Barney Barnato

I know, Barney is not an author, but ...

He is a favorite of mine, and I have a number of books about his life

South Africa is famous for diamonds and gold, and Barney Barnato is, with Cecil Rhodes, the most famous mining magnate of South Africa.

Barnato and Rhodes are inseparable when South Africa and its natural resources are concerned, but I prefer to read about Barney. I tried to read a few Rhodes biographies, but just could not get into them. I own every Barney Barnato biography.

Kimberley mining scene

Barney's grave is in London's East End

I own a very rare limited and signed British first edition of B.I. BARNATO: A MEMOIR, by Harry Raymond, 1897

I own a very rare American first edition of B.I. BARNATO: A MEMOIR, by Harry Raymond, 1898

I have never seen another copy of this edition

I own a very rare British first edition of RANDLORDS by Paul Emden, 1935

I have never seen another copy with a dust jacket, and my copy has also been signed

I own a very rare British first edition of BARNEY BARNATO: FROM WHITE CHAPEL CLOWN TO DIAMOND KING, by Richard Lewinsohn, 1937

I have never seen another copy of this edition with a dust jacket

I own a very rare American first edition of BARNEY BARNATO by Richard Lewinsohn, 1938

Rare with a dust jacket

I own a rare British first edition of THE GREAT BARNATO by Stanley Jackson, 1970

I own a copy of RHODES & BARNATO: THE PREMIER AND THE PRANCER by James Leasor

A miniseries about the life of Barney was produced and shown in South Africa in 1989

I also own a book about Solly Barnato Joel, Barney's nephew