Scenes in Kafirland,

The rare hand-coloured issue of Graham and Robinson's Scenes in Kafirland. In their preface the authors commend the country for its great beauty. Apart from views of the landscape, the plates show the British army on patrol and scenes of life in the Cape Colony. 'The Kafir War of 1851-2-3', now known as the Eighth Xhosa War, was the latest in a long line of conflicts against the indigenous Xhosa peoples in Britain's pursuit of a growing Empire.

Graham and Robinson were officers in the 43rd Monmouthshire Regiment, who served in South Africa from December 1851 to December 1853. The artists' names were established by Mendelssohn who states 'On examination of Hart's Army List for 1853, it appears that the only officers of the 43rd Light Infantry answering to [the initials L.G. and H.R.]... were Lieutenants Lumley Graham and Hugh Robinson'.

Ida and Frederick William Hosken were notable South African book collectors. Their collection lived in their home called "Copperhouse", a smallholding north of Johannesburg. Frederick Hosken served in 80 Squadron during the Greek campaign of WWII.

First edition; large folio (54 x 37 cm); 21 hand-coloured lithographed plates on 18 leaves after sketches by the authors, bookplate to front pastedown, title and explanatory leaf creased with small tear to bottom margin of title, a touch of light spotting to margins of plates not affecting images; later half green morocco, embossed cloth boards rolled in gilt, gilt morocco title label to upper board, flat spine lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, extremities a little rubbed, a very good copy.

Abbey (Travel), 344; Bobins I, 95; Mendelssohn I, 801.