 |
 |
James Ginther Books,
Book Binding and Restoration LLC
 |
We know what hunting in Africa is like today, but what was it like 50 or 150 years ago? Here are books that describe African hunting from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century.
Having hunted Africa four times, my recommendations for the books that every hunter who has been to Africa, or dreams of going, should have in his/her library are: African Game Trails (Theodore Roosevelt), Big Game Shooting in Africa (Maydon), Horn of the Hunter (Ruark), African Hunting and Adventure (Baldwin), Travel and Adventure in South East Africa (Selous), A Breath from the Veldt (Millais), The Wild Sports of Southern Africa (Harris), From Mt. Kenya to the Cape (Boddington), Hunter (John Hunter), Hunting Icons of Africa (Flack), at least one of Capstick's books, and African Hunter II (Boddington and Flack) or African Hunter (Mellon).
A book is a first edition if it is so stated on the copyright page, and, usually, if the year on the title page is that of the copyright.
Examine the photos carefully as they are an integral part of the description.
|
|
|
Allen, Bunny The Wheel of Life |
|
|
2002 Second Edition (First Trade Edition). Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Allen was as famous as a womanizer as he was a PH. A great read. |
|
|
|
|
Akeley, Carl and Mary, Adventures in the African Jungle |
|
|
1935 printing of 1930 first edition. Dodd Mead. 272 pages with 40 illustrations. Very Good. Spot on front paste down where book plate was removed. Carl Akeley was one of the foremost taxidermists of the early twentieth century and has been called the father of modern taxidermy. |
|
|
|
|
Bell, W.D.M. Karamojo Safari |
|
|
1949 First Edition. SCARCE and hard to find in this condition. Very good. Prior owners name on second free endpaper. Lacks DJ. Map endpapers. One of the best elephant hunting titles. Bell was the ultimate elephant hunter and he shot all of them with small caliber rifles (.257 Rigby and 7 mm). He preferred shot placement over big bore rifles, often stalking within 10 feet of his quarry. |
|
|
 |
Boddington, C. From Mt. Kenya to the Cape |
|
|
1987 Second Edition (First Trade Edition). The first edition was limited to 500 copies. Fine in fine DJ. Craig Boddington became synonymous with modern African hunting through his TV show "Tracks Across Africa" and his numerous articles and books. Covers a decade of African hunting. 272 pages with numerous photos. |
|
|
|
|
Boyce, William. Illustrated Africa: North, Tropical, and South |
|
|
1925. First Edition. Very good with some fading of title on spine. 686 pages Map endpapers. Hunting and travel in Africa in the early 20th century. Boyce was one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. Signed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1988 First Edition. An excellent compendium of the history of safari from the Arabs of the 17th century to the late 20th century. Includes many of the prominent names of PHs and explorers/hunters. Numerous illustrations and photos. Near fine in very good dust jacket. |
|
|
|
|
Burger, John. My Forty Years in Africa |
|
|
Limited edition of 750 (unnumbered) reprint of 1960 first edition. Fine. Burger was a game warden and led an eventful life. |
|
|
 |
Capstick, Peter Hathaway. Peter Capstick's Africa |
|
|
1987. First Edition. 213 pages. Fine in near fine DJ, not price clipped. Illustrated with several photographs. |
|
|
 |
Chilton, J. Out of Bullets |
|
|
2011 First Trade Edition (there was a limited edition in 2010). Fine in fine DJ. Much on safari and African hunting. 275 pages with numerous color photos. |
|
|
 |
De Pole (Kotowicz), Robert. Tanzania Safari |
|
|
2004 Signed Limited First Edition 143/1000. Fine in fine slipcase. 353 pages with index and 31 pages of photos. A PH's tales of his safaris. |
|
|
 |
Flack, Peter. Hunting the Spiral Horn: Bushbuck |
|
|
2014 First Edition. Unread and brand new. Numerous illustrations. This is a large book. Flack is one of the most read modern authors of African hunting books. He has collaborated with Craig Boddington to produce African Hunter II. Excellent descriptions of hunting the bushbuck, African's equivalent of the whitetail deer in habits and secrecy. There are eight subspecies of the bushbuck. |
|
|
 |
Foa, Edouard. After Big Game in Central Africa |
|
|
1987. Special edition reprint of 1899 first edition. Fine. 326 pages with index and appendices. Over 60 photos. Full leather w/ marbled endpapers. Numerous photographs. Foa hunted throughout Africa collecting specimens for museums. A classic African hunting title. |
|
|
 |
Harris, W.C. The Wild Sports of Southern Africa |
|
|
1987 printing of 1844 work. Very good. 359 pages with appendices. Leather bound, gilt text block, decorative endpapers. Harris was the first European to penetrate the interior of South Africa solely for the purpose of hunting. His artwork illustrated his book. His writings influenced Cummings, Baldwin, and Selous to travel to Africa for sport. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
