THE MOUNTAIN BUSHMEN OF BASUTOLAND (1962) - SIGNED

Publisher's illustrated binding with illustrated dust jacket.

63pp. Illustrated by James Walton on six double-sided plates with many in-text illustrations.

James Walton was considered the doyen on vernacular architecture in South Africa and a pioneer in the field. He was the author of numerous books on "folk" architecture, including: Homesteads and Villages of South Africa (1952), Water-mills, Windmills and Horse-mills of South Africa (1974), The Josephine Mill and its Owners (1978), Cape Dovecots and Fowl-runs (1985), Double-storeyed, flat-roofed Buildings of the rural Cape (1993). (See lot #335 in this auction "African Village" for an early title written by Walton)

Signed by the author on the half-title page, "With best wishes, Marion Walsham How".

'Rock paintings and rock engravings have been recorded from many parts of Africa but it is only in the wild, mountainous country of Basutoland that the rock artists continued to paint within living memory. Marion Walsham How was born in Basutoland and there she met Basotho who had painted with the Bushmen in their rock shelters. From them she learned some of the secrets of the diminutive artists and in these pages she tells of the Mountain Bushmen who were living in Basutoland at the end of last century. Her story is based on her own personal experiences and on information supplied by people who actually knew the Mountain Bushmen.'

'James Walton, who has illustrated Mrs. How's book, spent thirteen years in Basutoland, during which time he copied paintings from hundreds of rock shelters, often hidden in remote valleys, accessible only after long treks on horseback, and hitherto unknown. In this book author and illustrator have worked together to present a picture of the life and art of the last African rock painters, the Mountain Bushmen.'

A clean and near fine copy of this scarce publication in the original dust jacket.