THE DIAMOND DIGGINGS OF SOUTH AFRICA (1st Edition)

240pp plus ads, 1st edition, hardcover with original cloth covered boards with some fading to sections of the front and rear covers. Sketch map frontispiece "showing Routes To The Diamond Fields from the Chief Ports of the Cape Colony". Externally, small gilt circular motif to the centre of the front cover showing men digging for diamonds and gilt stamped titling and date of 1872 on the spine. Some shelf wear to the extremities. The binding is tight. Internally, yellow endpapers with period advertisements and there is no visible foxing to the pages. Very good condition. 

The book is divided into 5 main parts: Part I General Account of the Fields; Part II Routes to the Fields; Part III Sketches of Life and Character on the Fields; Part IV My Diary at the Dry Diggings; and Part V The Gold Fields. 

'Perhaps the best account of the early days on the Diamond Fields. The author sailed for South Africa on February 23, 1871, and arrived at Du Toit's Pan on May 30th. He remained on the Fields for about six months, and he gives an interesting description of the mines and the social life of the diggers. The author was not successful as a digger, and being prostrated with camp fever, quitted the Fields, arriving in England in January, 1872'. (South African Bibliography, Mendelssohn)

Photos provided reflect the condition in addition to the above description.

Size: 210mm x 140mm

London, Horace Cox, 1872

NB: This book will be shipped from Northern Ireland (UK) and will incur additional shipping & insurance costs.