Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #128 begins on 15 Jan 2026

Balfour (Alice Blanche)

TWELVE HUNDRED MILES IN A WAGGON (sic)

Published: Edward Arnold, London, 1895

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $40

Approximately:

Estimate: $50/60

Bidding opens: 15 Jan 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 22 Jan 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

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First edition: 265 pages, frontispiece, 37 full page and other illustrations, folding map, pictorial maroon cloth with a gilt vignette of a wagon on the upper cover - damp stain at the bottom of the front cover, uncut fore edge with foxing on the edges, a very good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sydney) South African Bibliography, volume I, page 74: 'The author and her friends, on their arrival at Cape Town, stayed for some days at Groot Schuur, and after a short trip which included Basutoland, Johannesburg, and Kimberley, started on their trek to the north.

'The journey through Rhodesia appears to have been a great success, and the discomforts of early travelling in the new country were met with unvarying good-humour. There is an interesting account of the quarters occupied by Dr. Jameson and Sir John Willoughby in the newly started township of Bulawayo, these gentlemen having put their habitations at the service of the ladies of the party, and there is a description of what existed of the town in those days. Zimbabwe was visited, and short trips were made to Victoria and Salisbury, both in their infancy at this period.

'Many lion stories are related, although no lions were encountered, the author regretfully remarking, “I have spent five months in the country without seeing either lion, crocodile, or hippopotamus. What has been the use of coming to Africa? “After touching at Umtali the party split up, Miss Balfour having decided to return by the East Coast route.

See also , Czech (Kenneth) An annotated Bibliography of African Big Game Hunting Books, 1785 to 1999, page 17

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: 8vo (220 x 155 mm)


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