South Africa. Illustrated by a Series of One Hundred and Four Permanent Photographs
Port Elizabeth, Published by the Author, 1888.
Large quarto (375 × 305 mm), [vi] pages plus 104 Woodburytypes (four very large, measuring 233 × 326 mm or the reverse, the rest approximately 125 × 190 mm) mounted within printed borders on 29 card leaves (recto and verso).
Original full leather (blocked in gilt and blind) later rebacked, retaining most of the original backstrip; all edges gilt; leaves a little cockled and tanned, with a few slightly marked and foxed; expert conservation to a split near the head of the spine to the front free endpaper and the three leaves of text (comprising the title leaf and two leaves of introductory notes by the photographer); overall, a very good copy, with the plates in excellent condition.
A lavish photographic survey of Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, and the Transvaal Republic, with a particular focus on the 'scenery, gold and diamond mining districts, and mines, seaports, and the native industries and life of South Africa' (from the foreword). This copy has the additional interest and value of a large albumen silver photograph (205 × 282 mm) mounted on the verso of the front free endpaper, acting as a frontispiece. the margin below the plate is captioned '"Tweedie Hall" Natal | Taken by the architect while the house was being built in 1892'. Jacqueline Kalley's book 'Farmhouses of Old Natal' records that the house was built by James and Eliza Morton, and the name comes from Tweedie Hall in Scotland where they were married. They arrived at Port Natal in 1868, purchased a farm and over time acquired some 12,000 acres of land. Morton sold agricultural machinery and built the first silos in Natal. The grand house was designed by the prolific Natal architect William Street-Wilson; it survives to this day, and is currently owned by a great-grandson of the Mortons.
Item #142115
Price (AUD):
$4,500.00