Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Baines (Thomas)

THE VICTORIA FALLS ZAMBESI RIVER

Sketched on the Spot by Thomas Baines, F.R.G.S., (During the Journey of J. Chapman & T. Baines), 11 Views of the Victoria Falls, the Zambesi River and the Gorges, with descriptive text by the artist.

Published: Day & Son, Limited, London, October 4th 1865

Edition: First Edition

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8 pages of text, original mauve straight-grained cloth – titled in gilt on the upper cover within a blind stamped decorative border. The lithographic title page and ten lithographic plates have been removed from the binding and expertly cleaned and are now preserved in acid free window mounts. Both the covers and the plates are contained in a large oatmeal cloth solander case with a special compartment in the base to house the binding and text.

All the text pages have been cleaned and they are bright and free of foxing. The binding has a new cloth back and red endpapers. The plates are double-tinted lithographs drawn on stone by T.Picken, R.M.Bryson, F.Jones and E.Walker, all after paintings byBaines and printed by Day & Son, some marginal tears have been repaired.

The ten images are:

1. Title page: Birds Eye View of the Victoria Falls from the West.
2. The Falls by Sunrise, With the “Spray Cloud” Rising 1,200 Feet.
3. The Leaping Water or Westernmost Cataract.
4. The Falls from the Western End of the Chasm.
5. Great Western (or Main) Fall.
6. Herd of Buffaloes Drive to the Edge of the Chasm.
7. Centre Rock Fall, and the Eastern Cataracts.
8. Zanjueelah, the Boatman of the Rapids.
9. Falls from the East End of the Chasm to Garden Island.
10. The Falls from the Narrow Neck Near the Eastern Headland of the Outlet.
11. The Profile Cliff, Narrow Gorge and Torrent of the Zambesi.

Wallis (J.P.R.) Thomas Baines, page 158, ‘Though the title-page of the Victoria Falls folio gives the date as October 4th, 1865, it did not appear till January 12th, 1866. Artistically it is the most impressive of his publications, in spite of the limitations of chromolithography. But the subscription list was meagre, and instead of receiving profits Baines had to pay for most of his presentation copies.’

London, Published October 4th 1865 by Day & Son, Limited, Lithographers & Publishers, 6 Gate Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

  • Size: Folio (570 x 370 mm)
  • Sold By: Clarke's Africana & Rare Books
  • Contact Person: Paul Mills
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 021 794 0600
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Visa & Mastercard via PayGate secure links and Bank transfers.
  • Trade Associations: ABA - ILAB, SABDA


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