African Scenery and Animals.

DANIELL, Samuel.

Edité par London: Samuel Daniell, 1804-05

First edition of "the scarcest and most valuable of the large atlas folios of South African illustrations. A most magnificent work" (Mendelssohn). Samuel (1775-1811) was the youngest of the talented Daniell family of artists. Educated at the East India College, Hertford, he trained as an artist under the drawing master there, Thomas Medland, who was also an accomplished aquatinter. "Unable to make a living as a landscape painter in London,Danielltravelled to the Cape of Good Hope in 1799 in the suite ofSir George Yonge, governor and commander-in-chief at the Cape. His subsequent friendship withLieutenant-General Francis Dundasresulted in his appointment as secretary and draughtsman to a mission to visit the country of theBooshuanas(Bechuanaland) underMr TruterandDr Somerville, in October 1801, to purchase cattle to replace those lost in the Cape Frontier War. During the perilous700 miletrek toLataku, the seat ofKingMooliahabenof the Booshuanas,Daniellmade a large number of drawings of the landscape, the wild animals, and the inhabitants of the interior … Daniellreturned to England in 1803 and immediately began to work up his drawings for publication in his most important workAfrican Scenery and Animals" (ODNB). Provenance: the Peachey family, Barons Selsey, with pressmarks and printed label of the Octagon Library, West Dean House, Sussex. This impressive library, sold at Sotheby's in 1871, included "magnificent Books of Prints. the whole in fine condition". Abbey 321; Howgego II T19 note; Mendelssohn I, pp. 411-12; Tooley 169. Thomas Sutton, The Daniells: Artists and Travellers, 1954. Folio (610 x 470 mm). With 2 engraved and aquatinted title pages and 30 hand-coloured aquatint plates, 10 leaves of letterpress. Watermarks: plates J. Whatman 1801; text J. Whatman 1801 and 1805. Portfolio of contemporary Stormont pattern marbled paper boards, sometime neatly rebound in half calf to style, retaining the original ties. Closed tear to front free endpaper, a few text leaves just lightly creased, occasional finger soiling. A very good copy. N° de réf. du vendeur 180109

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : African Scenery and Animals.
Éditeur : London: Samuel Daniell, 1804-05
Edition : Edition originale