1952. First American Edition. 261 pages, 16 pages of photos. Very good in fair DJ. Jacket with some loss and small repaired tears.(see photo). "Book of the Month Club" selection. Hunter was one of the last of the great PHs of the golden age of safari. One of the classics of African big game hunting. |
|
|
 |
Hunter, John. Hunter's Tracks |
|
|
1957. First Edition. 240 pages, 16 pages of photos. Near fine, very good jacket with minor chipping. Previous owner's bookplate on front pastedown. Tracking a dealer in illegal ivory while also conducting safaris. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Safari press reprint. Near Fine in NF DJ. DJ not price clipped. 263 pages. Illustrated. From my library with my blind stamp on back endpaper. John Hunter was one of the last of the great professional hunters of the mid-twentieth century. |
|
|
 |
Hunter, John. Hunter's Tracks |
|
|
Safari press reprint. Fine in NF DJ. DJ not price clipped. 240 pages. Photos by author. Tracking a dealer in illegal ivory while also conducting safaris. |
|
|
 |
Hunter, John; Mannix, D. Tales of the African Frontier |
|
|
Safari press reprint.308 pages with photos. Near fine in NF DJ. DJ not price clipped. From my library with my blind stamp on back endpaper. Stories about some of the great African hunters. |
|
|
 |
Kittenberger, K. Big Game Hunting and Collecting in East Africa |
|
|
1929. First Edition. Fairly scarce. Good condition. Award bookplate on front pastedown (a hundred years ago they didn't give out "participation trophies", they presented books as awards). 344 pages with over 150 photos. Foldout map. Light discoloration and wear of covers and spine. Pages age-toned with scattered light foxing. Kittenberger collected specimens over several years for museums in Europe. |
|
|
 |
Letcher, Owen. Big Game Hunting in North Eastern Rhodesia |
|
|
1987. Capstick Series reprint of 1911 first edition. 266 pages with numerous illustrations. Photos by author. Signature on front endpaper. Very good in VG DJ. Missing one illustration. Letcher was an early hunter in Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe) and an excellent writer. This is one of THE classic African hunting books. |
|
|
 |
Lyell, Denis. Memories of an African Hunter |
|
|
1987 Capstick Series reprint of 1923 first edition. 268 pages with index and 51 photos. Fine in Fine DJ. |
|
|
 |
Millais, J.G. A Breath from the Veldt |
|
|
1987 special edition reprint of 1895 work. Fine. Full leather with marbled endpapers. 343 pages with 62 full page and over 80 in-text illustrations. 12 in X 9 in. A beautiful book inside and out, and one of the best safari titles ever. Millais was a noted artist and close friend of Selous (whose biography he wrote upon Selous' death). The first edition of this work is much sought and priced over $1000, whereas the 1899 second edition in very good or better condition is priced over $800. |
|
|
 |
Patterson, Frederick. African Adventures |
|
|
1928. First Edition. Very good. 83 pages with 50 black and white photos. Photo endpapers. From my library with my blind stamp on front free endpaper. An East African safari by the president of the National Cash Register Company. His PH was Denys Finch Hatton of "Out of Africa" fame. |
|
|
 |
Pease, Sir Alfred. The Book of the Lion |
|
|
1914 Second Edition. Very Good. Quite scarce in either edition but especially in this condition. Illustrated with photos and sketches by author. Very good covers and text. The definitive work on lions and lion hunting in the early 20th century by a man who hunted many. This edition contains Pease's response to criticisms of the first edition. Dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt who hunted Pease's farm on his 1909-1910 safari. Available online from other vendors for $200+. |
|
|
 |
Pease, Sir Alfred. The Book of the Lion |
|
|
1914. Second edition. Illustrated with photos and sketches by author. Poor and priced accordingly. Covers and spine soiled. Corners bumped and spine frayed at top and bottom. Some foxing throughout. Binding tight and all pages present. This is a scarce title. The definitive work on lions and lion hunting in the early 20th century. Dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt who hunted on Pease's farm in 1909. |
|
|
 |
Percival, Blayney. A Game Ranger's Notebook |
|
|
1987 Special Edition reprint of the 1924 first. 409 pages with 33 illustrations. Fine. Leather with marbled endpapers, silk ribbon. 409 pages. Blayney was the brother of Philip Percival (who many consider the father of African professional hunting) and the Kenyan Game Warden for years. |
|
|
 |
Ruark, Robert. Use Enough Gun. |
|
|
1966. First Edition, First Printing. 332 pages, 14 pages of photos. Photograph endpapers. Very good in good DJ. Ruark's followup to Horn of the Hunter. |
