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| Author: | Van Riet Lowe, Clarence & Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments, Relics and Antiques | |
| Year: | 1941 | |
| Title: | The monuments of South Africa : including an account of the work of the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments, Relics and Antiques during the period 23rd April, 1935, to 22nd April, 1940 | |
| Place: | Pretoria | |
| Publisher: | Government Printer | |
The Monuments of South Africa. In 1941 the government printer of the Union of South Africa published the book, The Monuments of South Africa, edited by C van Riet Lowe. (174 pages, illustrated .) First edition. The first edition is interesting as it included an account of the work of the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments, relics and antiques during the period 1935 to 1940. The second point of interest is a pasted in map showing the 102 monuments, relics across the then 4 provinces. I have photographed the map and attach to this post. There are numerous black and white photographs (there are photos of over 70 of the monuments included in the book). The book includes a number of schedules : plaques, badges erected, warning notices, sites fenced , surveys, properties owned, leased or repaired by the Commission. The book is a valuable record of the work accomplished in the 1930s. One looks back and realizes a great deal of dedicated and meticulous work was done by the Commission in those early decades and that the breadth of defined memorials and commemorations covered historical buildings, but also trees, bridges, caves, blockhouses, forts, towers, battlefields, rock paintings, geological sites, pulpits, early locomotives, the first gold mining crushing site, significant ruins. It was an impressive record of endeavours by men such as C Graham Botha, Arthur Keppel-Jones, Leo Fouche (all historians ), B D Malan (archaeologist), H B S Cooke ( Geology ). van Riet Lowe was a member of the Commission and its secretary. The coveted bronze badge of the Commission quickly became an easily recognized logo and even today has almost iconic status. The price of this blue hardcover treasured volume was exactly 5 shillings. 5 stars ***** for pioneering Work by foresighted people. This is now their tribute. Price guide : Very rare, likely to appear on an antiquarian book auction site, perhaps a reserve of R 400, or if lucky spot on a charity book sale. (Kathy Munro, May 2015) See also the Second Edition  | ||
| Link to WorldCat - find this book in a library near you | ||
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