Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos: 1652-1806 Author: H. W. Claassens (Hester Wilhelmina Claassens)

Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos: 1652-1806 (First Edition Collector's Copy)

H. W. Claassens's Definitive Cultural and Culinary History of the Early Cape

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos: 1652-1806
• Author: H. W. Claassens (Hester Wilhelmina Claassens)
• Publisher: Protea Boekhuis, Pretoria
• Publication Date: 2006
• ISBN-10: 1869191064 / ISBN-13: 9781869191061
• Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Standard Hardcover Issue.
• Binding: Original publisher's premium illustrated hardcover boards, issued without a dust jacket (as published).
• Physical Format: Large Octavo (8vo), 467 pages. Richly detailed with historical recipes, cooking glossaries, and comprehensive reference notes.
• Language: Afrikaans

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
• Exterior / Boards: The illustrated covers are in beautiful condition, sitting perfectly flat and square with sharp corners. The spine is firm, crisp, and completely uncreased, with virtually no signs of shelf wear.
• Interior: Clean and pristine throughout. The pages are bright white and crisp, with a tight, uncompromised binding. The interior is completely free of kitchen stains, annotations, highlighting, or library marks.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Published in 2006 by Protea Boekhuis, Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos: 1652-1806 is widely considered the definitive study on the roots of South African cuisine. Dr. H. W. Claassens offers a thorough cultural history, exploring how early Cape food traditions evolved from the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck to the end of the first Dutch era.

The book moves beyond simple recipes to look at how Dutch, German, and French culinary styles blended with Eastern flavors brought by the Malay community, creating the unique profile of traditional Boerekos. Claassens uses early journals, household inventories, and archival records to reconstruct the diets, cooking methods, and spices used by early Cape families. It is a highly prized volume for anyone interested in culinary history or early Cape culture.

Author Profile: H. W. Claassens

Dr. Hester Wilhelmina Claassens was an accomplished cultural historian and academic who dedicated years to researching the culinary heritage of South Africa. Her background in linguistics and cultural history allowed her to read and translate early Cape documents accurately, making Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos a highly respected and authoritative resource in the field.

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