SKETCHES REPRESENTING THE NATIVE TRIBES, ANIMALS, AND SCENERY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

From drawings made by the late Mr. Samuel Daniell, engraved by William Daniell.

48 soft-ground etchings, 48 leaves of text, with the dedication to Leopold of Saxe Coburg, recent half brown calf with marbled boards, brown title label gilt on the spine, uncut edges, housed in a brown paper covered slipcase with gilt threads and brown cloth sides, a very good copy.

Sutton Thomas) The Daniells Artists and Travellers, pages 154-5.

Abbey (J.R.) Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, number 326, 'The circumstances in which Samuel Daniell obtained the drawings from which these plates were made are briefly discussed in the Notes to Samuel Daniell's African Scenery and Animals, 1804-5. Samuel Daniell died in Ceylon in 1811. Of the choice of soft-ground etching for the reproduction of his brother's drawings William says, "He has merely to add with respect to the engravings, that he has endeavoured to transfuse into them the spirit of the originals by a process which appeared to him best calculated for the attainment of that object." It is a most beautiful and sensitive work. One can well believe that William had not intruded himself but has indeed kept "the spirit of the originals."' Daniell's sketches are now highly regarded as an early and sympathetic record of African life.

Mendelsssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography volume 1 page 413: Mr. Samuel Daniell accompanied Dr. Somerville and Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Barrow on an expedition into the interior of South Africa, and the collection of sketches included in this volume are the result of his researches while pursuing those studies in natural history to which he devoted his life. " He was indefatigable in the pursuit of the various subjects he has delineated; and it was his constant care to see the animals alive, that he might make himself master of their actions and habits. To the knowledge acquired in this way he added all that could be obtained in the country which produced the animals he has represented, by conversation with the peasants and natives." The interesting descriptive notes which accompany every drawing were written for the greater part by Mr. Barrow or Dr. Somerville.