and key figures of Johannesburg and Pretoria during the gold rush era. It details the raffish, speculative environment of Johannesburg, including influxes of miners, merchants, doctors, and opportunists, alongside health crises like smallpox on Hospital Hill.

Allister Macmillan, known for works on South African history, covers railway connections between the towns in 1892, property dealings, and characters like District Surgeons and Swiss immigrants. It reflects the Witwatersrand gold fields' chaotic growth.

2. Rosenthal (Eric) RUSTENBURG ROMANCE The History of a Voortrekker Town

191pp. Illustrated. Publisher's hardcover with illustrated jacket, covered in cellophane. Both the book and jacket are in good to very good condition. A scarce Rosenthal title.

The book chronicles the development of Rustenburg as a key Voortrekker settlement proclaimed in 1851 and named for its restful location amid the Magaliesberg mountains.Highlighted are its founding after Voortrekker farmers settled the area in 1841 following the defeat of Mzilikazi's Ndebele forces, its growth spurred by platinum mining discovered in 1925, and its significance as Paul Kruger's hometown, where he retreated to his nearby farm

The book covers the town's rich history from early hominid sites to Anglo-Boer War battles and beyond, positioning Rustenburg as one of the oldest settlements north of the Vaal River.