Modern Books of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe for Collectors, Bitter Harvest

A curious aspect of Rhodesiana (Rhodesian andLovett, Galaxie Books, 1977. This
Zimbabwean collectables) is that the mostelephant-hide-bound edition set new standards for
sought-after items are almost always those fromluxurious presentation and deservedly remains
the last 15 years of the country's existence, frompopular. The Collectors' Edition was limited to just
the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965115 individually numbered copies, of which 15 were
to the nation's independence under majority rule ingiven to the Rhodesian National Archives,
1980 as Zimbabwe. During this period there werepoliticians and senior servicemen, and 100 offered
strict currency restrictions, preventing Rhodesianfor sale. The volume comes in a silk-lined slipcase
citizens from exporting money out of the countryand is handsomely bound in Rhodesian elephant
or from taking money with them when theyhide, with heavy, polished brass title plate and
emigrated - from 1975 emigrants could take withedgings, and a high-relief badge of the coat of
them only Rh$1000 (about US$1200) per family. Aarms of Rhodesia, struck in brass, on the outer
local industry grew up creating high-value souvenirfront cover. The Collectors' Edition is identical to
items for investment - sets of military medals;the normal 1977 first edition except for two
sets of gold and silver medallions; UDI souvenirsadditional pages bound in, and protected with
made in precious metals and in limited editions.tissue paper covers. The first page bears an
Books were invariably produced in two forms: aexplanatory note and the Galaxie imprimatur, and
normal retail hardback edition, and a specialcertifies the copy number. The second page
collectors' edition: badged, bound in leather (in thebears the original autographs of ten prominent
case of Contact, by John Lovett, in elephant hide),Rhodesians:John Wrathall, President of Rhodesia
autographed and bearing special tipped-in pages,Ian Douglas Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia
and offered in a luxurious slip-case.The sad truth isClifford Dupont, the first President of Rhodesia
that, until the Internet created fresh interest inB. H. 'Jack' Mussett, Minister of Internal Affairs
Rhodesiana, most of these investment itemsRoger Hawkins, Minister of Combined Operations
proved a very poor investment. Many of themLt Gen Peter Walls, Commander, Combined
now sell for barely more than their original cost,Operations
once you factor in 30 years' inflation.However,Air Marshal M. J. 'Mick' McLaren, Deputy
books have consistently performed well andCommander, Combined Operations
remain items of strong interest. My top tips forP. Sherren, Commissioner of the BSAP
modern Rhodesian/Zimbabwean books are asLt Gen John Hickman, Commander of the Army
follows (all prices are mid-2006):* Contact, JohnAir Marshal F. W.