Africa

Treks and Palavers [Travels in Nigeria]-Richard Oakley – 1938

Before we go further “Palaver” is meant in the truest sense – an improvised meeting which was often held with groups to iron out some difficulty – Oakley was good with a palaver … Voyager likes this book – there is something special about it …

A first edition published by Seeley etc, London [they published a number of high quality serious travel accounts. Thick octavo, 300 pages, good sketch map and numerous full page illustrations from original photographs. No jacket, original red cloth covered binding, top edge stained red as required – very good condition.

A full and interesting account from Captain Oakley who was for a period a Magistrate in the Nigerian Administrative Service. He draws on other key references as well as his own extensive travels and experiences. We like it even more the deeper he gets into Nigeria up towards the Chad border. Surprisingly few good accounts on this African major and their now disappearing underlying culture(s)

Richard Oakley and one of the better accounts on Nigeria.

$60.00

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The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508; With a Discourse on Varthema and His Travels in Southern Asia by Sir Richard Carnac Temple – Argonaut Press Limited Numbered Edition 1928 – Edited Penzer

Limited to 975 copies printed on Japon Vellum printed by Walter Lewis at the University Press, Cambridge – this numbered 642.

Well bound quarto, blue cloth covered boards quarter backed in vellum, titles gilt to spine and a lovely gilt embossed image to front taken from the original 16th Century work. Effectively two works – the lengthy “Discourse” after introductions ... preface, tables, analysis etc of lxxxv (85 pages) then work itself from the 19th Century Badger/ Winter translation 121 pages, including useful index. Useful maps where appropriate in the discourse. Very good near fine copy.

Verthema travelled at the time of Drake and Magellan which provides perspective and in 1502 he went from Italy to Egypt and Syria and then to Arabia Deserta [Damascus, Medina, Jedda etc] … then in 1503 to Arabia Feliz [Aden, Dhamar, Lahaj etc] and on to Ethiopia in 1504. By later that year he was in Persia [Hormuz, Muscat etc] and India [Gogha, Cambay, Chaul, Calicut etc] Then to Ceylon in 1505 … Bengal and east to the Malacca and the Spice Islands, Java and Borneo. On his way back he assisted the Portuguese in various skirmishes – they being the dominant invasive force at the time. Back home in 1507 via Mozambique.

What makes this book particularly interesting is the history of the translations and the impact of early “reviewers” views. The original work was in Italian, translated to Latin and then English by Richard Eden in 1577. Various others held view and the influential traveller Garcia da Orta Poo Pooed Varthema’s account. Because of this and similar the account was thought to be full of fiction … not so and this book goes a long way to settle the myth and put Verthema back where he belongs as a truly remarkable early traveller.

His account of being chased by elephant in Africa is worth the read alone.

Verthema’s extensive really 16th Century Travels – Once Poo Pooed – but now seen as true.

$190.00

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A Burnt-Out Case – Graham Greene – First Edition 1961 [Based in Africa - the Congo]

Published by Heinemann, London 1961 First Edition.

A very good copy with the brightest jacket we have seen.

Greene at his most powerful – character put to the ultimate test in the African Congo. Based on real life experiences – well Greene had many of them

Classic Greene First Edition

$50.00

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The Spirit Ridden Konde [Lake Nyasa Tanzania] – First Edition D.R. Mackenzie – 1925

Longer title – The Spirit Ridden Konde. A record of the interesting but steadily vanishing customs & ideas gathered during twenty four year residence amongst these shy inhabitants of the Lake Nyasa region, from witch doctors, diviners, hunters, fishers & every native source.

Published by Lippincott a first American edition 1925. A beautifully presented book with serious content regarding the Konde people of Tanzania.

Octavo, 318 pages with folding map and 21 illustrations from photographs. Strikingly vivid blue cloth covered binding with gilt image of native to front, titles to spine. A very good copy.

