Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #131 begins on 21 May 2026

Chilvers (Hedley A.)

OUT OF THE CRUCIBLE - BEING THE STORY OF THE WITWATERSRAND GOLDFIELDS (1929) - INSCRIBED

With 16 full-page drawings by William M. Timlin (of "The Ship That Sailed To Mars" fame)

Published: Cassell and Company, London, 1929

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $100

Approximately:

Estimate: $140

Bidding opens: 21 May 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 28 May 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

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Publisher's brown cloth binding with gilt titles to spine. Publisher's original beige dust jacket with titles on front panel and spine.

xiii + 274pp. 16 full-page illustrations by William M. Timlin (all present).

INSCRIBED by the author on the front endpaper, "To Mr. Leon Shapiro, with kind regards from the author, Hedley A. Chilvers, Nov. 30 1929."

Binding sound. Contents clean. Scarce original dust jacket complete with moderate age-associated edge wear.

"The story of the Rand, told in this book, is one of thrilling adventure. The discovery of the vast goldfields led to a fierce rush of prospectors who made and lost fortunes in a breathless gamble. Cecil Rhodes, Barney Barnato, "Dr. Jim", "Oom Paul" Kruger, and many other names of lasting memory appear in these pages, meeting in the grim struggle that led to the Boer War and ended in the great Union of South Africa." - editor's note

  • Jacket Condition: Very Good
  • Binding Condition: Very Good


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