Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Charles John Andersson

LAKE NGAMI, 1st edition

Or, Explorations and Discoveries, During Four Years' Wanderings in the Wilds of South Western Africa

Published: Harper and Brothers, New York, 1856

Edition: 1st Edition

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First edition of Andersson's first book, a "famous early volume of African sport and travel a cornerstone book of African hunting in the mid-19th century" (Czech).

"Few, if any, books give so full and complete an account of Namaqualand, Damaraland, and the Ovampo country, and the description of the fauna of these countries is absolutely unequalled. Many exciting hunting adventures are depicted by pen and pencil, and the author obtained a great insight into the curious customs of the natives and their rulers" (Mendelssohn).

The lively illustrations depict the pursuit of hippopotamus, eland, kudu, oryx, ostriches, lion, and other big game; this American edition, published the same year as the first British edition, is in a smaller format and the illustrations are within the letterpress.

Andersson (1827-67), the illegitimate son of a Welshman living in Sweden and his Swedish servant, traveled to England in 1849 and joined Francis Galton's expedition to south-west Africa, "an area which was, at that time, largely unknown to Europeans" (ODNB). The expedition set out in 1850, landed at Walvis Bay, modern Namibia, and eventually reached Tounobis on the border with Botswana. Galton left in 1851, but "Andersson stayed on, determined to follow a career as a trader, traveller and naturalist", basing himself at Otjimbingwe, central Namibia, and becoming "deeply involved in the tribal politics of the region" (Howgego). In 1853 he set out to cross the desert to Lake Ngami (now no more than a seasonal marsh), taking a circuitous route via Windhoek and the Kalahari desert. After reaching the lake he continued 60 miles further north in search of the Okavango but was obliged to turn back, returning the following year via more settled districts. He published his account during a two-year return visit to England. He later managed the Walvis Bay Mining Company, before selling up in 1864 in order to organize an army of 3,000 Herero warriors against the Oorlam Afrikaners, during which conflict he received a leg wound which blighted his final years, and he died at Omutwe-Onjambu, Angola, three years later. Czech pp. 6-7; Howgego IV A19; Mendelssohn I p. 41; SABIB I p. 65; not in Abbey

Original dark brown cloth. Some wear as depicted in the photos, but this is a nice example in outstanding condition when contrasted with other copies of this rare book. The pages are, in the main, clean, and you will notice that foxing is NOT plaguing this book. Original endsheets, with former owner inscription in pencil to front paste-down, and shorter signature to title-page, again in pencil. Could be erased, but the contemporary dates of 1885 and 1894 add to the charm of this book. Binding is tight and sturdy without any cracking whatsoever to inner or outer hinges. Spine/backstrip seems to have been skillfully secured to the textblock spine. Some extremities of the dark boards appear to also have been skillfully "touched-up" to restore/re-darken areas of the original cloth that were worn.

  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 8 x 5 inches
  • Sold By: Springbok Books
  • Contact Person: Wade Burgess
  • Country: United States
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 1-505-382-2875
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Money order / Cashiers check / Personal check / PayPal with a surcharge
  • Trade Associations: AA Approved


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