Sanctuary

Sanctuary by C. S. Stokes is a substantial and historically significant South African conservation work documenting the early development and ethos of what became one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries. Authored by Charles Selwyn Stokes and issued under the auspices of The “Sanctuary” Production Committee in Cape Town during the early 1940s, this volume reflects the spirit of wildlife preservation and public engagement at a pivotal moment in South African natural history.

In Sanctuary, Stokes combines narrative history, descriptive natural observation, and documentary material to explore the establishment and early years of the Kruger National Park and related conservation efforts. The book includes over 450 pages of text supplemented with numerous photographs, maps, and illustrations that bring the landscapes, animals, and personalities of the region to life for readers. Included in many editions are a foreword by Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Greece, messages and tributes from prominent figures such as Field Marshal J. C. Smuts and Mrs. Smuts, appreciations by European royalty, and introductions by leading conservation voices of the era — all underscoring the international significance attributed to South African wildlife preservation at that time.

The narrative content of Sanctuary ranges from vivid accounts of wildlife behaviour and species profiles to reflections on the philosophical and ethical importance of protecting natural heritage. Stokes’s own poems interspersed throughout the text further enhance the book’s evocative quality, merging literary expression with observational detail. Although the exact publication year varies slightly among copies — often cited as 1941, 1942, or 1944 depending on printing and reprint — the core edition published by The “Sanctuary” Production Committee remains a noteworthy and collectible piece of South African conservation literature.

For collectors of Africana, natural history enthusiasts, and readers interested in the foundational years of wildlife conservation in Southern Africa, Sanctuary by C. S. Stokes The “Sanctuary” Production Committee offers a richly documented and evocative glimpse into early twentieth‑century efforts to protect some of the continent’s most iconic fauna and landscapes.

Condition: Very Good – Prior ownership inscription in pencil. Gilt text on the spine is faded. Minor foxing.