15 pages text + XV Plates, black and white sketches and hand-coloured illustrations, minor foxing to some pages, half white leather on marble boards
Originally published in 1841, WM Dawson & Sons issued a small number of the original printing with modern collering and modern binding in 1962.
"Information has now been received from Messsrs. Wm Dawson & Sons that the Butlers offered by them are not facsimiles. The copies offered are original printings, obtained in sheets and uncoloured. The printing and lithographing are original, the colouring is modern, - and, of course, the binding is modern." Africana Notes and News June 1963 page 264:
"Butler was not an author by profession. This book, along with an article written for the New Monthly Magazine, are the only known works that he published. He was born at Kilmurray, Thomastown in Co. Kilkenny in 1805 into the prominent Anglo-Irish family headed by the Viscount Mountgarrett. Entering TCD [Trinity College Dublin] in 1823, he graduated with a first class honours degree. In May 1827 he was commissioned in the 27th or Inniskilling Regiment of Foot and later served in South Africa. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 8th September 1832 and served with the 27th Regiment until 1841, when he transferred to the 59th Regiment assuming the rank of Captain. He retired from the army in 1850 as Captain Henry Butler. This social background and professional status had a vital impact on the content and sale of the book." John Maclear, Trinity College Dublin.
For a fascinating disection of the original production of the book, you can read further at this link: - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://academic.sun.ac.za/history/news/mcaleer_j.pdf
- Size: folio, 782 x 284mm
