Details
THOMPSON, George (1796-1889). Travels and Adventures in Southern Africa... comprising a view of the present state of the Cape Colony, with observations on the progress and prospects of the British emigrants. London: S. & Bentley for Henry Colburn, 1827.
4° (287 x 220mm). 2pp. publisher's advertisements at end. Folding lithographic map with route marked by hand in red, 2 lithographic plans, 20 uncoloured aquatint plates (one double-page), wood-engraved vignettes, extra-illustrated with a 1p. als from the author, dated 2 April 1827, mounted on front free endpaper. (Small blank section of outer blank margin of 3M1 torn away, repaired tears to folds of folding lithographic plan, about 10 of the plates with some spotting.) Original boards, paper label to backstrip 'Travels in Southern Africa, by Geo. Thompson, Esq Plates.', uncut (expertly rebacked, old spine laid down, label torn with loss but carefully repaired, inner hinges strengthened). Provenance: Mrs. Graham (author's presentation inscription 'Mrs. Graham with Mr. G. Thompson's Compts.' and mounted als. noting that the book is sent to Mrs. Graham at the request of Thompson's brother).
AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, IN THE RARE ORIGINAL BOARDS.. According to the DSAB this valuable work was ghost-written by Thomas Pringle (1789-1834). Thompson was 'a Cape Town merchant who resided in South Africa for many years, and who had travelled throughout the greater part of the Cape Colony and a considerable part of Bechuanaland... The work contains a number of excellent engravings... there are plans of Cape Town and Graaff-Reinet, a map of South Africa showing the author's route, and an Appendix containing reproductions of valuable articles from the South African Journal and other sources': Mendelssohn II,p.493.
4° (287 x 220mm). 2pp. publisher's advertisements at end. Folding lithographic map with route marked by hand in red, 2 lithographic plans, 20 uncoloured aquatint plates (one double-page), wood-engraved vignettes, extra-illustrated with a 1p. als from the author, dated 2 April 1827, mounted on front free endpaper. (Small blank section of outer blank margin of 3M1 torn away, repaired tears to folds of folding lithographic plan, about 10 of the plates with some spotting.) Original boards, paper label to backstrip 'Travels in Southern Africa, by Geo. Thompson, Esq Plates.', uncut (expertly rebacked, old spine laid down, label torn with loss but carefully repaired, inner hinges strengthened). Provenance: Mrs. Graham (author's presentation inscription 'Mrs. Graham with Mr. G. Thompson's Compts.' and mounted als. noting that the book is sent to Mrs. Graham at the request of Thompson's brother).
AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, IN THE RARE ORIGINAL BOARDS.. According to the DSAB this valuable work was ghost-written by Thomas Pringle (1789-1834). Thompson was 'a Cape Town merchant who resided in South Africa for many years, and who had travelled throughout the greater part of the Cape Colony and a considerable part of Bechuanaland... The work contains a number of excellent engravings... there are plans of Cape Town and Graaff-Reinet, a map of South Africa showing the author's route, and an Appendix containing reproductions of valuable articles from the South African Journal and other sources': Mendelssohn II,p.493.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium
Sale room notice
Please note that also included in the lot is a one-page autograph letter signed by George Thompson, Cape Town, December 29th 1834.