DESCRIPTION DU CAP DE BONNE-ESPERANCE

First French Edition: Volumes: I. xiii, (xi), 428. II. (xiii), 262. III. (xviii), 230 pages, 5 engraved folding maps, 1 engraved folding plate, 24 engraved plates, half title pages, title pages printed in red and black, full contemporary sprinkled calf, green and red title labels and gilt decoration on the spines - bound as tight backs the leather is splitting at the joints but is  holding firmly on the ties, marbled endpaper and edges, contents crisp, a very good copy.

Perhaps the most valuable part of the work is Kolb's extensive, illustrated account of the customs, language, religion, and social life of the Khoikhoi people (whom he refers to using the historical term "Hottentots"). For over a century, Kolbe's account was the primary source used by European intellectuals to understand these people.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography vol1 pages 843 – 844: ‘Exact and detailed description of the Cape of Good Hope, containing a very circumstantial account of the present state of that celebrated country, its settlements, harbour, fortress, form of government, extent, and the regions recently discovered in its vicinity ; together with an erudite description of the climate and soil of the territory ; of its animals, fishes, birds, plants, and herbs ; likewise of various prodigies of Nature discovered in the country ; to which is added a very accurately compiled account of the Hottentots from the author's own personal investigations : followed by a remarkable report on their language, religion, manner of living, singular traditions, customs, marriage ceremonies, circumcisions, and education ; also many other curious observations concerning the manners of the nation ; the condition of the colony of the European inhabitants, not to be found in any other description of the country.

‘Written with a strict attention to veracity, during a long residence in the aforesaid Cape of Good Hope, by Peter Kolbe, M.A., who was sent to the Cape through a distinguished minister, with letters of introduction from the late Right Hon. Lord Nicholas Witsen, Burgomaster of the town of Amsterdam, for the purposes of this compilation, and for mathematical and astronomical research, and who afterwards became Secretary for Stellenbosch and Drakenstein, and is now headmaster of the celebrated school at Neustad. . . . Augmented and embellished with useful, new, and curious maps and many illustrations.’