Mackenzie explores the complex relationship of the Konde people with the spirit world and how it affects their daily lives and their rituals and traditions. He traces their origins and how they migrated to the Lake Nyasa region. Good descriptions of initiation rites of both young men and women. A super book.

No better book about the Konde of Lake Nyasa

$220.00

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Voyage along the Eastern Coast of Africa to Mosambique, Johanna, and Quiloa; to St Helena; to Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Pernambuco in Brazil, in the Nisus Frigate – James Prior RN – 1819

A first edition of this full on voyage and travel account by the articulate James Prior. Published by Sir Richard Phillips & Co, London in 1819.

A lovely internal copy rebound in grey/green paper covered boards, as was typical of a primary binding of the true period, gilt on red leather title to spine. Octavo, 114 pages with special three fold map dated 1810 drawn by W M Cobb RN, also printed by Phillips. Another folding chart of the Harbour at Mozambique (note the different spelling) and a striking engraved view of the Town and Fort at Mozambique.

Well we have to be careful as this book is right in Voyager’s sweet spot. The narrative content is far fuller physically than the 114 pages suggest. First simply due to the format and the lines and words set per page, but also because Prior’s writing style is honed and full of interesting detail – no padding.

The long title gives you an idea of the coverage. Voyager’s favourite island, St Helena, is tackled well and one gets a great idea of the first impression on approach and the manner and detail of James Town and the various Plantation houses up “Ladder Hill” … “Ruperts Hill” etc.

Not in the title we also learn about the Comoro Islands … out from Mozambique and north west of Madagascar … this group of four ex volcanic islands probably the most beautiful place in the World. The Comoro islands was the primary reason behind the voyage as the King of Comoro had sought help against “predatory expeditions” of several thousand warriors from Madagascar. War was not the solution conferences were held – we can learn from that.

Good content on Rio and Brazil so don’t be confused by the lead in to the title …

Taking you back to the beginning and Prior has arrived at Cape Town where of all things he is off to the races … “the course is on Green Point, on the verge of the Bay: it was attended my multitudes, some in handsome vehicles … filled with females of every age, class and complexion. A dinner to the members concluded the meeting, followed of course by a ball … and the amusements of the week finished, on Saturday, with a private race, a cock-fight, the execution of several malefactors near the ground, and a dual between two gentlemen holding official situations, nearly fatal; so that we could not complain of want of variety”

We had to show you this even though it is not typical of the narrative – different times!

Interesting early 19thC Voyage from east Africa to Brazil

$390.00

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Cartography -The Cape of Good Hope 1782-1842 – from De la Rochette to Arrowsmith

The Map Collectors’ Circle publication published in 1965, No 17 by D Schire. Very good condition.

Usual original flesh coloured card covers, design to front. 16 pages of detailed narrative and catalogue plus 15 plates of maps. Very good condition .. the covers look a little blemished but its our scanner – they are perfect.

Whilst the 1782 date refers to the maps by de la Rochette published between 1782 and 1795, we also have the Faden Plan of the Town of Cape of Good Hope which whilst published in 1795 is as a result of work completed and noted within the map in 1770.

After a very good introductory narrative, we have a single page of selected dates commencing with the District of Swellendham being proclaimed in 1743.

Cape of Good Hope and some super cartography

$25.00

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Treks and Palavers [Travels in Nigeria]-Richard Oakley – 1938

The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508; With a Discourse on Varthema and His Travels in Southern Asia by Sir Richard Carnac Temple – Argonaut Press Limited Numbered Edition 1928 – Edited Penzer

A Burnt-Out Case – Graham Greene – First Edition 1961 [Based in Africa - the Congo]

The Spirit Ridden Konde [Lake Nyasa Tanzania] – First Edition D.R. Mackenzie – 1925

Voyage along the Eastern Coast of Africa to Mosambique, Johanna, and Quiloa; to St Helena; to Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Pernambuco in Brazil, in the Nisus Frigate – James Prior RN – 1819

Cartography -The Cape of Good Hope 1782-1842 – from De la Rochette to Arrowsmith

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