| A curious aspect of Rhodesiana (Rhodesian
| |
| | set new standards for luxurious
|
| and Zimbabwean collectables) is that the
| |
| | presentation and deservedly remains
|
| most sought-after items are almost always
| |
| | popular. The Collectors' Edition was
|
| those from the last 15 years of the
| |
| | limited to just 115 individually numbered
|
| country's existence, from the Unilateral
| |
| | copies, of which 15 were given to the
|
| Declaration of Independence in 1965 to
| |
| | Rhodesian National Archives, politicians
|
| the nation's independence under majority
| |
| | and senior servicemen, and 100 offered
|
| rule in 1980 as Zimbabwe. During this
| |
| | for sale. The volume comes in a
|
| period there were strict currency
| |
| | silk-lined slipcase and is handsomely
|
| restrictions, preventing Rhodesian
| |
| | bound in Rhodesian elephant hide, with
|
| citizens from exporting money out of the
| |
| | heavy, polished brass title plate and
|
| country or from taking money with them
| |
| | edgings, and a high-relief badge of the
|
| when they emigrated - from 1975 emigrants
| |
| | coat of arms of Rhodesia, struck in
|
| could take with them only Rh$1000 (about
| |
| | brass, on the outer front cover. The
|
| US$1200) per family. A local industry
| |
| | Collectors' Edition is identical to the
|
| grew up creating high-value souvenir
| |
| | normal 1977 first edition except for two
|
| items for investment - sets of military
| |
| | additional pages bound in, and protected
|
| medals; sets of gold and silver
| |
| | with tissue paper covers. The first page
|
| medallions; UDI souvenirs made in
| |
| | bears an explanatory note and the Galaxie
|
| precious metals and in limited editions.
| |
| | imprimatur, and certifies the copy
|
| Books were invariably produced in two
| |
| | number. The second page bears the
|
| forms: a normal retail hardback edition,
| |
| | original autographs of ten prominent
|
| and a special collectors' edition:
| |
| | Rhodesians:John Wrathall, President of
|
| badged, bound in leather (in the case of
| |
| | Rhodesia
|
| Contact, by John Lovett, in elephant
| |
| | Ian Douglas Smith, Prime Minister of
|
| hide), autographed and bearing special
| |
| | Rhodesia
|
| tipped-in pages, and offered in a
| |
| | Clifford Dupont, the first President of
|
| luxurious slip-case.The sad truth is
| |
| | Rhodesia
|
| that, until the Internet created fresh
| |
| | B. H. 'Jack' Mussett, Minister of
|
| interest in Rhodesiana, most of these
| |
| | Internal Affairs
|
| investment items proved a very poor
| |
| | Roger Hawkins, Minister of Combined
|
| investment. Many of them now sell for
| |
| | Operations
|
| barely more than their original cost,
| |
| | Lt Gen Peter Walls, Commander, Combined
|
| once you factor in 30 years'
| |
| | Operations
|
| inflation.However, books have
| |
| | Air Marshal M. J. 'Mick' McLaren, Deputy
|
| consistently performed well and remain
| |
| | Commander, Combined Operations
|
| items of strong interest. My top tips for
| |
| | P. Sherren, Commissioner of the BSAP
|
| modern Rhodesian/Zimbabwean books are as
| |
| | Lt Gen John Hickman, Commander of the
|
| follows (all prices are mid-2006):*
| |
| | Army
|
| Contact, John Lovett, Galaxie Books,
| |
| | Air Marshal F. W.
|
| 1977. This elephant-hide-bound edition
| |
| |
|
