Anthony Clarke (bookseller)

Clarke's Bookshop

Company type	Independent bookstore
Industry	Retail (Books)
Founded	1957
Founder	Anthony Clarke
Headquarters	Cape Town , South Africa
Products	New, used, antiquarian, and out-of-print Africana books; historic prints and maps

Clarke's Bookshop is an independent bookstore situated on Long Street in Cape Town. Founded in 1957 by Anthony Clarke, a former British Army officer, the store concentrates on Africana literature related to Southern Africa, offering a range of new, used, antiquarian, and out-of-print volumes. It provides scholarly African studies resources to global institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Columbia University, and Yale University. In 2009, the Irish Independent listed Clarke's Bookshop among 'The 10 Best Bookshops in the World'.

History

Launched in November 1957 as a second-hand book retailer, Clarke's Bookshop was established by Anthony "Tony" Clarke MC, who served as a captain and commander in the British Army’s 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. Originally from Richmond, Surrey, Clarke relocated to Cape Town in 1947 to pursue journalism with the Cape Times. Notably, during World War II, he defied military orders to safeguard Piero della Francesca’s fresco The Resurrection in Sansepolcro—a town that now honors him with a street name and honorary citizenship. An 18th-century print of this fresco is displayed within the shop. Edward Bernardi, who later became a distinguished antiquarian auctioneer, worked under Clarke during the 1960s.

Beginning in the 1970s, Clarke's Bookshop shifted its focus to Africana literature and became known for distributing banned publications during South Africa’s apartheid censorship era. Paul Mills joined as co-owner in 1978. Henrietta Dax came aboard in 1981 and assumed full ownership in 1998 following Mills’s exit. Having been raised across the US, France, and England, Dax brought experience from Stuttafords and Exclusive Books. Under her leadership, the shop broadened its inventory by incorporating new titles alongside second-hand collections and initiated supplying African studies materials to universities worldwide.

The bookshop supports institutions such as Columbia University, Yale University, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, and Leiden University’s African Studies Centre. In 1995, it was acknowledged by IFLA as one of the premier dealers of Southern African materials. Additionally, it serves Western Cape provincial libraries while offering a diverse selection of new, used, antiquarian, and out-of-print Africana across genres including fiction, non-fiction, history, art, music, biography, and philosophy. The collection also features historic prints and maps dating back to the 16th century.

After facing lease non-renewal issues in 2012, Clarke's Bookshop relocated within Long Street. Amid financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it organized a fundraising auction showcasing works by artists such as William Kentridge and Jane Alexander. The shop also contributed materials to the University of Cape Town’s Jagger Library following its destruction by fire in 2021. Andre Sales, an employee since 2003, became co-director in 2020. Notable patrons include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Accolades

• 2002 – Received a Merit Award from the South African Booksellers Association for establishing a thriving export business and specializing in niche books
• 2009 – Placed fourth on The 10 Best Bookshops in the World list by the Irish Independent
• 2016 – Henrietta Dax awarded 'Lifetime Contribution to Bookselling in South Africa' by the South African Booksellers Association