The African Collection

Beginning in late 1986, and building on the positive reception accorded early books in the series known as the Premier Collection, Sporting Classics magazine launched another set of reprints. This time the focus was classic works on African sport. There was one significant difference in the African Collection and those for the earlier Premier Collection. Books in the African Collection were reprinted in two formats—an unnumbered edition bound in leather with most of the hallmarks of a fine book such as marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, ribbon markers, gold embossing, and raised hubs. There was also a deluxe, limited, numbered edition of 500 copies. The latter were truly “done right” in every sense of what constitutes a sterling example of the book publishing art. They featured full leather binding, sturdy linen slipcases in an attractive beige color, lovely gold inlay work on the titles and front cover by Kay Jackson, and of course the original illustrations. In the view of many, the deluxe version the 24 books comprising the African Collection represent as fine an effort in the reintroduction of timeless sporting literature as we have ever seen. They are reminiscent of the acclaimed Derrydale Press imprints but with finer materials and of higher quality.

The two dozen books in the African Collection are listed below in alphabetical order by author, with full bibliographical information including the name of the individual who contributed new material specifically for the reprint. This near-complete holding lacks only one volume, Fred Selous’ A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa. One book, W. D. M. Bell’s The Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter, lacks the slipcase. Overall condition is fine to very fine other than rubbing to the raised hubs on two or three of the books. With a bit of digging through Internet sources to find the two missing volumes this collection could be completed. The books range from standard size to elephant folio in the case of the Millais and Potocki volumes. A major landmark in reprints of Africana and sporting books in general. $3800.

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1. Charles J. Andersson, Lake Ngami. xl, 545 pages. Illustrated, index, folding map. Lengthy new Foreword by Dorothy Middleton. 1988. 

2. Samuel W. Baker, The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia. xxxvi, 606 pages. Illustrated. New Introduction by Jim Casada. 1987. 

3. Samuel W. Baker, Wild Beasts and Their Ways. xxxii, 455 pages. Illustrated. New Introduction by Jim Casada. 1987. 

4. W. D. M. Bell, The Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter. xxviii, 188 pages. Illustrated, index. New Foreword by Thomas Altherr. 1987. 

5. Abel Chapman, On Safari. xxxiv, 336 pages. Illustrated. New Foreword by Mary Zeiss Stange. 1988.

6. William Finaughty, The Recollections of William Finaughty, Elephant Hunter, 1864-1875. xxviii, 272 pages. Illustrated by noted artist W. R. Leigh, author of Frontiers of Enchantment. New Foreword by Paul Rundell. 

7. F. R. N. Findlay, Big Game Shooting and Travel in Southeast Africa. xxviii, 313 pages. Illustrated, index. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1990. 

8. Edouard Foa, After Big Game in Central Africa. xxxiv, 326 pages. Illustrated. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1987. 

9. Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming, A Hunter’s Life in S. Africa. 1987. xxvi, 352 pages. New Introduction by Gary Clendennen.

10. William Cornwallis Harris, The Wild Sports of Southern Africa. xxxii, 359 pages. New Foreword by Tom Ofcansky. 1987. 

11. F. Vaughn Kirby, In Haunts of Wild Game. xviii, 567 pages. Illustrated. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1989. 

12. Denis D. Lyell, The Hunting & Spoor of Central African Game. xxxvi, 225 
pages. Lengthy new Foreword by John MacKenzie. 1987. 

13. Denis D. Lyell, Memories of an African Hunter. xxx, 268 pages. Illustrated, index. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1990. 

14. John Guille Millais, A Breath from the Veldt. xxviii, 345 pages. New Introduction by Frank R. Bradlow. Book in its original folio size. A gem, with the artwork by Millais being truly striking. 1987. 

15. Arthur Neumann, Elephant Hunting in East Equatorial Africa. xxxvi, 320 pages. Illustrated. New Foreword by Donald Young. 1987. 

16. J. H. Patterson, The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. xlii, 351 pages. New Introduction by Tom Ofcansky, Foreword by Frederick C. Selous. 1986. 

17. A. B. Percival, A Game Ranger’s Notebook. [xxvi], 409 pages. New Introduction by John Mackenzie. 1987. 

18. Count Josef Potocki, Sport in Somaliland. xx, 136 pages. Folding map. New Foreword by F. Phillips Williamson. Full folio size of original. 1988. 

19. W. H. Powell-Cotton, A Sporting Trip Through Abyssinia. xxxvi, 521 pages. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1990. 

20. Theodore Roosevelt, African Game Trails. xl, 559 pages. Illustrated. New Foreword by John Fair. 

21. F. C. Selous, African Nature Notes and Reminiscences. xxxviii, 348 pages. Illustrated. Foreword by Theodore Roosevelt, new Introduction by Jim Casada. 

22. F. C. Selous, A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa. xxxii, 455 pages. Illustrated, 
index. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1986.

23. James Sutherland, The Adventures of an Elephant Hunter. xxxvi, 320 pages. Illustrated. New Introduction by Jim Casada. 1990. 

24. John Willoughby, East Africa and Its Big Game. xxviii, 303 pages. Illustrated, 
index. New Foreword by Jim Casada. 1990.