Unicorn: Navigating New Frontiers

(Cape Town: Fernwood Press, 2003) 1874950733. 4to; original blue boards, lettered in grey on spine and upper cover; laminated pictorial dustwrapper; pictorial endpapers; pp. 180, incl. index; profusely illustrated in full-colour and monochrome, with photographs and artwork showing personalities, vessels and events from the shipping company's illustrious history. Unicorn's compliments bookplate mounted to front free endpaper verso. Newspaper clipping entitled 'Charting growth of coastal shipping' (a review of this book) mounted to rear free endpaper recto, else fine. "Seventy years have passed since the 43-metre Cecile Mapleson first plied the coastal trade for the newly formed African Coasters in 1933. Much has happened in the interim to transform a struggling coasting company with obsolete ships into the world-class operation that Unicorn is today. Against the backdrop of rapid socio-political and economic developments in southern Africa, this book traces the history of Unicorn Shipping - a fascinating story of people, ashore and afloat, who experienced times of immense satisfaction and, sadly, also moments of tragedy. Interwoven with the main narrative text are nostalgic reflections on the various operations of the company from its earlier years to the present, as well as interesting anecdotes about many of the company's people and ships. More than 200 photographs - many published here for the first time - await readers as they browse through this book and explore the vibrant story of Unicorn." .