Saül

1861 · 24225 — Cape Town: Saul Solomon & Co 1861. First edition. Hardcover. Orig. charcoal cloth front cover and spine lettered and decorated in gilt. Near fine. XII.180 pages. 28 x 22.5 cm. The first edition of the very first book to be illustrated with original photographs on the African continent and very important as such. It includes photos by the photographer Joseph Kirkman who was active in South Africa 1859 - 1870. 17 mounted albumen print photographs including additional illustrated title page; woodcuts in text. With a circular original photograph of Prince Alfred mounted on the title page. There is also a second printed title page. In addition there are sixteen original full page photographs ten being photographs of paintings by Bowler and Baines and six being original images of Prince Alfred's tour including a fine photograph of Chief Moshesh and his councillors. Solomon the publisher was also one of the founders of Old Mutual today one of the largest insurance firms in South Africa. As representative for Cape Town Solomon entered the very first Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope Cape Parliament when it opened in 1854. He remained an MP for this constituency until his retirement in 1883. Color half title. Armorial bookplate of Raydon Charles Peden and with his stamp of the first two front endpapers. Minor scattered toning primarily to the first few leaves. Saul Solomon & Co hardcover