Distant, W. L.

A Naturalist in the Transvaal

Hardcover, London: R. H. Porter, 1892. First Edition. Very Good. Octavo, pp. Xvi, 277. Frontispiece illustration of Makapan's Cave, 7 more full page black and white illustrations, 22 illustrations in the text, 4 full page full color plates, 1 full page black and white plate, index, 2 pages of publisher's ads. Bound in publisher's tan cloth with gold front cover and spine titles. Gift inscription to previous owner from the publisher on front free endpaper. Front hinge cracked, binding sound. Both ends of spine bumped, corners rubbed. Scattered age spotting to endpapers, half title, full title. Text and illustrations clean, light spotting to plates in rear. William Lucas Distant (1845-1922) was an English entomologist who became editor of The Zoologist and and was employed by the Natural History Museum. When he died, Distant's personal collection of insect specimens numbered 50,000. Distant sailed for Cape Town in June 1890. He traveled in the Transvaal for 12 months and his book contains much information about the Boers, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. He found the country to be severely suffering from the collapse of the 1889 boom. There is much valuable information on the birds and insects of the Transvaal as well as of the Magwambas and of Zoutpansberg. The 4 full page full color plates and the 1 full page black and white plate are of insects. Ships same or next business day well protected in a box. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 277 pages. [Item #77491]

Price: $275.00