Francois le

Buy Francois Le Vaillant - Traveller in South Africa, 2 Vols - Le Vaillant, Francois 7kg for R3,500.00

Buy FRANCOIS LE VAILLANT AND THE BIRDS OF AFRICA for R4,500.00

 "Voyage de Mr. Le Vaillant dans l'Interieur de l'Afrique par Le Cap De Bonne-Esperance, dans les Annees 1780, 81, 82, 83, 84, & 85."  Mr. Le Vaillant's Travels to the interior of South Africa from the Cape of Good Hope, in the years 1780 - 85. First edition of Le Vaillant's famous work, published at Liege in 1790 by the printers of Le Journal General de L'Europe. The two volumes are complete with all twelve plates and fold-out plates present. Volume I, 341pp. Volume II 359pp. The two books are in excellent condition with clean, fresh pages, no inscriptions and no tears. The text is clean and the text block is square. There are only two defects on these two copies: a). the missing leather backstrips on the spine which can easily and esthetically be replaced by a skilled bookbinder, and b). a former owner's bookplates have been removed, but this can be replaced with a new bookplate. This copy contains what is known amongst collectors as the "suppressed plate". Mendelssohn describes it as follows: 'Among the plates in these volumes is that of "A Hottentot Woman," showing the peculiar conformation sometimes found in females of this race. This plate was afterwards suppressed, and in other editions it has been replaced by an illustration entitled "A dangerous attack of a Tiger." Another source states that this plate is "sometimes found painted over or with an apron of fur and beads added," the plate in this copy, however, has escaped 18th century censure (see below). During a visit to one of the isolated Hottentot tribes in the far interior of the country Le Vaillant's keen ornithologist's eye noticed a young Gonaqua girl and he spends a considerable part of the second volume rhapsodizing about her elegance and beauty. He describes in detail their fascination - infatuation, even - with each other, yet frequently feels compelled to mention to his european readers that their flirtations were "entirely innocent". On one occasion he asked her what her name was and upon hearing it decided that it was decidedly unpronounceable. Consequently he renamed her "Narina", which was the Hottentot word for flower. Although the 18th century copperplate engraving of Narina is rather crudely executed, her elegance and beauty is still quite apparent (see below). An interesting hunt of the now extinct Cape Blue Buck is described in the early part of the first volume. This happened just past the Botrivier (Hermanus district) and Le Vaillant made a sketch of the beast on the spot, noting that it is the most beautiful antelope species he had ever seen. His sketch of the animal is one of the few examples drawn from life that have remained. He would of course not have known what the ultimate fate of this antelope species would be, and the modern reader can find it a bit frustrating how he describes in detail the habits of animals that are still common today - his preoccupation with Giraffes being but one example - but only gives a cursory comment about animals that have long since disappeared, like the Quagga, the Cape Lion and the Blue Buck. levaillant    

The Truth in Masquerade The Adventures of Francois le Vaillant By Jane Meiring The story of Le Vaillant's travels in the eastern and north-western Cape interiors told using his own words.  

Buy Collection Francois Le Vaillant Versameling for R120.00

"Second Voyage Dans L'Interieur De L'Afrique, Par Le Cap De Bonne Esperance, Dans Les Annees 1783, 84 et 85; Par F. LeVaillant" All three volumes of the second voyage of Francois Le Vaillant into the interior of South Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Published in Paris by H.J. Jansen in 1795. Date of publication indicated as 'Year Three of the Republic' on the title page, as in the first three years after the French Revolution. All three volumes rebound in black pigskin. All 22 plates present. Two of the fold-out plates have a tear on one of their folds but with no loss. A circular shadow can be observed on the title pages of all three volumes but overall the contents are in good condition. Mendelssohn, volume I, pages 889, 890, & 892: 'His description is unique for this period, as little information respecting these regions had been published up to this date'. The second expedition was to Namaqualand, Damaraland, Bechcuanaland and the Kalahari Desert. It provides an interesting and early narrative of South Africa at a time when it was little known. The plates include that of a giraffe and of a hippopotamus, which were little known then, the local people, and several views.   A classic work on African travel which was a primary source for many later travelers including Adulphe Delegorgue.  

Hardcover with d/j. Binding is solid and clean inside. No pubication date. 242 Pages and b/w illustrations. Postage in RSA = R64.00.

This item is sold brand new. It is ordered on demand from our supplier and is usually dispatched within 10 - 15 working days Takke, blare en versiersels le die wereld vol en al wat jy hoor, is ou Knoetsboom se gekreun en gekraak. "Eina, eina tog, my arm! Ho, ho...O, my kop...waar is ek?" mompel 'n diep, growwe stem. Diep, diep in die hart van Droombos, daar waar net bosdiertjies, feetjies en kabouters woon en waar kindertjies net in hul drome kan kom, gebeur allerhande dinge in en om Ou Knoetsboom in hierdie splinternuwe eg Afrikaanse reeks. Features Summary Takke, blare en versiersels le die wereld vol en al wat jy hoor, is ou Knoetsboom se gekreun en gekraak. "Eina, eina tog, my arm! Ho, ho...O, my kop..... Author Francois Maree (Editor), Johann Strauss (Illustrator), Annelize Bester (Author) Publisher Fantasi Books (Pty) Ltd Release date 20060930 Pages 32 ISBN 1-920134-13-1 ISBN 13 978-1-920134-13-6