IN A PROVINCE - AND TWO OTHER IMPORTANT LAURENS VAN DER POST INSCRIBED ASSOCIATION COPIES

This lot comprises the following three first editions, all with wonderful inscriptions to Leo Marquard:

 - IN A PROVINCE. 1934. Hogarth Press. 1st Edition. An about Very Good clean copy in the original green cloth with a sunned spine and lightly rubber stamped Colonial Cloth Edition on the rear pastedown. Lacking the scarce dustwrapper. Finely inscribed on the minimally foxed front free endpaper 'Signed for Leo to whom although/ he may not know it this/ book owes much - / Laurens van der Post' . The author's first book and a scarce and desirable Hogarth Press item.

 - A BAR OF SHADOW. 1954. Hogarth Press. 1st Edition. A very good plus copy in the original 1/4 cloth and decorated boards in a near fine unclipped dw. Finely inscribed on the title page in green ink 'For Leo,/ For Putting me/ on the Royal Road to/ History, / From, / Laurens.' 

- THE DARK EYE IN AFRICA. 1955. Hogarth Press. 1st Edition. A very good plus copy in the original maroon cloth, in a like unclipped dustwrapper. Finely inscribed on the title page in black ink 'For Leo and Nell, / who Share the memory/ of the time before/ the darkening,/ Affectionately./ laurens?' 

Three wonderful copies and Van der Post association material is uncommon.

Leo Marquard. M.B.E. (1897 - 1974). He was a South African educationalist, writer who had multiple claims to fame. Amongst others, he was:

 - A founding member of the Liberal Party

 - The founding member of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) - and it's first President

 - A leading member of the South African Institute of Race Relations.

In 1945 together with Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr he represented South Africa at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s inaugural conference.

All in all wonderful man and thus a remarkable provenance for these three Van der Post books. 

In view of the heritage importance of this lot, I am restricting its sale to purchasers within South Africa.