Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Anonymous. (? Roderick Noble). & Various Photographers

THE PROGRESS OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALFRED ERNEST ALBERT - AFRICA'S FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS!

Through the Cape Colony, British Kaffraria, the Orange Free State, and Port Natal, 1860, in the Year 1860.

Published: Saul Solomon, Cape Town, 1861

Edition: 1st.

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The first edition of the very first book to be illustrated with original photographs on the African continent, and very important as such. Saul Solomon, Cape Town, 1861. 4to. xii,180pp. With a circular original photograph of Prince Alfred mounted on the title page. There is also a second printed title page. In addition there are sixteen original full page photographs, ten being photographs of paintings by Bowler and Baines and six being original images of Prince Alfred's tour, including a fine photograph of Chief Moshesh and his councillors. The photographers credited are Kirkman, Green and York. SABIB Vol.3, Page 750 quotes the Cape Monthly Magazine as saying that the letterpress is by Roderick Noble.

An about very good copy of this important title in the original blue/grey cloth with ornate impressed and gilt design on the front board. The cloth is used with some mild fraying, splitting and tears of the front joint and spine, but essentially complete and holding and in acceptable condition for an original binding 160 years old! Internally the book is clean - there is evidence of removal of a possible large bookplate on the front pastedown. The yellow endpapers are otherwise clean and the front hinge is starting but firm.The photographs are in nice condition.

Saul Solomon (25 May 1817 - 16 October 1892) was an influential liberal politician of the Cape Colony. A tireless defender of racial and religious equality, Saul Solomon was an important member of the movement for responsible government and an opponent of Lord Carnarvon's disastrous Confederation scheme. He was born on the island of St Helena on 25 May 1817 (the nephew of the great St Helena businessman Saul Solomon senior). Although his family were St Helenan, they had close links to Cape Town. Saul spent his first few years at a Jewish children's home in England, where he suffered from the malnutrition and rickets that physically affected him for the rest of his life. He then had a rudimentary formal education in South Africa before beginning work as an apprentice in a printing business. He later acquired the business and built it into the largest printing business in the country, founding the Cape Argus newspaper. He was also one of the founders of Old Mutual, today one of the largest insurance firms in South Africa. As representative for Cape Town, Solomon entered the very first Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Parliament) when it opened in 1854. He remained an MP for this constituency until his retirement in 1883. The title on offer is arguably Solomon's most important book publication.

  • Binding Condition: About Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 4to.
  • Sold By: Ronald Levine - Modern First Editions
  • Contact Person: Ronald Levine
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 011643 8437
  • Preferred Payment Methods: EFT for South African customers and International Bank Tranfer for customers abroad. I am unable to accept payment by credit card.
  • Trade Associations: SABDA


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