Vir Ons Volkspelers Author / Compiler: Uitgegee deur die Nasionale Raad vir Volksang en Volkspele (National Council for Folk Song and Folk Dance)

Vir Ons Volkspelers (Collectible Folk Culture First Edition)

The Definitive Guidebook of the National Council for Folk Song and Folk Dance

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Vir Ons Volkspelers
• Author / Compiler: Uitgegee deur die Nasionale Raad vir Volksang en Volkspele (National Council for Folk Song and Folk Dance)
• Publisher: Voortrekkerpers Beperk, Johannesburg
• Publication Date: Circa 1950 (Classic mid-century printing)
• ISBN: None Issued (Pre-ISBN Era)
• Edition Details: First Edition, Official Handbook Release.
• Binding: Original publisher's cloth-bound hardcover boards, issued with an illustrated period dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Small Octavo (8vo), featuring historic notation sheets, dance diagrams, and illustrative photographic plates.
• Language: Afrikaans

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The original cloth boards are flat, stiff, and square. The corners are sharp, and the spine is sturdy and unbroken, showing only minor edge shelf rubbing.
• Interior: The text block is firmly bound and tight. The pages show faint, natural age-toning but remain clean and highly readable. There are a few historic cello-tape stains on the endpapers from a previous protective cover, which is typical for books of this era, but the pages are entirely free of modern highlighting or ink notes.
• The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
• Condition: The original illustrated mid-century paper dust jacket is in good condition, retaining its bright, distinct colors. It shows light edge wear and minimal historic tape marks on the reverse side. It is now safely enclosed in a brand-new, archival-grade clear plastic protective sleeve, preserving it from future wear.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Published by Voortrekkerpers, Vir Ons Volkspelers is the definitive historic manual for the traditional folk dances and songs of the Afrikaner community. Compiled directly by the Nasionale Raad vir Volksang en Volkspele, this guide was created to standardize and preserve traditional folk dances (volkspele) across South Africa.

The handbook provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for classic dances, accompanied by geometric floor-plan diagrams and full musical notation sheets. It also outlines the historical origins and symbolic dress codes of the cultural movement, which grew rapidly after the 1938 symbolic Ossewatrek. This volume is an invaluable social history artifact, capturing a key component of mid-20th-century South African folk heritage.

Author Profile: Nasionale Raad vir Volksang en Volkspele

The Nasionale Raad vir Volksang en Volkspele was established in 1941 to oversee and promote traditional folk singing and dancing across South Africa. Led by cultural pioneers like Dr. S.H. Pellissier, the Council turned informal regional dances into a structured national movement, organizing massive festivals that drew thousands of participants. Their official publications remain essential primary sources for studying the social and cultural history of the era.

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