Happy Easter Week, Mellies! We hope you're as excited for a mini holiday as we are. We could all use a quarter-year break!

In today’s newsletter,

• The Old Limpopo Curiosity Shop: A World Of Rare & Collectable Print Material 📇

• Tilt Coffee Is Shaking Things Up! 🥾

• MSI's Easter Holiday Safety Tips 👮‍♀️

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

The Old Limpopo Curiosity Shop: A World Of Rare & Collectable Print Material

We got wind of a new Melville gem right under our noses and had to unearth it for you. Tucked in a small corner of the Cape Cottage Collection furniture shop hides one of South Africa's rarest print and literary treasure troves: The Old Limpopo Curiosity Shop.

The Man Behind the Books

Specialist and "old-school" book dealer Mark Inman has a deep bond with Mzansi. Born in then West Germany, raised in British Hong Kong and now a first-generation South African, Mark started his journey in our country's book trade with Struik African Publishers in the Cape in 1982.

He's spent most of his career and journey within books exploring the formation of South African identities. His focus? Understanding "how we came to be who we are today" and the complex, convoluted "threads that led to that."

The Shop's Journey to Melville

Mark's Old Limpopo Curiosity Shop venture began 20 years ago on the premises of Cape Cottage Collection in Parkview. The aim was to further his work through rare and collectable printed material. Whether it be catalogues, photos, documents, newspapers, or theatrical programs – as long as it's rare and printed, The Old Limp as it's known, is interested.

Around two years ago, their Parkview building was sold, forcing Cape Cottage Collection to move. Mark says that for him "it was more of a push to Melville, rather than a pull." Simon Peacock, the Cape Cottage furniture shop owner, found a space here in Melville across from 27 Boxes on 4th Avenue, and Old Limp came along for the ride.

Not Your Typical Bookshop

Mark describes the space as "an office masquerading as a bookstore." They operate mainly online and by appointment. The shop connects globally with enthusiasts passionate about specific printed collectables.

Bar for a handful of local enthusiasts and historians, most of their customers book meetings from all over the country. Some are even travellers from across the globe.

Treasures and Rarities

Over the years, The Old Limpopo has amassed some astonishing items important to South Africa's heritage and history. While we were there, Mark carefully showcased some treasures they've held:

• An Oxford Dictionary of South African English with South African idioms and their historical usage

• A reprint of the original 1770 Encyclopaedia Britannica with a hidden compartment

• Books on South African history like "Johannesburg 100 Years" and "Lost Johannesburg"

• A gorgeous folio of photographs by David Goldblatt paired with Ivan Vladislavić's "TJ" (Transvaal Johannesburg) book

• A poster-sized 1919 tribute document to Ludwick Japet, a lawyer who pioneered the legalisation of boxing in South Africa

• Programs from artists like Janis Ian, Isaac Hayes, and Chick Corea who performed in 1980s South Africa despite the cultural boycott

• Rare coin catalogues from the 1940s, including a Napoleonic coin set inside a book safe crafted by renowned bookbinder Peter Carstens who bound some of the country’s more important books by artists such as Cecil Skotnes

The Crown Jewel: A 400-Year-Old Religious Text

The shop's most remarkable item is an extremely rare book from the Irish Rare Book Depository: Marsh's Library in Dublin. This archaic religious text from 1598 about St. Francis of Assisi arrived in South Africa in 1849. Even Jonathan Swift of “Gulliver’s Travels” was a reader at Marsh’s Library.

The Latin book is a Menology – a religious calendar or catalogue of saints arranged by months and days. Printed in Italy, it found its way to Marsh's Library, which was established by the Royal Charter in 1730. The library lent it out in 1848, and the borrower came to South Africa a year later. The book has been here ever since, coming into Old Limpopo's possession two years ago.

A Testament to Early Bookmaking

This handmade treasure predates bookmaking machinery. Its text was produced using a letterpress where each piece of type was set by hand – a far more laborious process than later mechanical methods. The illustrations were created using woodblocks, requiring skilled, intricate work.

The fact that this one-of-a-kind book has survived for over 400 years is remarkable. Many books from that era have been lost or worn away.

The book has been in Melville for 2 years, making the move around the same time as Mark and Simon. Since then, Mark has been negotiating with the library's committee about its return to Dublin after 176 years. Until then, it's another iconic part of Melville's rich history!

Visit by Appointment

If you're a rare print and collectable enthusiast, you can book an appointment with Mark at 076 390 6896 on Whatsapp. Text only no calls.

If you enjoyed today’s shorter than usual digest consider buying us a coffee. 

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

Here's a jam packed Easter special events round-up for you! Check out what's happening…

Melville Weather For The Week 🌤️

Wednesday 

20° 🌡️ 9°  | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 47% | NW 13 km/h 💨

Thursday  

23° 🌡️ 11° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 1% | NE 9 km/h 💨

Friday 

18° 🌡️ 10° | ☁️ |  🌧️ 40% | NNE 11 km/h 💨

Saturday 

21° 🌡️ 10° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 25% | NNW 7 km/h 💨

Sunday

23° 🌡️ 10° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 3% | SSW 6 km/h 💨

Monday 

22° 🌡️ 9° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 4% | WNW 6 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

22° 🌡️ 10° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 3% | WNW 9 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

Not many music events happening. Looks like we're in for a quietish Easter weekend.

