The Borders and Beyond. Arctic. Cheviot. Tropic.

CHAPMAN, Abel.

Published by London: Gurney and Jackson, 1924

About this Item

First edition, first impression. "Chapman was one of the old-style dilettante landowning sportsmen, artists, and authors. While he was prepared to rough it like a frontiersman, he preferred to travel in luxury, champagne being his favourite drink in the field. His books are fluently written, perhaps too discursive and anecdotal for a modern taste, but they display his wide general knowledge and competence with sketchbook and camera" (ODNB). His account is complete with years of observations, various diary entries, and extensive illustrations. Abel Chapman (1851-1929) was a hunter-naturalist who, throughout his life, helped save the Spanish Ibex from extinction and created several nature reserves, including South Africa's first game reserve. "As a companion in a country ramble, Chapman had few equals, his gift for observation being marvellous and his keen eye seeming to miss nothing that moved, while he himself was always bristling with breezy inspiration and personal magnetism. The ability and vigour with which he transferred to paper what he saw (oft with the aid of a telescope!) has made many of his books classics of their kind" ("Obituary"). Provenance: Inscribed on the front free endpaper: "Sir Wyndham Childs with all good wishes on the occasion of his marriage & in memory of days on the borders of Hertfordshire from: [initials illegible]". Wyndham Childs (1876-1946) served as Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 1921 to 1928. He married Ethel Allanson in 1925. "Obituary: Abel Chapman, 1851-1929" British Birds, vol. 22, issue 10, March 1928. Octavo. Colour frontispiece with titled tissue guard, similar 13 plates, further 21 half-tone plates, 2 folding maps (1 printed in red and black), illustrations to text, 3 pp. advertisements to rear. Original green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, covers panelled in blind, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Spine and tips bumped and rubbed, contents with webbing visible in a few places, plates clean and bright. A near-fine copy.

Seller Inventory # 175752

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Borders and Beyond. Arctic. Cheviot. Tropic.
• Publisher: London: Gurney and Jackson, 1924
• Edition: 1st Edition