THE WILD SPORTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: Being the Narrative of an Expedition from the Cape of Good Hope Through the Territories of the Chief Moselekatse to the Tropic of Capricorn

William Cornwallis Harris

Edité par Bohn, London, 1852

A propos de cet article

RARE BRITISH EDITION

Contents complete with all plates present and fold-out map at rear. The ORIGINAL publisher's binding has not been restored, and has age-related wear, especially to crown, heel, corners; inner and outer joints splitting. Mild sporadic foxing. The textblock is intact, but loosening from the boards. All page edges gilt.

Fifth overall edition (4th British edition after the 1st [1839], 2nd [1841], and 3rd [1844]), and a preferred edition as the first edition did not include the hand-colored lithographic plates. Illustrated with 26 hand-colored lithographed plates, folding map at rear.

The original upper cover decorative panel portraying in gilt four animals: lion, giraffe, gnu, and elephant. For its age the book is in good condition. One of the greatest 19th century works on African game and a true canon-title of the genre. Harris' narrative goes far beyond big-game hunting and is a valuable look into Africa of the mid-19th century. Harris provides, through both the text and the lithographic plates, a look at some of the fauna and indigenous peoples of the region. This work is regarded as the first book concerning the hunting of game animals in Africa -- the first African Safari narrative -- and is a cornerstone work of the African oeuvre. The plates themselves are highly noteworthy. The images are dynamic and capture the movements, the very nuances, of the subjects. In many cases these were among the earliest glimpses Western peoples experienced of these fascinating animals and peoples.

From the editor's note to the Struik Africana Collectanea reprint:
'This is not only a book about 'Wild Sports' but is a very interesting report of such important historical events as: The Great Trek; the massacre of Piet Retief and his party by Dingaan; the fall of Piet Uys in an abortive invasion of the Zulu territories; the death of Maritz; the annihilation of the Natal Settlers; etc.

'The author and his party travelled by wagon and oxen to Grahamstown, Somerset, Graaff Reinet, New Lattakoo, through Griqualand and Bechuanaland, to Boksfontein, Cambellsdorp and Kuruman through the domains of the Matabele King and the Barolong country, and returned to Graaff Reinet by the Vaal River Route.

'He gives interesting accounts of the Matabele people and experiences with the Bushmen, Hottentots and other tribes. His stay with King Moselekatse is fully described and of great historical value.

'An interesting map 'exhibiting the relative positions of the emigrant farmers and the native tribes' is included.'.

N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1756487288523

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: THE WILD SPORTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: Being the Narrative of an Expedition from the Cape of Good Hope Through the Territories of the Chief Moselekatse to the Tropic of Capricorn
• Éditeur: Bohn, London
• Date de parution: 1852
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• Édition: 5ème Édition, Édition illustrée
• État de l'article: Satisfaisant