The Paintings of The Bay of Natal by Nigel Hughes

The Paintings of The Bay of Natal by Nigel Hughes is a superbly produced South African historical and art reference work dedicated to the visual heritage of Durban Harbour and the Bay of Natal. Published privately in 2001, this impressive large-format volume presents a carefully selected collection of paintings dating from 1845 to 1982, capturing the maritime, commercial, and social evolution of one of South Africa’s most historically significant coastal regions.

The Paintings of The Bay of Natal combines richly reproduced artworks with informative historical commentary, offering readers an engaging exploration of Durban’s harbour, shipping activity, sailing vessels, steamships, waterfront scenes, and changing shoreline landscapes over more than a century. The paintings featured reflect both artistic excellence and historical importance, making this title appealing to collectors of Africana, South African art, maritime history, and Durban-related material.

Nigel Hughes has compiled a visually striking and scholarly work that preserves the atmosphere and development of Natal’s famous bay through the eyes of numerous artists. The quality of production further enhances the collectability of The Paintings of The Bay of Natal, with elegant navy blue cloth boards, gilt titling, and a beautifully illustrated dust jacket. This copy is from the numbered standard edition, being number 572 of only 1000 copies produced.

Titles focusing specifically on the visual history of Durban and Natal are increasingly sought after, particularly limited editions of this quality and presentation. An excellent addition to collections centred on South African art, coastal history, shipping, or KwaZulu-Natal heritage.

Condition – Near Fine

Navy blue cloth boards with bright gilt titling to the cover and spine. Near fine dust jacket with light shelf wear. Internally clean and well preserved with no notable defects. This example is numbered 572/1000 from the standard limited edition.