TRAVELLER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Francois le Vaillant: Traveller in South Africa and His Collection of 165 Water-Colour Paintings, 1781–1784

• Details: Limited English Edition (1051/2500). Two volumes, blue cloth boards with gilt lettering, illustrated endpapers.

• Pagination: Vol 1: xx + 172pp + plates/maps. Vol 2: xiv + 181pp + colour plates.

• Content: Includes monochrome/colour paintings and engravings, illustrations, and fold-out maps. Covers the author's life, travels, architecture, music, and ornithology.

• Condition: Very Good+; light handling wear to boards.

François le Vaillant (1753–1824) came to the Cape in 1781 on behalf of the Dutch East India Company to collect specimens of fauna and flora. Remaining in South Africa until 1784, he undertook two major expeditions: the first from Cape Town to the Great Fish River and the Eastern Frontier, and the second northward to the Orange River. His published travel accounts were rapidly translated into all major European languages and widely distributed, firmly placing the Cape in the European consciousness.

This set is a superb reproduction of Le Vaillant's work, including commentaries by leading academics. Having studied natural history collections in Paris, Le Vaillant traveled into the interior of Africa to observe specimens in their native habitats.