Fine Books & Manuscripts

BEAVER, Philip, Captain (1766–1813). African Memoranda: Relative to an Attempt to Establish a British Settlement of the Island of Bulama, on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Year 1792…Some Observations on the Facility of Colonizing that Part of Africa with a View to Cultivation…Particularly the Means of Gradually Abolishing African Slavery. London: C. and R. Baldwin, 1805. 4to (267 x 213 mm). Large engraved folding map with an inset of Africa originally by C.B. Wadström and revised here by Beaver, 2 engraved plates (few short tears repaired verso near folds of map, some browning to plates with offsetting to text). Modern half niger antique retaining original endpapers and original marbled boards, raised bands gilt, gilt centerpieces in compartments, morocco lettering–piece gilt. Provenance: John York Esq. (armorial bookplate). FIRST EDITION. Beaver participated in this British mission aiming for a colonization of the island of Bulama near Sierra Leone. The expedition was badly executed and a failure. “Beaver endeavored, by unceasing toil, to keep a little order and to promote a little industry; but the men were quite unfitted for the work and manner of life, and the greater number of them died. The miserable remnants of the party evacuated the island and went to Sierra Leone, whence Beaver obtained a passage to England.” (ODNB). Gay 3196.