£45
FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, 8vo, pp. 222, [2] + frontispiece and 47 plates. Original pale blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt. A little light spotting. Spine somewhat discoloured. Composite gift inscription to flyleaf: ‘to Emmie McLennam with all good wishes from L.G. Swan, Christmas 1930, signed by’, in one hand, followed by the author’s signature.
The first edition of naturalist and wildlife photographer Cherry Kearton's (1871-1940) account of living for some months on an island off the coast of Namibia with black-footed or African penguins - around 4.5 million of them, at his own estimate. A pioneering documentarian of the natural world, Kearton's photographs illustrated many of his brother Richard's (1862-1928) books and he is credited with capturing the first film of London from the air (in 1908) and the first recording of birdsong in the wild (in 1900).
This copy has been signed by Kearton, and this signature has been incorporated into a contemporary gift inscription.
