1. International bookshop

Harald Herzog chronicles his life through bookshops - all the way from the 1930s, when he and his family immigrated to South Africa from Germany to flee the war, up until the 1990s. That's about sixty years of documentation, illustrating the ever-changing Johannesburg bookselling-scene, and creating a comprehensive map of bookshops throughout central Joburg. There are tales of bookshops, family history, personal memories and some quite extraneous things.

He shared these notes with Michelle Magwood when she was at the Sunday Times, and she's shared them with us. We're not sure what form these notes will eventually take, but if you have memories of Harald or the bookshops he visited, please share them with us.

'These things are done chiefly from memory.

I've tried not to be boring.

Kind regards,

H. Herzog'

1. International Bookshop

1940s, possibly earlier

South side of Kerk between Rissik and Loveday, off Rissik, in an old building at street level, run and probably owned by an elderly greyhaired lady of medium height.

Used books only.

Bought : My first 2nd hand book, The Coral Island, by RM Ballantyne, Collins Illustrated Classics, as new, green jacket, one shilling I think, a lot of money for me. Brought my mother for her opinion before buying, around 1940. Found it slightly disappointing as I do most books intended for young people. No longer have it.

Also Industrial Art Explained by John Gloag 1946 with a Vanity Fair sticker. Still have it.

Seen! A History of Our Own Times by Justin McCarthy (plus or minus 4 vols). St Leon by Wm. Godwin.