Kolbe(n) was sent to the Cape to undertake astronomical and survey work, in addition to writing a comprehensive description of the settlement. His description of the fauna was the first to be published, and though rather fanciful, as he relied on other equally inaccurate accounts, he did describe the giraffe - thought to be a mythical animal at the time. His account provides a detailed account of day-to-day life at the Cape, also describing the geography, climate, flora, followed by an in-depth study of the Khoi people he encountered. His ethnographical descriptions, though coloured with contemporary European views and standards, are still a valuable source of information for present-day scholars.
365 + 363 pp with 2 frontispieces, 10 + 17 engraved plates (of which 3 are folding, and one has been partially hand-coloured) and folding map. There is light foxing throughout, more heavily on plates. Prelims bear two bookplates and ownerships, and have some aged ink spots. Vol 1 has three pages with printing faults which have been rewritten in ink; Vol 2 has slight marginal damage on one page. Vol 2 has the hinges repaired. The bindings of the two volumes are not perfectly uniform.
A good set of the first English edition of this valuable work
- Binding Condition: Good
- Overall Condition: Good
- Size: 200 x 130 mm
- Sold By: Africana Books
- Contact Person: Stefan Blank
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 021 4475741
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