Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #130 begins on 09 Apr 2026

Cumming (Roualeyn Gordon)

FIVE YEARS' ADVENTURES IN THE FAR INTERIOR OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Lion Hunter in South Africa with notices of the native tribes and savage animals

Published: John Murray, London, 1888

Edition: New edition with woodcuts

Reserve: $50

Approximately:

Estimate: $80

Bidding opens: 9 Apr 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 16 Apr 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

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Green cloth on board with gilding. B&W engravings throughout

Cumming, Roualeyn George Gordon (1820–1866), entered the East India Company’s service as a cornet in the 4th Madras cavalry in 1838, and on his way to India had his first experience of hunting in South Africa; but the Indian climate did not agree with him, and in 1840 he resigned his commission. His Five Years of a Hunter’s Life in the Far Interior of South Africa, a book which had immense success and was published in many editions, made him the lion of the season. In 1851 Gordon-Cumming exhibited his [hunting] trophies at the Great Exhibition. He then went about the country lecturing and exhibiting his lion skins for some years, and under the sobriquet the Lion Hunter he obtained great popularity and made a great deal of money. In 1856 he published a condensed edition of his book as The Lion Hunter of South Africa, and in 1858 he established himself as Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal, where his museum was a great attraction to tourists.

Source: calumimaclean.blogspot.com

Condition: Front flyleaf loose. Binding split but not loose. Text clean and clear. Edges bumped. Some loss to the gilded image of the body of the lion on the front cover. 

Published in 1888 by John Murray, London 

  • Jacket Condition: N/A
  • Binding Condition: Good
  • Overall Condition: Good
  • Size: 186x130mm


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