Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #119 begins on 14 Nov 2024

Gray (Robert)

THREE MONTHS VISITATION BY THE BISHOP OF CAPETOWN, IN THE AUTUMN OF 1855:

With an account of his voyage to the island of Tristan d'Acunha in March 1856; with original sketches by Mrs Gray

Published: Bell and Daldy, London, 1856

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $150

Approximately:

Estimate: $200/250

Bidding opens: 14 Nov 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 21 Nov 16:30 GMT

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First Edition: 156 pages, 7 coloured plates printed by the Baxter Process, original blind stamped  grey cloth titled gilt on upper cover and spine which is chipped and worn at the top and bottom, the frontispiece is foxed and as are the other plates although less so, bookplate on the front free endpaper.

The seven plates are from sketches by Sophie Gray and are charmingly printed in colours by Williams Dickes who was a licensee of the Baxter Process, which he modified by using a relief aquatint key block, by which method he printed the plates in this book. The plates are of Newhaven, Swellendam, Knysna (two), Plettenberg Bay, George and Schoonberg.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 1, page 628, 'During the time that had elapsed between this tour and those recorded in the previous volume, the diocese of Cape Town had been considerably diminished in size by subdivision, resulting in the establishment of the Graham's Town and Natal Bishoprics. Considerable advancement appears to have been made in Church matters during this period, though lack of money still prevailed, and some of the churches were as yet unfinished owing to the scarcity of funds. The tour occupied a period of three months, and included visits to Swellendam, Knysna, George, and many other districts. The account of the visit of Tristan D'Acunha is very interesting, but the inhabitants seem to have been in poor circumstances, and most of them were desirous of leaving; only a small portion of the island was habitable, and even in this small area the ground had already become impoverished.'

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: Small 8vo (170 x 110 mm)


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