Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Forbes, Vernon

Pioneer Travellers in South Africa . . . (1965)

Published: Balkema, Cape Town and Amsterdam, 1965

Edition: First

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A geographical commentary upon routes, records, observations and opinions of travellers at the Cape 1750-1800

Signed by author on title page.

2-colour dustjacket, fawn cloth-boards, gilt to the spine and upper panel, plain endpapers, vi + 177 pp of text, appendixes and index + colour frontispiece tipped in opposite the title-page + 38 pp of inserted illustrations + 21 inserted maps, one folding.

Except for the publisher's device, the spine details on the repaired dustjacket are sunned to illegibility, and both dustjacket faces are lightly rubbed. The boards and binding are fine. There is an owner signature on the front paste-down and the author has signed the title-page. The contents are complete, unmarked and undiscoloured.

Forbes's outstanding book was based on his 1957 Rhodes doctoral thesis. Although published in this complete form in 1965, most of the chapters had previously seen the light in issues of the South African Geographical Journal and other publications. Even though it covers only half a century, Forbes's work surveys the itineraries and publications of 10 travellers, most of them well known, including Barrow (Forbes's favourite, from a geographical point of view), Le Vaillant (the author records his reputation as a boaster but an excellent draughtsman, the latter borne out by Forbes's own joint editorship of a major book on Le Valliant's art [see also Lot 5]), Thunberg, Sparrman, Paterson, Gordon and others.

In addition to the text, the maps, illustrations, references and notes make this title the finest biography and bibliography of the region's famous travellers in the period it covers.

  • Jacket Condition: Fair to Good (repaired)
  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 290 x 220
  • Sold By: Fontein Books
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 051 773 0050/048 079 546 4032
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Eft (South Africa), SWIFT (rest of world), or $ checks for US or Australian buyers
  • Trade Associations: AA Approved


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