THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN OLD DRIFTER: THE LIFE OF PERCY M. CL...

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R1,500 - R2,000

Hammer

R1,300

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN OLD DRIFTER: THE LIFE OF PERCY M. CLARK OF VICTORIA FALLS (INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR) by Percy M. Clark

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London: George G. Harrap & Co, 1936

8vo, 271pp. Original green hardcover binding, with gilt lettering to spine. With frontispiece and various fine monochrome plates, collated and complete.

Inscribed by author on frontispiece below his portrait. First edition.

Percy Missen Clark (b.1875) arrived from Cambridge, England in Rhodesia during the Boer War where he met Rhodes during his stay in Bulawayo. Clark established the first souvenir shop, Clark’s Curios, in 1903 at Victoria Falls. He was also a photographer with many postcards bearing his images. On 25th April, 1910, Clark was accepted as Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (F.R.G.S.) after recommendations by British Archaeologist, Henry Balfour.

In 1924 he became a member of the Royal Photographic Society and in 1925 gained the title of Associate. This was reflected on a number of his postcards, bearing the title A.R.P.S. He also exhibited in their Annual Exhibitions. It appears he remained a member until 1928. He died 9th April, 1937 due to cancer of the stomach in Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia survived by two children. (Rhodesianstudycircle.org.uk)

*Location: Johannesburg branch

Condition: Good. Some rubbing and light edgewear to the boards. Wear to the corners of the boards. Chipping and shelfwear to top and tail of spine. Light wear to the hinges. Some splitting to gutters between a few pages. One of the plates has been remounted with adhesive tape, which has left stains to the facing pages. Otherwise text is clean, and copy is still well bound.