Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #124 begins on 03 Jul 2025

Distant (W.L.)

A NATURALIST IN THE TRANSVAAL

With coloured plates and original illustrations

Published: R.H.Porter, London, 1892

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $100

Approximately:

Estimate: $125/150

Bidding opens: 3 Jul 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 10 Jul 16:30 GMT

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First Edition: 277 pages, frontispiece, 4 hand coloured plates and 5 other plates, 29 illustrations in the text, brown pictorial cloth titled gilt on the upper cover and spine, a very good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 1, page 471-2. "The impressions of a naturalist who, during a twelve months' business sojourn in the Transvaal ... employed the whole of his leisure ... in zoological recreation..."

On his arrival in the Transvaal he found the country suffering severely from the collapse of the "1889 boom", and observes, "Johannesburg is now in sackcloth and ashes, the occupation of the company promoter is gone, mining companies close down almost daily, mining scrip is nearly valueless and a settled apathy denotes the shareholder." 'The volume contains much valuable information respecting the birds and insects of the country, and there is an excellent account of the Magwanbas and of the Zoutpansberg.'

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: 8vo (230 x 150 mm)


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