Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #120 begins on 16 Jan 2025

Chapman (James)

TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Comprising Fifteen Years' Hunting and Trading. With journeys across the continent from Natal to Walvisch Bay, and visits to Lake Ngami and the Victoria Falls

Published: Bell & Daldy, London, 1868

Edition: First Edition

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llustrated with maps and numerous engravings in two volumes

 First edition: 2 volumes 454 + 480 pages, wood engraved frontispiece in each volume, 2 folding maps partly coloured and Chapman's journeys traced in red, 6 plates and 19 illustrations in the text, half green morocco with matching cloth sides, titled gilt on the spines - the leather at the edges of the boards and corners are worn with some loss (see photographs), top edges gilt, contents free of foxing.

 Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, vol. 1 page 321 -322: Starting from Natal, Mr Chapman traversed the eastern portion of the Orange Free State by three distinct routes, and pursuing his travels through the Western Transvaal and Bechuanaland, penetrated up to the almost unknown regions of Matableland. He also visited Walvisch Bay and Lake Ngami, and journeyed through the country of the Namaquas and Damaras.' Few South African books give better de- scriptions of the sport of the country and the habits and customs of the native races inhabiting the vast areas traversed, and throughout the volumes there are copious notes on the flora and fauna of the countries visited, amplified by the contents of a valuable index enriched with extracts from the works of able writers.

 Kennedy(R.F.) Africana Repository, page 40, 'Baines then joined Chapman's expedition through South West Africa to the Victoria Falls….This expedition up to August 1862 he described in Explorations in South-West Africa (London 1864)….Chapman was very angry with Baines because he published first and had acquired fame by exhibiting his pictures of the Victoria Falls. In a preface to Chapman's book acknowledgement is made to Charles Bell 'for drawings and sketches used in illustrating these volumes'. Some of the illustrations are undoubtedly after Bell, who was not a member of the expedition; some of the pictures are by Baines, but without acknowledgement. It was a pity they quarrelled because they had been friends from their first meeting in Potchefstroom in 1850.’

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: 8vo ( 230 x150mm)
  • 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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