KOLBE, Peter.
Naaukeurige en uitvoerige beschryving van de Kaap de Goede Hoop, behelzende een zeer omstandig verhaal van den tegenwoordigen toestant van dat vermaarde gewest, deszelfs gelegenheit, haven, sterkte, regerings-vorm, uitgestrektheid, en onlangs ontdekte aanleggende landen; nevens een geleerde beschryving van het klimaat en aart van dat landschap; van deszelfs dieren, visschen, vogelen, planten, kruiden, mitsgaders verscheide wonderen der natuur, daar te lande ontdekt; waar by nog komt, een zeer nette en uit eige ondervinding opgemaakte beschryving van den oorsprong der Hottentotten.
Amsterdam, Balthazar Lakeman, 1727. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With 2 titles printed in red and black, an engraved allegorical frontispiece, a full-page portrait of the author, 6 maps (1 folding, 5 double-page), and 46 plates (1 double-page, 45 full-page). Contemporary marbled calf. [16], 529, [3]; [4], 449, [87] pp.
€ 15,000
Rare large-paper copy of the first Dutch edition the most important and most extensive early account of South Africa, richly illustrated. The work formed the basis of nearly everything that was published concerning South Africa for the next half century. The present Dutch edition is considered the best, with excellent large engravings and accurate folding maps.
The work contains an exact and detailed account of all aspects of life at the Cape, including its geography, climate, flora and fauna. This is followed by a highly interesting and accurate account of the Hottentots from the author's own personal investigations, reporting on their language, religion, manner of living, singular traditions, customs, marriage ceremonies, circumcisions and education. The account of the condition of the colony of the Dutch inhabitants contains interesting observations not to be found in any other description of the country. Of particular interest is also the description of the giraffe, which elicited much enthusiasm in Europe. Although Julius Caesar had already brought a giraffe to Rome in ca. 46 BC, no other source had yet produced compelling proof of the existence of this rather unusual animal.
The zoological plates show numerous mammals (including the Hottentot's methods of catching and killing elephants), birds, fish and other marine animals (including a sea lion) and reptiles. Other plates cover topography, agriculture, hunting, medicine, religion, buildings, etc. One gives a plan showing the layout of a VOC garden. In addition to these subjects, the text provides a well-documented account of the VOC government of the Cape, the earliest list of South African animals, and much information about plants.
Peter Kolbe (1675-1726) lived and worked at the Cape of Good Hope from 1705-1713. He had been sent there in order to compile the present all-round description of South Africa, as well as for astronomical and surveying research. His account was first published in German in Nuremberg, 1719, but the present Dutch edition, which contains twice as many plates, is considered to be the most beautiful.
With the bookplate of Mr. F.C. Koch mounted on the front pastedown. The binding is somewhat rubbed, the edges and corners of the boards are somewhat scuffed, the head and foot of the spine are slightly torn, the work has been recased with new endpapers. Some of the hinges are slightly weakened. Otherwise in good condition. Landwehr, VOC, 583; Mendelssohn I, pp. 843-844; Tiele 606.
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