[Praagh (L.V.) Editor:] The Transvaal and Its Mines: An Encyclopedic History

[Praagh (L.V.) Editor:] The Transvaal and Its Mines: An Encyclopedic History

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Praagh & Lloyd, London, 1906

This monumental historical account provides a comprehensive overview of the Transvaal region’s history, geography, and topography. Serving as a crucial reference work, it focuses heavily on the gold mining industry and features numerous monochrome photographic illustrations and maps. The volume offers invaluable data on the political landscape of the Transvaal, documenting its early governance, conflicts with local African tribes, confrontations with the British Empire, and the transformative impact of the gold rush.

The historical context traces the region from the Great Trek of the Boers in the 1830s through the establishment of the South African Republic. It delves deeply into the socio-political tensions between the Boer government, the uitlander (foreigner) population, and British imperial interests following the discovery of gold and diamonds.

Key Content & Structure

The volume is divided into four major chapters:

The Transvaal and its Mines (The Encyclopedic History of the Transvaal).
Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Country Towns: Covering professions, prominent commercial houses, and local industries.
The Mining Industry of the Transvaal: Detailed sections on mining administration, regulations, the Foreign Labour Department, Chinese labour on the Rand, the Chamber of Mines, the Witwatersrand and outlying districts, diamonds, base metals, and coal. Includes a double-page Table of South African Strata demonstrating regional geology.
Lourenço Marques: Documentation of Portuguese East Africa as the nearest port of entry for the Transvaal.

The 11 Multiple-Folding Photographic Plates

Panoramic View of Pretoria
Panoramic View of Johannesburg
Panoramic View of Barberton ("The Switzerland of South Africa")
Panoramic View of Germiston
Panoramic View of Krugersdorp (West Rand Capital)
Panoramic View of Pietersburg
Panoramic View of Standerton from the East
The Property of the Robinson Gold-Mining Company (The premier "show" mine of the Rand)
Sport on the Famous Wanderers' Grounds, Johannesburg
The Thomas Brewery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
The Lingham Trading Company’s Timber Yards & Cattle Kraals (Port Matola, Delagoa Bay)

Condition Report & Bibliographical Details

Rarity: An extremely scarce copy of a precious reference work, rarely found in national or university libraries.
Binding: Original publisher’s burgundy/maroon hardcover cloth. Front board and spine feature bright gilt titles and the gilt Royal Coat of Arms with the inscriptions "Dieu et mon droit" and "Transvaal". All page edges gilt.
Collation: Complete. Includes title page, photographic frontispiece, 677 pages, and index. Features numerous in-text and full-page documentary photographs alongside the 11 multi-folding plates. The entire text block is printed on premium glossy paper.
Binding Condition: Very Good. The binding remains tight and firm. Structural shelf wear is present at the extremities with slightly bumped corners. A minor 1 cm dent is visible on the bottom edge of the front board. Hinges and joints are generally strong and intact, save for two short, incipient stress cracks (5 cm total) along the upper and lower joints of the rear board.
Internal Condition: Very Good. The text block is bright and clean throughout with no internal markings. Very occasional light foxing and minor handling fingerprints are restricted primarily to the white margins. A few pages exhibit tiny, purely superficial tears. Light tracking of edge-soiling affects the outer margins of the first 80 pages. A sound, well-preserved copy.
Format: Small folio (32 x 23 cm).

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