Blast from the past with lotsa pics.

by **armata** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:42 pm

If anyone has Isemongers's 'Snakes & Snake catching in South Africa' I am sure this guy was mentioned in there (my copy was stolen years ago; well it was borrowed and never returned)

Also his name crops up in the annals of the London Zoo as he supplied snakes to them when Jack Lester was head keeper.

by **Bushviper** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:59 pm

Okay thanks I will go see if I can find more info on him.

I have the idea he was operating out of Southern Natal or the Eastern Cape.

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:09 pm

You’re spot on T! As always…

J Williams was an assistant of Fitzsimons, if I remember correctly. Isemonger described a bite Williams received from a boomslang in his book.

by **armata** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:23 pm

Hah! so it was you who 'stole' me book!!!

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:46 pm

Watch it!

That’s my holy Isemonger book which I got from Richard Newbery years back. It’s in my collection (small) of historical books which include that autographed copy of V.F.M. Fitzsimons by the man himself…and I think even your first book is on that same shelf.

by **Bushviper** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:32 pm

I recently saw a first edition of Lizards of Southern Africa by Fitzsimons which was autographed too. I shudder to think what that book is valued at.

Even just the large "Snakes of Southern Africa" by Fitzsimons will set you back a few thousand rands, especially some of the earlier editions.

by **Mongoose** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:39 pm

My mom was in a book store in Melville, and she phoned me telling me they had a Fitzimon's Gecko book, it's the size of "Snakes of Southern Africa" by Fitzsimons and was going for 5k.

She has reguarly phoned me telling me about books that she has seen for sale, but all of them are pretty expensive.

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:05 pm

Do you know if they still have the book of Fitzsimons?

by **Mongoose** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:21 pm

Rubida who are you speaking to, BV or myself?

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:23 pm

To you Mangoose...…sorry forgot to say

by **Mongoose** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:29 pm

Not a problem, will contact my Mom and find out.

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:37 pm

Thank you very much. If it’s the book of Fitzsimons on the Lizards of Southern Africa, then I will be very much interested in obtaining it...

BV can you assist in the search please? It doesn’t need to be autographed…must just have all the pages.

by **Bushviper** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:54 pm

I could steal this one. The owner is in Angola and I know there is no-one at home. There are also a heck of a lot of other first editions there too. Just kidding.

There was another one of these lizard books available for 6K a while ago too.

What other old reptiles books are you looking for? Apparently there is a site where you can judge the value of your old books. Does anyone know where to find out this information?

by **Pythonodipsas** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:00 pm

BV you can make R250 if you steal the lizard book and sell it to me? I am open to negotiation too.

by **rubida** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:04 pm

BV, I am in particular after that lizard book of Fitzsimons as it’s the only book that contains proper keys to ID lizards…its taxonomy may be out dated, but it will still be a great tool!

Maybe its time for me to visit Jo’burg again…seems like you guy’s are keeping all the good stuff up there now.

Blast from the past with lotsa pics.

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