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Urgent appeal for your support to keep a
valuable collection of Namibian books in
Namibia
The Board and Management of the Namibia Scientific Society urgently appeal to
all interested parties to support their effort to prevent a very precious national
heritage from leaving our country. At stake is a private book and document
collection of more than 10,000 Namibia related titles of which 600 are older than
100 years – which need to be secured for Namibia.
This is one of the largest private collections of its kind. Many of its monographs are not available ‒ neither in Namibia (State Library, State Archives,
UNAM, Sam Cohen Library and Namibia Scientific Society) nor in the larger
libraries of South Africa (Library of Parliament, State Library Pretoria or other
university libraries) or even in European libraries.
The collector is offering this very special collection, which has been compiled
over 50 years, as he is about to leave the country due to retirement and health
reasons.
The Namibia Scientific Society has been granted first option, as the seller, an
experienced and qualified archiver, would like to keep the collection in Namibia.
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He has received offers from a library in the United States, a bookseller in Johannesburg, and a South African antiquary. Obviously foreign institutions are at an
advantage due to exchange rates and extensive resources and a higher price has
been offered than the anticipated 2,5 mil. Nam Dollar which the seller is asking.
The value of this collection has been checked locally and internationally. Although the sale of individual items might generate a higher amount, this is beyond
discussion, as the collection is only sold as a whole. Your support is needed
to enable the Namibia Scientific Society to facilitate the purchase of this priceless
collection. Recognition will be given to the donors who contribute to keeping
such a collection in Namibia, thereby supporting academic research and education in this country.
The library of the Namibia Scientific Society already has an estimate of about
twenty percent of the titles in the collection. Due to such duplication the Namibia
Scientific Society will be able to sell specific items for recuperating some funds.
However, this can only happen, once the collection has been purchased.
Einige wertvolle Exemplare im Besitz der
Namibia Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft
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Currently no library in Namibia hosts such an extensive and complete collection of Namibia-related titles. It is thus of crucial importance that an independent entity like the Namibia Scientific Society endeavours to secure this cultural
heritage for Namibia, covering all language and cultural groups.
The Namibia Scientific Society has from 1925 onwards, through diverse political
times, proven its unbiased continuity as an independent organisation in support
of academic research in Namibia. Changes in political opinion and ideological
focus can endanger unbiased collection and development of cultural heritage,
as can be seen from recent events where a national monument was shifted into
oblivion and other national heritage items in the Alte Feste and elsewhere simply
disappeared.
The extent of this collection on offer by far exceeds the financial resources of
the Namibia Scientific Society, though capacity, space and qualified staff are
available.
Thus financial contributions are urgently sought. As a non-profit organization
the NSS relies on the support by members and the public! A joint effort and generous contribution may result in the successful achievement of our endeavour.
Proper evaluation of the collection shows that an offer of N$ 2,5 mil is appropriate. Values have been checked locally and internationally. At a price of N$ 2,5 mil
each of the 10,000 books, publications and documents costs N$ 250 on average.
Given the rarity of specific books and titles and the offers for such specimens as
per internet, this theoretical average value of N$ 250 per item is conservative.
To mention only a few special items of this collection and their reference to
specific periods:
- The collection is almost complete in terms of monographs relating to early
expeditions of the 19th century:
William PATERSON, 1790;
Capt. ALEXANDER, 1837;
GALTON, 1854; Thomas BAINES, 1864;
Charles John ANDERSSON, 1856;
James CHAPMAN, 1868;
Thure Gustav EEN, 1872;
P.J. VETH, 1887, and others.
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- German colonial rule is represented by publications of
BLACK, 1889;
SCHINZ, 1890;
SCHENCK, 1893;
PESTALOZZI 1898;
MÉVILLE 1899;
KAUFMANN, 1916,
CISSY WILLICH 1916 and others.
A remarkable number of diaries, biographies and memories relating to the two
colonial wars is part of the collection.
- About 200 titles describe the First World War in South West Africa. Particularly
noteworthy are the books by
DOVE, Karl: Handbook of German South West Africa, 1914;
FORKEL, Dr.: Geschichtliche Beweisstücke für Englands Schuld am Krieg aus Afrika.