|
|
 |
Scott, Col. Robert. Between the Elephant's Eyes |
|
|
1954 First Edition. 243 pages Map endpapers. Signature on reverse of front endpaper. Illustrations by F. Hubbard. Very good in good DJ. From the author of God is My Copilot. A hunt among the largest elephants in Africa. |
|
|
 |
Selous, F.C. African Nature Notes and Reminiscences |
|
|
1908. First Edition. (Second printing 4 months after the first.) Very good plus. 356 pages with index. 13 illustrations. Top of text block gilt. Selous wrote this book at the urging of his friend Theodore Roosevelt who contributed the foreword. |
|
|
 |
Selous, F.C. African Nature Notes and Reminiscences |
|
|
1993 Reprint of 1908 first edition. Illustrated. St. Martin's Press First Edition. 356 pages. Stain on rear panel of DJ and small holes in front panel (see photos). Near fine in fair DJ. |
|
|
 |
Siedentopf, A.R. The Last Stronghold of Big Game |
|
|
1946 First Edition. Near fine with fair DJ. Rare with DJ. 202 pages with 33 photographs. Hunting and traveling in East Africa. |
|
|
 |
Siedentopf, A.R. The Last Stronghold of Big Game |
|
|
1947. First British Edition. 185 pages. Hodder and Stoughton. Very good. Cover slightly discolored. Hunting expeditions in East Africa. |
|
|
 |
Taber, Wallace. Safari Sagas |
|
|
1955 First Edition limited to 1000 copies. 119/1000. Very good. Bound in leather with zebra skin patch on front cover. Inscribed and signed by author. A compilation of Taber's three books on his African safaris. Great reading by a popular columnist of the 1950s. 259 pages with 110 illustrations from photos and line drawings, many full page. |
|
|
 |
Taylor, John. Pondoro Last of the Ivory Hunters |
|
|
1955 First Edition, First Printing. John (Pondoro) Taylor was one the great elephant hunters and an expert on safari rifles and ammunition. He devised the Taylor Knockout Score which measures the true stopping power of many bullets and loads. Rear cover with some soiling. Very good (minor bumping of head of spine) in very good dust jacket. Interior very good with no marks. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| 1989 Safari Press printing of 1955 edition of Taylor's autobiography. Fine in near fine unclipped DJ. 354 pages with index and appendices. He led a fascinating life. |
|
|
|
 |
White, Stewart Edward. Land of Foot Prints |
|
|
1912 First Edition. Fair condition with wear at head and tail of spine with about 1/8 in loss of cloth at tail. Wear along bottom of covers and corners with some loss of cloth. Prior owner's signature on front free endpaper dated 1913. Internal hinges reinforced with conservator's mending tissue. The first of White's books about his African safaris. His PH was R.J. Cunninghame, who was Roosevelt's PH on his 1909-1910 safari. White was a noted and prolific author of the early 20th century. A great read. |
|
|
 |
White, Stewart Edward. African Camp Fires |
|
|
1913. First Edition. Fair condition. Usual cover wear, Some fading of covers and age-toning of pages. From my library with my blind stamp on rear free endpaper and prior owner's gift inscription on front free endpaper dated 1913. White's second book on his African safaris. His PH was R.J. Cunninghame, who was Roosevelt's PH on his 1909-1910 safari. White was a famous and prolific author of the early 20th century. A great read. |
|
|
 |
White, Stewart. The Rediscovered Country |
|
|
1915. First Edition. Very good with some foxing of frontispiece and title page. 358 pages with 100 photos. Fold-out map in rear without tears. White and his PH Cunninghame (who was Roosevelt's PH) hunted an area in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) that had never been hunted before and had only been visited by two white men. A very good African hunting book and quite scarce in first edition. |
|
|
 |
Dickson, Capt. F.A. Big Game Shooting on the Equator |
|
|
Facsimile reprint of 1908 First Edition. Bound in green cloth with red leather labels. Like new. The First Edition in Good condition is priced at over $300. Recommended by Roosevelt in his Life-Histories of African Game Animals. Dickson hunted primarily in East Africa with a Masai guide. 285 pages with 77 photos. An uncommon but very interesting African title. |
|
|
 |
Jessen, B.H. McMillan's Expeditions and Big Game Hunting |
|
|
Facsimile reprint of 1906 First Edition. Bound in red imitation leather with black leather labels. Marbled endpapers. Like new. The book was printed for private distribution only so it is a very rare title with First Editions priced at over $1000. McMillan and his wife traveled and hunted in Sudan, Abyssinia, and East Africa. Roosevelt accepted McMillan's invitation to stay at his farm in Kenya in 1909 during his African safari. Roosevelt visited there several times to hunt, rest, and write African Game Trails. 415 pages with numerous photos. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
