Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #119 begins on 14 Nov 2024

Thompson, George

Travels and Adventures in Southern Africa.

Comprising a View of the present state of the Cape Colony, with Observations on the Progress and Prospects of the British Emigrants.

Published: Henry Colburn, London, 1827

Edition: First edition

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(pp. xviii,  493, Appendix) a second edition. Large quarto (27 cm) in full decorative leather, gilt titles and decorations, fine marbled endpapers, marbled edges; "the work contains a number of excellent engravings, some of which were contributed by the naturalist Wehdemann, and others by Mr. De Meillon and Dr. Heurtley [17 engraved vignettes mostly as chapter heads and 18 aquatint plates- including a folding view of Table Mountain from the Parade]: there are plans of Cape Town and Graaff-Reinet, a map of South Africa showing the author's route" (from Mendelssohn (II, 493-94) who describes the book as a "valuable book written by a Cape Town merchant who… who had travelled throughout the greater part of the Cape Colony and a considerable part of Bechuanaland..."

From the Beaufoy Library and with its bookplate and the bookplate creator Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy (1786-1851). The Beaufoy copy probably was sold when much of the Beaufoy collection was sold off in 1909 by Sotheby's. It was subsequently acquired at Port Elizabeth c. 1960 by the present owner's father, H. H. Shepley. This first edition, in large quarto format, was followed in the same year by a second edition, in two smaller octavo volumes (20 cm) which is the edition most likely found offered for sale. Quite a Fine copy of this scarce edition. 



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