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Books of Rhodesia editions are collectible because they are high quality, numbered facsimile reprints of scarce Rhodesian histories that are otherwise almost impossible to find, and collector demand far outstrips the small print runs. The original early editions are like hen’s teeth, and many did not survive when white Rhodesians had to leave the country, so for most collectors these reprints are the only realistic way to own the books at all.
At Midlands Books we handle Rhodesiana regularly, and it is one of the areas we know best, which is also the subject of our wider post on what Rhodesiana is and why collectors want it. Here is what makes these editions special and what collectors actually look for.
Books of Rhodesia was a publisher in Bulawayo that, from 1968, reissued rare and out of print books on the exploration, pioneering and development of Rhodesia as matching, numbered facsimile reprints. The main run is the Rhodesiana Reprint Library, made up of a Gold Series of 36 volumes (1968 to 1974) and a later Silver Series of 24 volumes (1975 to 1979).
They are easy to recognise once you have seen one. As Rob puts it, the series has a spine design you will not forget, and each volume is numbered, with the better editions bound to a much higher standard than an ordinary commercial book.
It comes down to scarcity and quality. The genuine early editions almost never come up, and when a good copy does, it goes for big money. Books of Rhodesia saw that gap and filled it with faithful reprints that carried authoritative new introductions and extra photographs, so collectors got both the text and real added value. Because the runs were limited, the reprints themselves have held and grown their value over the decades.
A fair amount. A numbered edition of any book adds collector value, especially when it is marketed as a “Limited”, “Subscribers” or “Collector’s” edition and bound in higher quality than the commercial run. The Rhodesiana Reprint Library went a step further with a leather bound de luxe edition limited to just 150 copies, specially bound by Arthur Dare in Bulawayo. Those de luxe sets are the ones serious collectors really want. If you are weighing up a copy, condition is everything, and our book grading guide explains how we judge it.
Within the reprint set, most people are simply trying to complete all the volumes in good condition. In Rhodesiana more broadly, Bush War titles are always in demand, signed copies even more so, alongside genuine Rhodesian history.
A good example is Pamwe Chete by Ron Reid-Daly, who founded and commanded the Selous Scouts. The early hardcover is especially collectable because the book was later withdrawn after a legal dispute, which makes original copies much harder to find. A good hardcover with its dust jacket can be quite valuable, while a paperback copy sells for around R1,000. Another that surprises us is Selous Scouts Top Secret War, told by Reid-Daly to Peter Stiff: the paperback ships all over the world and sells almost the moment we put one back in stock.
We sell a lot of Rhodesiana here in South Africa, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, most likely because so many Rhodesians settled in the province when they left. Beyond that, we ship Rhodesian titles to the US, the UK and Australia regularly. The pattern we notice is that buyers are mostly men in their forties and fifties who left Rhodesia as little boys and now want to understand what really happened.
If you have no intention of keeping them, the one thing we would say is this: make sure you are not ripped off when you sell, because there are sharks out there who will not declare a book’s true value. It is worth getting an honest opinion first. We set out the sensible routes in where can I sell rare books in South Africa.
If you are building a collection, you can browse our Africana and Rhodesiana shelves. If you have Rhodesiana to sell, or you would like a fair valuation, bring it in to our shop in Howick or send Rob a few photos. You can reach Rob on WhatsApp at 082 328 2755 or email [email protected].
It is a numbered series of facsimile reprints of rare Rhodesian histories, published by Books of Rhodesia in Bulawayo from 1968, made up of a 36 volume Gold Series and a 24 volume Silver Series, with a leather de luxe edition limited to 150 copies.
Usually not. A genuine early edition in good condition is rarer and tends to fetch more, but originals are extremely hard to find, so the numbered and de luxe reprints are the attainable option and they hold their value well.
Bush War titles and signed copies lead the way, for example Pamwe Chete and Selous Scouts Top Secret War, alongside genuine Rhodesian history.
You can sell to a reputable dealer, at auction, or privately. We buy Rhodesiana and offer honest valuations. See where can I sell rare books in South Africa for the options.
Robert (Rob) Cronjé is co-owner of Midlands Books & Collectables, based at The Old Mushroom Farm in Howick, KZN Midlands. He runs the shop alongside co-owner Adam Riley. Walk in on a weekday and you'll usually find one of them behind the counter with a coin, a rare book or a customer's collection spread out in front of them.
