rare large paper copy with illustrious provenance

Williams, the general manager of De Beers, was able to draw upon resources not available to others to produce the most important historical treatise on the diamond mines of South Africa.

Includes everything connected with diamonds, including the discovery of the mines and their commercial exploitation, how they are mined, and life in the diamond camps. 'An essential work for anyone studying the diamond industry' (Sinkankas).

First edition; edition deluxe limited to 100 numbered copies, this number 66, folio, xx, 681 pp.; frontispiece portrait, 28 photogravures on 27 plates, printed on thick japan paper, 3 in colour, numerous illustrations and maps, green moire silk over yellow silk covers gilt, light fade to spine, light discolouration to covers, top edge gilt, a very good copy.

Mendelssohn II, 614; Sinkankas 7233.