The Great Houses of Constantia Author: Philippa Dane (Text) and Ormonde Michael Wallace (Photography)
The Great Houses of Constantia
An Architectural, Cultural, and Historic Survey of the Cape’s Finest Wine Estates
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The Great Houses of Constantia
- Author: Philippa Dane (Text) and Ormonde Michael Wallace (Photography)
- Publisher: Don Nelson, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 1981
- ISBN-10: 0909238588
- ISBN-13: 9780909238582
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Impression. Author-Inscribed and Signed Copy.
- Binding: Hardcover. Original publisher's premium textured cream cloth boards with deep chocolate-brown title stamping on the spine panel.
- Physical Format: Landscape Quarto (4to), 112 pages. Richly enhanced with stunning color photography, layout plans, and historical family trees of the Constantia Valley estates.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good Fine / Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Exterior / Boards: The original cream textured cloth boards are remarkably bright, crisp, and square. Absolutely no corner bumps, edge fraying, or standard humidity foxing to the fabric faces.
- Interior: The text block is robustly bound, completely square, and beautifully tight. Internal pages, color plates, and illustrations are crisp, bright white, and immaculate. Free of annotations, pencil marks, or dog-ears.
- Provenance & Inscription Feature: Features a highly desirable, elegant fountain-pen gift inscription on the second leaf/preliminary page written and signed by the author:
"To Babette with very best wishes, Philippa Dane"
Bibliographic & Provenance Clarification: Specialized genealogical and cultural research reveals that Babette refers to Babette Cloete, a direct descendant of the historic Cloete lineage that famously owned and developed the legendary Groot Constantia estate from 1778 through the late 19th century. The author, Philippa Dane, spent years gaining access to private family archives for this book. Presenting an inscribed copy directly to a member of the founding wine dynasty makes this an elite foundational association copy with spectacular regional provenance.
- The Dust Jacket: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Condition: Exceptional survival. The glossy photographic dust jacket is entirely bright, flat, and unclipped, showing no sun-fading to the spine. Clean edges with virtually no chipping. Now beautifully preserved inside a brand-new clear plastic archival protective cover.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1981 by Don Nelson, The Great Houses of Constantia is a magnificent architectural and cultural history of the oldest and most prestigious wine valley in South Africa. The work profiles iconic estates including Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, High Constantia, Alphen, Buitenverwachting, and Nova Constantia. [1]
Through Philippa Dane’s evocative historical prose and Ormonde Wallace’s masterful photography, the book captures the flawless Cape Dutch gables, historic antique interiors, sprawling vineyards, and the dramatic family sagas of the families who shaped the global reputation of Constantia wine. It is a vital, visual treasure for collectors of Cape architecture, viticulture history, and antiquarian Cape Africana.
Author Profile: Philippa Dane
Philippa Dane was an accomplished Cape historian, architectural preservationist, and author who specialized in chronicling the cultural heritage and grand estates of the Western Cape. Working closely with legendary photographers like Ormonde Wallace, Dane earned deep praise for her ability to integrate meticulous archival research with highly engaging narratives, ensuring that the fragile history of the Cape's early architectural landmarks was preserved for future generations.
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