Eingetroffene Voraussagen eines Deutschen aus Deutschsüdwestafrika, 1918;
KIRBY, W.H.: Hunting the Hun in British South West Africa, A Series of Sketches
on the humorous side of the G.S.W.A Campaign, 1915;
O’CONNOR, J. K.: The Hun in our Hinterland; The Menace of G.S.W.A., 1914;
WOOD, Eric: How we baffled the Germans, London, Thomas Nelson and Sons,
19346 p. with illustrations.
MACDONALD, William: The Conquest of the Desert, London, T. Werner Laurie
Ltd., 1913 xii, 197 p with illustrations.
- 149 titles relate to the freedom struggle / Border War and the period before
independence. Noteworthy are publications by SWAPO in foreign countries.
Regarding this topic there is probably no other collection of such size nor such
extensive documentation, except for the State Archives in Namibia and Basler
Afrika Bibliotheken. To mention a few titles:
HENDRIK, Colleen: Sam Nujoma: Portrait of a SWAPO leader. Pasadena, Munger
Africana Library Notes, 61,1961.
IDAF Remember Kassinga and other Papers on Political Prisoners and Detainees in Namibia, London, IDAF, 1981.
KERINA, Mburumba: Namibia ‒ The making of a Nation, New York, Books in
Focus Inc., 1981.
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Einige wertvolle Exemplare im Besitz der
STEENKAMP, Willem: Adeus Angola, Cape Town, Howard Timmins, 1976.
Namibia Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft
VAN den HURK, George: Border Mail Postal History and Markings of the War in
Angola and along the Namibian Border 1975-1976, Zug, Selbstverlag, 1990.
REINER, Peter: UNTAG Mail – A Postal History, 1990, 137p.
- The collection also contains an extensive amount of fiction, being story books
for young as well as mature readers. To mention just a few:
ELSTER, Otto: Die Goldgräber von Angra Pequena. Der reifen Jugend erzählt,
Leipzig, FA Brockhaus, 1889.
KRAZE, Friede H.: Heim Neuland. Ein Roman von der Wasserkante und aus
Deutsch-Südwest, Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1909.
HARBOU, Thea von: Die nach uns kommen. Der Lebensweg einer liebenden
Mutter ihr Kampf um die Freiheit ihres Kindes, Berlin, Ullstein, 1910.
NIEMANN, August: Helmut der Patrouillenreiter ‒ Eine Kriegserzählung aus
Südwest, Leipzig, Otto Spamer, 1910.
WESTERLIND, Marianne (d.i. Clara Brockmann): Du heiliges Land! Roman
aus den Diamantenfeldern Südwestafrikas, Hamburg, Broschek & Co., 1914
CONRAD, Carl: Bar zum weisen Kakadu. Ein Afrika-Roman. Berlin, Zeitschriftenverlag Aktiengesellschaft, 1936.
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- More than 40% of the titles in the entire library are English titles. Especially
amongst the early releases are very rare titles which can barely be found in
any public library, and certainly not to such an extent. To mention a few:
FRENSSEN, Gustav: Peter Moor’s Journey to Southwest Africa. A Narrative of
the German Campaign, London, Constable & Co., 1908;
CALVERT, Albert F.: South-West Africa during the German Occupation 18841914, London, T. Werner Laurie, 1916 230 plates.
DE WAAL, Daphne: Soldiers Immortal and other Poems, Cape Town, Maskew
Miller, 1917.
GIBSON, G.S.: Between Cape Town and Loanda. A record of two journeys in
South West Africa, London, Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1905.
GALGUT, Damon: The beautiful screaming of pigs, London, Scribners, 1991.
117 p.
OLDEVIG, Margreta: The Sunny Land, London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1944.166
p. ill. (photos)
- More than 450 titles in the collection are in Afrikaans. In general there is not
much information available on the amount of Afrikaans bibliographies which
bear reference to early times in Namibia. Thus it is difficult to assess the extent
of precise information ever available. The collection seems to be quite extensive
containing a few very rare documents.
