Hertzog en Smuts en die Britse Ryk by Dr. G.D.Scholtz (Afrikaans text)

Hertzog en Smuts en die Britse Ryk

A Definitive Political Study of the Sovereignty Debate and Imperial Discord

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Hertzog en Smuts en die Britse Ryk
• Author: Prof. G. D. Scholtz
• Publisher: Tafelberg-Uitgewers Bpk, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1977
• ISBN-10: 0624007510
• ISBN-13: 9780624007517
• Edition Details: True First Edition, First Printing
• Binding: Original publisher's cloth-bound hardcover with gold-gilt spine lettering and a pictorial dust jacket
• Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 155 pages. Thoroughly indexed with extensive primary document footnotes and historical commentary appendices.
• Language: Afrikaans

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior: Hardcover cloth boards are flat, firm, and uniform in tone. Spine ends and corners show only microscopic shelf wear. The gold gilt lettering on the spine remains clear and sharp.
• Interior: The text block is solid, square, and tight. Internal pages are exceptionally clean, white, and crisp. Free of any marginalia, highlighting, dog-ears, or owner's inscriptions.
• The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
• Condition: Bright, complete, and unchipped. Shows very limited signs of storage wear, with rich colour retention on the panels. Free of splits or tears.
• Preservation: Carefully protected with a brand-new, clear archival plastic cover to ensure long-term preservation.

Synopsis & Historical Significance

Published in 1977, Hertzog en Smuts en die Britse Ryk is a landmark study focusing on the profound ideological rift that dominated twentieth-century South African politics.

Written by the eminent historian G. D. Scholtz, the book analyzes the conflicting visions of General J. B. M. Hertzog and General Jan Smuts regarding South Africa's constitutional relationship with the British Empire. Scholtz unpacks how Hertzog's "South Africa First" policy clashed directly with Smuts' holistic imperialism, tracing the political evolution that led to the Balfour Declaration, the Statute of Westminster, and the eventual fusion and fracture of the United Party. This scarce, used collectible book is a critical cornerstone for understanding the constitutional foundations of the state.

Author Profile: Prof. G. D. Scholtz

Professor Gert Daniel Scholtz (1905–1983) was one of South Africa's most prominent and prolific mid-century historians, journalists, and political thinkers. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of Die Transvaler and authored dozens of definitive texts on international relations and Afrikaner political development. His academic writings are highly valued by antiquarian booksellers and modern researchers for their exceptional reliance on state archives and parliamentary transcripts.