17/04 | Thursday | 7 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Carlo Mombelli & The Prisoners Strange | R250

17/04 | Thursday | 9 pm | Smoking Kills Bar | Addictshun x Smoking kills | R80 - R120

18/04 | Friday | 8 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Adam Glasser feat. Bokani Dyer, & Keenan Ahrends | R180

For updates as the week goes on, visit our Instagram page @snapson7th and if you found something you’d like to do consider buying us a coffee. 

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Melville Security Initiative's Easter Holiday Safety Tips

The MSI sent out a comprehensive safety guide for holidays. Here it is for anyone who may have missed it:

Being proactive about your safety means understanding risks and how to manage them.

Property Risks
Homeowners' security is a 360-degree matter. Make sure your property is secured on all sides. Boundary walls between properties are the most common weak point for cat burglary type incidents. Don't allow access to anyone without properly verifying their credentials.

Banking Security
Don't allow anyone to assist you at an ATM. Always press cancel before starting to use an ATM. Make sure the buttons are not jammed.

Vehicle Safety
Theft of motor vehicles and headlights remains an issue across Joburg at the moment. Install a tracking system on high-risk vehicles.

Event Safety
If possible, make use of e-hailing services or shuttle services to attend sporting and entertainment events.

Exercising
Try to leave valuables at home and consult running and cycling groups about high-risk zones.

Meet and Greet
When returning from airports or arriving home at strange hours, make use of your security provider's meet-and-greet services.

CREASS Community Services Back To Kicking A**

The rain stopping has finally given CREASS Community Services a chance to tackle their upliftment tasks. In the last couple of days, they've completed 27 fixes and hope to accomplish another 11 by Wednesday.

They've been heavily focusing on finishing the Melville Koppies fence, which should be done this week. They've also identified over 80 other tasks around the neighbourhood on their list. Well done and thank you to the CREASS team – keep making Melville shine!

Markets Watch 🎪

Melville Artisanal Market

The Melville Artisanal Market carries on its tradition of fun family events around big holidays. They're preparing for a mega Easter weekend this Saturday with:

• An Easter egg hunt for kids

• A demonstration by 1st Henley Scout Group in pioneering and first aid

• A raffle with a chance at winning "an awesome hamper"

It promises to be a fun event for the whole family. Dogs are invited too!

Check them out on Saturday at the Tennis Courts on Rustenberg Road.

Melville Market

The Melville Market will also be having special events for the Easter weekend. They're still finalising their Easter festivities for this week's Market. Check out their social media pages in the week – we'll make sure to repost them on our socials as well!

The Tail End 🐾

🥈 Pet Winter Wear Competition 2nd Prize Announcement! 🎉

We're happy to announce that 2nd prize for our Pet Winter Wear competition is a hamper worth a whopping R750.00 from Ziggy's Pet Pamporium! Keep your eyes glued to the Tail End – we'll be announcing first prize next week!

We'd also like to share Ziggy's Pet Pamporium's trading times for the Easter weekend:

• Good Friday & Holy Saturday: 9am - 3pm

• Easter Sunday: 9am - 1pm

• Easter Monday: 9am - 3pm

Pet Safety If You're Going Away

In this week's Tail End, we spoke to Sonja Kruger of Beagle Watch's missing pets division. She stressed that one of the most common ways pets go missing is during holidays like Easter. This happens when people hire inexperienced or untrustworthy pet sitters who let animals unfamiliar with new caretakers escape.

To avoid this happening, please only use pet sitters you're sure of, who have experience and come well-recommended. We did a list of highly recommended and trusted pet sitters in and around Melville in our Guide to the Festive Season issue. Check it out if you need someone for the Easter weekend!

Please send any missing pets information and posters to [email protected]. Help us reunited Melville families.

Extra Sprinkles ✨

Tilt Trot & Library

Tilt Coffee has been shaking things up and bringing more life to our little slice of Jozi. Over the last month, they've started an awesome morning walk event called Tilt Trot.

Every Saturday morning at 7:30, early risers in our community meet at Tilt Coffee for a 5km trot. In their first event, they walked up to Westcliff and back! There'll be another one this weekend if you want to join up and get those steps in. The route is "subject to change," but the distance is always around the 5km mark.

Tilt is also teaming up with Fair Social to bring "A Little Library" to their space. They're hosting a fun launch event from 10am on Saturday, April 19th. There'll be free cake for early arrivals, prizes up for grabs, and Easter surprises for kiddies. It runs until 2pm, and they encourage attendees to bring a book to swap or donate!

Thank you! 🙏

That’s it for this year’s Easter edition. Enjoy the weekend with your loved ones, be safe if you’re travelling and make sure you come back to the Ville!

If you thought something came in clutch in this issue, consider buying us a coffee.

If you’re hosting an event and need to capture that special moment, please book our photography and video services. Reply to this email and find out about our rates.

Till next Tuesday,

Hwyl fawr ✌️