Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Platter, John and Erica

John Platter's Book of South African Wines (revised 1982 edition)

Published: John and Erica Platter, Franschhoek (South Africa), 1981

Edition: 1992

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Reference to popular used book websites indicates that there is confusion about when this famous annual series of wine guides was first published:

  • Booksellers often quote 1980 as the first year of issue.
  • In fact, the 1981 issue was the first, though this was actually published in 1980.
  • Similarly, the 1982 issue (the copy in this lot) was the second in the series, but published the year before.

Green Skivertex-boards with gilt lettering to the upper panel only, plain endpapers, 154 pp of text. Condition: complete, unmarked and fine throughout.

NOTES
  1. Over the years, these guides have changed out of all recognition. Early issues (as this) had no colour and no maps or other illustrations. The bulk of the book (pp 7-69 and 95-154) is an alphabetical listing (from Audacia to Zonnheimer) of wine-producers and their wines.
  2. Pp 1-6, the prelims, are the title page, how to use the guide, including the use of the star system (no stars and * to *****), contents, preface and acknowledgments.
  3. Pp 70-94 are mini-essays on grapes and wine grapes, wine certification, wine of origin areas, styles of wine, wine-making terms, wine-tasting and tasting terms, the best vintages, wine storage, serving wines, wine and food, wine and health.
  4. From small beginnings, the annual series became enormously popular: first, because it was pocket size (now large pockets are necessary); secondly, because it brought the South African wine-drinker closer to South African wines; thirdly, because of its page of commonsense about wine and health; and fourthly, because it continued to reinvent itself and stay ahead of the competition.
  5. Complete series (28 volumes from 1981 to 2018) are extremely difficult to fine. The first issue (1981) is scarce and therefore high-priced, while the other early issues, such as this second and revised issue (1982), are also scarce but less so and also relatively high priced.
 
  • Binding Condition: Fine
  • Overall Condition: Fine
  • Size: 195 x 90
  • 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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