Captain Allen F. Gardiner Narrative of a Journey to the Zoo...

Estimate

R3,000 - R4,000

Captain Allen F. Gardiner

Narrative of a Journey to the Zoolu Country

London: William Crofts, 1836

8vo, iv + 412pp. Rebound in quarter-leather hardcover binding, with gilt lettering to the spine. Speckled edges. With full-colour frontispiece, 3 black and white plates at the front of book, 2 fold-out maps of the Natal area at front and rear of book, and 22 plates throughout, one of which is full-colour.

Allen Francis Gardiner (1794–1851) was a British Royal Navy officer and missionary. Long interested in the missionary work being done in non-Christian populations, after the death of one of his daughters, he decided to enter that field. With this view Gardiner went to Africa in 1834. Exploring the Zulu country, he started the first missionary station at Port Natal in present-day South Africa. From 1834 to 1838, he worked to establish Christian churches in Zululand, but political events and native wars combined to prevent any permanent success. He founded a mission at Hambanathi near the Tongaat river.

Condition: Good. Book has been covered with protective plastic, fixed in such a way that no damage has been done to the endpapers or pastedowns. A few small scuff marks and light sunning to the spine. The frontispiece and some of the plates have a few small chips and small closed tears to their edges. Small note in pen next to date on title page. Small closed tears to the fold-out map at front of book. Fold-out map at rear of book has been reinforced with new backing. Small notes in pen to tops of the plates, indicating which page they face, perhaps used during the rebinding process. Small mark in pen to top of one of the plates. Light foxing throughout. A tightly bound copy.