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The most richly illustrated edition of a famous description of South Africa

KOLB (KOLBE), Peter.
Naaukeurige en uitvoerige beschryving van de Kaap de Goede Hoop.
Amsterdam, Balthazar Lakeman, 1727. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio. With engraved title-page, engraved portrait of the author, 6 engraved maps (including one large folding map, 42.5 x 54.5 cm), 1 engraved plan and 45 engraved plates. 18th-century tanned sheepskin with a tree pattern, gold-tooled spine. [20], 529; [6], 449, [87] pp.
€ 7,500
Best (and first Dutch) edition of the most important account of the Cape of Good Hope and one of the most important works of all time on South Africa, with twice as many copperplates as the first German edition. Much of the material is based on Kolbe's own observations in the years 1705 to 1713, but he also compares them with the observations and theories of earlier writers. The zoological plates show numerous mammals, birds, fish and other marine animals and reptiles, and other plates cover topography, agriculture, hunting, buildings, etc. In addition to these subjects, the text provides detailed information on the customs and habits of the Hottentots, a well-documented account of the VOC government of the Cape, the earliest list of South African animals and much information about plants. It remains an essential primary source for any study of South Africa.
Some minor thumbing and foxing in the margins of the textleaves, some of the folds of the plates reinforced and a few occasional minor stains. Binding rubbed along the extremities, hinge slightly cracked at the head. Overall in very good condition. Mendelssohn I, pp. 843-844; Nissen, ZBI 2282; South African bibliography III, p. 7; Tiele, Bibl. 606.
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Related Subjects:

Africa  >  Cartography & Exploration | East & Southern Africa
Cartography & exploration  >  Africa | Anthroplogy & Ethnography | Voyages & Travel
History, law & philosophy  >  VOC & WIC
Natural history  >  Botany (General) | Mammals | Zoology (General incl. Faunas)