By Mary Gunn and L.E. Codd,
Published by A.A. Balkema, 1981,
First edition, A 4 format, dust wrapper with minimum wear, very good condition,
The story of plant collecting and early illustrations of our flora and, bound up with it, the emergence of the science of botany up to about the 1750s is told in part one, lavishly illustrated with 81 reproductions of old botanical pictures and maps.
In part two there is a wealth of information on the often colourful and adventurous travellers, soldiers, missionaries, VOC officials and master gardeners, naturalists and professional collectors attracted to this fascinating country of exceptional floral diversity awaiting exploration.
With its 3 300 odd entries, about half of which are provided with biographical notes, and with 440 portraits, contemporary illustrations and handwriting of the more illustrious collectors, and those who have followed them up to the present day, this is a permanent source of reference, not only for botanists, but for historians and Africana collectors as well.
Just to mention some names at random, there are the pioneers, such as Heurnius, Hermann, Ten Rhyne, Oldenland, Hartog and Auge, followed by personalities such as Baines, Bolus, Burchell, Burke, Built Davy, Cooper, Dinter, Drege, Ecklon, Galpin, Gordon, Harvey, Herre, Holub, Hutchinson, Krauss, Krebs, Lichtenstein, MacOwan, Marloth, Masson, Pappe, Paterson, Pole Evans, Rehmann, Reynolds, Rudatis, Schlechter, Sim, Smuts, Thode, Thunberg, Wahlberg, Medley Wood and Zeyher, all deserving lengthy entries, many with details of the routes they followed.
The rare list of Ecklon and Zeyher collecting localities with additional information, a double page map with most of the localities mentioned in the text and a comprehensive index have been added.
A valuable reference work but at the same time a pleasant and fascinating book for browsing, full of surprises, for all those interested in the exploration of Southern Africa in general over a period of more than three centuries.
