STATE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE IN 1822 (Signed by Author)

London: John Murray, 1823

8vo, viii + 377pp. Contemporary half leather hardcover binding, with gilt lettering and tooling to spine. Marbled boards, speckled edges. With two fold-out maps.

Signed by the author on the dedication page. Also includes AJJ Wessels’ bookplate. Wessels was the founder of Toyota SA. A unique and highly collectable item.

William Wilberforce Bird (1758 – 1836), merchant, civil servant and author, was the Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1796 to 1802. He arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, in 1807 where he founded the Cape Philanthropic Society. In 1810, he was appointed Controller of Customs, a civil service position he retained until his death.

The controversial book ‘The State of the Cape of Good Hope in 1822’ was written anonymously by Bird. Covering in detail the system of government at the Cape, the law courts, the burgher senate, registration of slaves, agriculture, trade and the customs of the population, he was highly critical of the way in which such ceremonies as weddings and funerals were conducted. (wikipedia.com)

Condition: Good. Rubbing and sections of edgewear to boards, light scuffing to leather, and light sunning to spine. Previous owners’ bookplates on front pastedown and verso of front endpaper. Previous owner’s signature to title page. Some foxing throughout. One of the fold-out maps has come loose. Small insect holes to rear endpaper and rear blank flyleaf.

Reserve: $500

Estimate: $600-750