Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

The Author of Keeper's Travels (Edward Augustus Kendall)

THE ENGLISH BOY AT THE CAPE (An Early Triple Decker Novel)

Published: Whittaker & Co., London, 1835

Edition: 1st.

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3 Vols. Small 8vo. In the original publisher's cloth, the covers blind-decorated and the spines richly gilt decorated and titled. Each volume has a small Bath bookseller's label and an ownership signature on the front pastedown, and a second bookseller's rubber stamp at the top of the front free endpaper. There is an engraved frontispiece vignette to each volume, being:

Vol.1. Inspired by Woltemade's heroic deeds of rescue in Table Bay

Vol.2. The rescue of Charles by a Bushman-girl

Vol. 3. Cape Pastoral Scene

These vignettes show some spotting due to the nature of the paper used for the frontispieces. Otherwise a very good clean tight set with all hinges intact. The first edition of this excellent example of an early 19th. century "triple decker" novel with a South African background. A scarce title and especially so in the original cloth in such nice condition. SABIB Vol.2 Page 737.

The English Boy at the Cape: An Anglo-African Story is a children's novel by Edward Augustus Kendall, first published in 1835. After writing a number of stories for children, Kendall toured America, worked in Canada, visited the West Indies, British India and the Cape Colony. On his return to England, he became a campaigner for the rights of the poor, and especially of children. The English Boy at the Cape: An Anglo-African Story was one of the first novels to be set in South Africa. At the time, children's rights in the Cape were a subject of scandal with Britain exporting thousands of unwanted children as child labour to its colonies. In the 1830s some were sent to the Cape by the Children's Friend Society. Some of these teenagers were not only literate but determined enough to pay postage out their meagre wages to write letters home detailing the conditions under which they were kept. While some had no complaint, others reported that they were treated badly. Their families, in turn, passed the letters on to the newspapers, where they were published. They created such a storm that the Colonial Secretary ordered an investigation, as a result of which no more children were sent to South Africa, while Canada and Australia continued to receive them right up to the middle of the twentieth century.In The English Boy at the Cape: An Anglo-African Story, Kendall makes a graphic plea for religious and racial tolerance. A little English boy, Charles, becomes a street child in Cape Town. He is taken in by a Muslim family, who teach him cleanliness, godliness, schooling and industry. A shocking episode occurs when a gang of drunken British midshipmen break up a Muslim festival, accusing the participants of devil-worship. Even Charles is injured in the brawl. People of all colours, except the English and Dutch, tend the injured, and Charles is cared for by "the Jew Benjamin". At other points in the long story, he is also cared for by various indigenous people.

NOW OFFERED WITH A MUCH REDUCED RESERVE PRICE

  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: Small 8vo. 16.5 x 11 cms.
  • Sold By: Ronald Levine - Modern First Editions
  • Contact Person: Ronald Levine
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 011643 8437
  • Preferred Payment Methods: EFT for South African customers and International Bank Tranfer for customers abroad. I am unable to accept payment by credit card.
  • Trade Associations: SABDA


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