Directory of Bulawayo and Handbook To Matabeleland 1895-1896 Author: compiled by Alexander Davis Published: 1896; Alexander Davis, Bulawayo Size: 22cm x 15cm; 230pp
Original first edition copy of Rhodesia's first ever directory - originally issued under the auspices and patronage of the British South Africa (BSA) Company and printed in Cape Town. The town of Bulawayo was only two years old when this book was compiled and provides a fascinating insight into early Rhodesia. The book contains a remarkable amount of information, with complete lists of stand owners and a street directory in which owners and occupiers are included. There are details of all organisations in the town, a list of the BSA Company's staff in Salisbury, including a number of period advertisements of businesses and mining ventures in operation in Bulawayo at that time. There are chapters on the occupation of Mashonaland, the Matabele war and a history of Bulawayo. Copies of the agreement signed by Lobengula with the British Government in 1888, the Rudd Concession and the charter granted to the BSA Company by the British Government are also included. The book is complete with the original foldout map of the Matabeleland and Mashonaland provinces of Rhodesia from 1895.
On the inside front cover, the book is inscribed with the name of Aston Redrup who was instrumental in establishing Rhodesia's first airline, the Rhodesian Aviation Syndicate. Aston Redrup was a member of the syndicate and served as secretary. The book itself has the original cloth covers with some staining and age related markings to the front and back covers, fading of the titles and picture of a warrior on the front cover and fading of the printed advertisement on the back cover. The spine is brittle and is torn in places and there is some wear to the extremities. The front and back covers are loose, with cracking to the gutters, but the binding is still holding with no loose pages but the book should be handled with the care it deserves. Internally there is some minor foxing to some pages and pages are slightly tanned but the contents are generally clean and in good condition.
This is not a facsimile copy and is an original first edition, extremely rare and historically important. There are no other first edition copies available online. Photos provided reflect the condition in addition to the above description. Overall condition is good