BOTHA, M.C.: Die Arend, Cape Town, Human & Rousseau, 1991.
BRÜMMER, Tobie: Bestemming Walvisbaai Spionasieroman, Cape Town, Tafelberg, 1962.
CATHOLIC BISHOP’S CONFERENCE: Verslag oor Namibië uitgereik deur
die Suid-Afrikaanse Katolieke Biskopkonferensie, Windhoek, AngelusPrinting, 1982.
De KOCK, W.J.: Ekstraterritoriale Vraagstukke van die Kaapse Regering (18721885) met besondere verwysing na die Transgariep en Betsjoeanaland, Pretoria, Argiefjaarboek vir Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedenis, 1948.
- A small, somewhat unusual, but quite comprehensive collection of 21 old and
new cook books with local recipes is also part of the collection. Examples are:
MEES, Günther: Der fromme Löffel - Kochrezepte aus der Mission, Hildesheim,
Bernward-Verlag, 1980. 53 p. ill. 6
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Brigitte Lange-Helms ROTARY ANNS: A Peep into Namibian Kitchens,
Swakopmund, Rotary Anns Swakopmund, 1992. 68 p.
KLIPPENBERG LADIES CLUB Karibib 2007: Ons liplek lekkerbek resepte in
ons eie Kook & Wenke Boek, Karibib, Klippenberg Ladies Club, 2007. 218 p.
- Official documentation of the German Imperial Government in Windhoek, the
Colonial Administration in Berlin, the Colonial Office in London, the South
African government, the administration of South West Africa and the UN
publications complement the Namibiana collection. To mention some examples:
UNITED KINGDOM Angra Pequena Correspondence respecting the Settlement
at Angra Pequena, on the S.W. West Coast of Africa, London, Eyre and Spottiwoode, 1884.
SOUTH AFRICA Rapport over de Naturellen van Zuidwest-Afrika en hun behandeling door Duitsland. Opgestel in het kantoor van de Administrateur, Windhuk, Zuidwest-Afrika, Januarie 1918. Vertaling van het Imperiale Blauwboek,
Cd. 9146) Cape Town, Cape Times Ltd., 1918.
REICHSHAUSHALT-ETAT Der Reichshaushalts-Etat und der Haushalts-Etat
für die Schutzgebiete für das Rechnungsjahr 1908, Berlin, Reichsdruckerei,
1908.
These are a few of the many precious titles. The complete index comprises about
750 pages of titles listed in small print. It is available at the Namibia Scientific
Society upon request.
Both the Scientific Society as the prospective buyer, as well as the seller, are
credible. The seller is a born and bred Namibian who compiled this collection for
over 50 years. He certainly has sufficient professional background as he studied
history and German literature in South Africa and Adult Education and Museology abroad (Stuttgart and Leipzig ‒ Germany). He further acquired extensive
experience in the scope of library services: as the manager of the Africa House /
Museum in Sebnitz / Saxonia (2002-2011) and director of the Municipal Museum
in Sebnitz / Saxony (2005-2011). He initiated the fusion of both houses to what
was and still is the City Collection of Sebnitz. Both institutions have considerable
collections: the Africa House has a library with about 4,000 Africa relevant titles
and the city museum has a comprehensive library and archive that spans a period
of about 500 years and hosts over 10,000 titles. Thus he had ample opportunity
to collaborate with a number of international museums, institutes and libraries all
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over Europe. The collector retired in 2011 and intends selling his private house
which hosts the private library. After thorough studies he is convinced that the
Namibia Scientific Society is well equipped to purchase, host and maintain his
collection and granted a first option.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FUTURE CUSTODIANSHIP OF THIS OUR
OWN PRECIOUS HERITAGE
STANDARD BANK NAMIBIA
Pointbreak Manco
A/C: 041486048
Branch Code: 08 23 72
Ref: NAM05095
SWIFT:SBNMNANX
Namibia Scientific Society
P.O. Box 67, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel. +264 61 225 372
Fax +264 226 846
[email protected]
www.namscience.com.na
www.kuiseb-verlag.com
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