Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #130 begins on 09 Apr 2026

Thunberg (Charles Peter)

TRAVELS IN EUROPE, AFRICA, AND ASIA

Made between the years 1770 and 1779 (Volume III. Performed between the years 1770 and 1779). In Four Volumes

Published: Printed for F. and C. Rivington, London, 1795

Edition: Third edition

Reserve: $500

Approximately:

Estimate: $700/800

Bidding opens: 9 Apr 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 16 Apr 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

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Third Edition: 4 volumes: I. 317, [xviii index]; II. [xiv], 316; [xvi index], [I directions to the binder]; III. xiii, 285, 31 pages of vocabulary of the Japanese language, [xv index]; 1V. xix, 293, [xvi index], [ii] publisher's advertisement; pages, 11 plates including: engraved frontispiece in volume I and 2 other plates – 1 folding (Arms and Implements of the Hottentots), 4 plates in both volumes 2 & 4 each with a one-leaf explanation of the plates, half brown morocco with matching brown cloth sides, a very good set.

Volume I Containing a Voyage to the Southern Parts of Europe, and to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, in The Years 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773.

Volume II Containing Two Expeditions to the Interior Part of the Country Adjacent to the Cape of Good Hope, and a Voyage to the Island of Java, performed in the Years 1733, 1774 and 1775.

Volume III Containing a Voyage to Japan, and Travels in Different Parts of that Empire, in the Years 1775 and 1776.

Volume IV Containing Travels in the Empire of Japan, and in the Islands of Java and Ceylon, Together with The Voyage Home.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 2, page 500, 'The greater part of the first volume and about half the second are devoted to Thunberg's experiences in South Africa, his botanical notes being of special value. Later on he visited Japan, Ceylon and other places.'

This third edition is essentially the first complete and uniform edition in English. It benefits from neater typography and the Indexes and Appendices are improved.

According to Prof. V.S. Forbes the translator of Thunberg Travels was Charles Rivington Hopson.

See also: S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science (https://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=2843)

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: 8vo (196 x 125 mm)


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