Travels into the Interior of Southern Africa. In which are described the character and the condition of the Dutch colonists of the Cape of Good Hope [Vols I & II, 1st editions with 2nd edition plates] by John Barrow - 1801

London: T Cadell and W Davies, 1801 An unusual complete set composed of the text from the 1st editions of 1801 and 1804, with title pages for the 2nd edition together with the 8 hand coloured plates after drawings by Samuel Daniell which only appear in the 2nd edition. The binding is contemporary, either suggesting that this was sold during the reworking of the text to form the 2nd edition, or that the owner bought the new 1806 title pages and the plates separately and had the book bound at that point. The collation of the 2 volumes is as follows: Vol I: blank; half title, hand-coloured frontispiece, title 1806, dedication, contents pp viii; text with index pp 419 with 5 colour plates and one in-text picture; 1 p publisher's list. Vol II: large folding scene with tissue guard; title 1806; dedication; contents and errata pp xi; text pp 1-452 with large folded linen-backed map, 8 further folding maps and 2 colour plates; the end. John Barrow accompanied Lord Macartney to the Cape as his Private Secretary when Macartney was appointed a Governor. His journeys form the basis for this work, with first-hand observation of the natural world as well as the military issues of the time. Samuel Daniell was known for his portrayal of African life - having accompanied African expeditions as an artist. The bindings are contemporary half calf with cloth boards. The spines have raised bands with gilt ruling and designs and gilt titles. Both are clean, but with wear to edges, corners and to spine joints. There is early splitting to the front joints on both volumes. Top page edges are gilt and endpapers are brightly marbled. The original page markers are present. Vol I has sporadic foxing - with some text sections spotty and others clear. The plates are in very good clean condition. Vol II has some toning, which varies through the work, and some browning around the maps. The linen-backed map has been put in upside down. 2 of the maps have slight hand-colouring.