Thomas Baines: An Artist in the Service of Science in Southern Africa

(London: Christie's International Media Division, 1999) 0903432625. Accompanying the exhibition held at Christie's, 8 King Street, St. James's, London SW1Y 6QT, 1-17 September 1999. 300 x 239 mm; laminated pictorial wrappers; pp. 211; lavishly illustrated with full-colour reproductions of the artist's works and other contemporary pictures. Near-fine condition. "When this multi-faceted man died on 8 May 1875 in Durban, the Natal Mercury paid tribute to him as 'a traveller, explorer' and as 'a brave, able, distinguished and single-hearted man', but not as an artist. I was surprised to find that it was to be almost seventy years before his oeuvre was recognised as the work of an artist of considerable merit and no mere pictorial journalist and topographical recorder. Only then did he receive recognition as a creative artist whose works are of enduring value. Almost 125 years after his death, Baines enables us to appreciate a past world that gave an impetus to his artistic verve. To judge by the current popularity of his work, we can share his expressed hope that: 'Some few at least may share a portion of the pleasure I have experienced during my wandering.'" - From the Foreword by Frank Bradlow .