THE DOWNFALL OF LOBENGULA (1st Edition, Signed and inscribed by the author to Abe Bailey)

335pp plus 6 pages of period advertising; Signed and inscribed by the author W.A. Wills “To Mr Abe Bailey with W.A. Wills best regards 10 Sept 1894”. On the inside of the front cover pastedown is the bookplate of the owner Abe Bailey. Complete with foldout maps/plans. Black and white photos throughout and some sketch drawings. Very good condition. 

Externally, original dark olive green cloth covered boards with a bold printed pictorial design on the front and with black lettering to the spine. The covers have some minor shelf wear to the extremities and bumping to the corners with a few minor chips on the spine ends. Binding is tight. Internally, binding netting is visible in the gutter between the flyleaf and the half title page. Light tanning and mild foxing to some pages and minor spots to some plates.

Abe Bailey, was one of the Randlords, a South African diamond and gold tycoon, a politician, financier and cricketer. “Via his business interests and his connection with Cecil John Rhodes, whom he met at this time, he acquired substantial mining and land properties in the former Rhodesia and by the thirties had become one of the world’s richest men.” (http://abebailey.org/view.asp?pg=biography).

This book is regarded as the British South Africa Company’s official account of the Matabele War of 1893 and covers the arrival of the Matabele King, Mzilikazi, in what would become Rhodesia, to the death of his successor, Lobengula.  

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

Size: 215mm x 175mm 

London, Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent & Co, 1894