Daniell, Samuel

African Scenery and Animals: a Facsimile Reprint of the Aquatint Plates Originally Published in 1804-5. with an Introduction and Notes by Frank R. Bradlow

Hardcover, Cape Town: A. A. Bakelma, 1976. 1st Thus. Atlas Folio (24"x18") , pp.147. Limited Edition. This book is number 121 of 550 printed. Signed by Frank R. Bradlow. Facsimile reproductions of the 32 aquatints in the original, 3 black and white sketches not found in the original, 1 watercolor not found in original, 1 uncolored aquatint not found in original. Bound in publisher's half-sheepskin with hand marbled papers. Minor wear to binding. Samuel Daniell's African Scenery and Animals was the first of the great color plate books about Southern Africa. Publication was completed in 1805, a full 35 years before the second such book would appear. This title was the British public's very first introduction to what Southern Africa and the people and animals living there actually looked like. The book was 2 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide and very expensive so presumably only the wealthy members of the British public ever saw it. The 1805 original is now one of the scarcest and most valuable of all the large atlas folios of South African illustrations, selling for $50,000 at auction. This facsimile is taken from a complete copy of the first edition held in the collection of the South African Library, Cape Town. Samuel Daniell (1775-1811) was a professional artist, from a family of artists and engravers. He arrived in Cape Town in December, 1799, 7 years before it became a long-term British possession, making Daniell the only British artist to publish engravings showing South Africa in its pre-colony days. Daniell was part of a cattle buying expedition that journeyed from the Cape to Bechuanaland (today's Botswana) from October, 1801 to February 25, 1802. The watercolor paintings used for the aquatints were based on drawings and sketches Daniell made during this expedition. Frank R. Bradlow was a published author and expert on Cape history. He wrote a detailed introduction for this facsimile edition that gives much interesting information on Daniell, the Cape, and the aquatint process. Bradlow also contributed notes for all of the aquatint plates. Daniell's original text is found on the page before each plate, side by side with Bradlow's explanatory notes. Oversize and heavy book not subject to our normal shipping rates - please contact us for a custom shipping quote prior to ordering. ; Elephant Folio 23" tall; 147 pages. [Item #77205]

Price: $1,300.00