Contents complete with all plates present and fold-out map at rear. The strikingly handsome ORIGINAL publisher's binding has been rebacked at some point, yet is still in good condition with only age-related wear, especially to crown, heel, corners. Boards bowed a bit. Foxing is more noticeable on the earlier pages.
Fourth overall edition (3rd British edition after the 1st [1839] and 2nd [1841]), and a preferred edition as the first edition did not include the hand-colored lithographic plates. Illustrated with 26 hand-colored lithographed plates, folding map at rear.
The original upper cover decorative panel portraying in gilt four animals: lion, giraffe, gnu, and elephant.
One of the essential 19th century works on African game and a veritable canon-title of the genre. Harris' narrative goes far beyond big-game hunting and is an invaluable portrayal of Southern Africa of the mid-19th century. Harris provides, through both his narrative and the wonderful lithographic plates, a look at some of the fauna and indigenous peoples of the region. This work is regarded as the first, and cornerstone, work concerning the hunting of game animals in Africa -- the first published African Safari. The plates themselves are particularly noteworthy. The images are dynamic and capture the movements, the very nuances, of the subjects. In many cases these were among the earliest glimpses Western peoples experienced of these fascinating animals and peoples.
From the editor's note to the Struik Africana Collectanea reprint: 'This is not only a book about "Wild Sports" but is a very interesting report of such important historical events as: The Great Trek; the massacre of Piet Retief and his party by Dingaan; the fall of Piet Uys in an abortive invasion of the Zulu territories; the death of Maritz; the annihilation of the Natal Settlers; etc.
'The author and his party travelled by wagon and oxen to Grahamstown, Somerset, Graaff Reinet, New Lattakoo, through Griqualand and Bechuanaland, to Boksfontein, Cambellsdorp and Kuruman through the domains of the Matabele King and the Barolong country, and returned to Graaff Reinet by the Vaal River Route.
'He gives interesting accounts of the Matabele people and experiences with the Bushmen, Hottentots and other tribes. His stay with King Moselekatse is fully described and of great historical value.
'An interesting map "exhibiting the relative positions of the emigrant farmers and the native tribes" is included.'
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