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Karl Johan Andersson was born on 4 March 1827 in Sweden. He was the illegitimate child of the British bear hunter Llewellyn Lloyd and Lloyd's Swedish servant.
Karl Johan Andersson was born on 4 March 1827 in Sweden. He was the illegitimate child of the British bear hunter Llewellyn Lloyd and Lloyd's Swedish servant.
Andersson grew up in Sweden. Early in his life he went on hunting expeditions with his father, experienced Swedish nature and started a collection of biology specimens.
Andersson grew up in Sweden. Early in his life he went on hunting expeditions with his father, experienced Swedish nature and started a collection of biology specimens.
In 1849 he departed for London, intending to sell his collection to raise money for travels around the world. In London he met with the explorer Francis Galton, with whom he organised an expedition to Southern Africa. On midsummer day in 1850 they arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and then travelled to Walvis Bay, in modern-day Namibia. They then trekked into the interior, at the time little explored by Europeans. They intended to reach Lake Ngami, but failed on that expedition.
In 1849 he departed for London, intending to sell his collection to raise money for travels around the world. In London he met with the explorer Francis Galton, with whom he organised an expedition to Southern Africa. On midsummer day in 1850 they arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and then travelled to Walvis Bay, in modern-day Namibia. They then trekked into the interior, at the time little explored by Europeans. They intended to reach Lake Ngami, but failed on that expedition.
Galton returned home to England, while Andersson stayed in the area and reached Lake Ngami in 1853. In 1855 Andersson returned to London, where he published his first book LAKE NGAMI, in which he describes his travels. He returned to Africa the same year.
Galton returned home to England, while Andersson stayed in the area and reached Lake Ngami in 1853. In 1855 Andersson returned to London, where he published his first book LAKE NGAMI, in which he describes his travels. He returned to Africa the same year.
Back in south west Africa, Andersson was hired as manager for mines in what was then called Damaraland and Namaqualand. However, he only held the position for a brief time, and continued his explorations. In 1859 he reached the Okavango River, an expedition that he recorded in his book THE OKAVANGO RIVER.
Back in south west Africa, Andersson was hired as manager for mines in what was then called Damaraland and Namaqualand. However, he only held the position for a brief time, and continued his explorations. In 1859 he reached the Okavango River, an expedition that he recorded in his book THE OKAVANGO RIVER.
After his return, he travelled to the Cape, where he married. Andersson and his wife settled in Otjimbingwe (in modern central Namibia).
After his return, he travelled to the Cape, where he married. Andersson and his wife settled in Otjimbingwe (in modern central Namibia).
Andersson had repeated financial problems. Even though his main interests were exploration and natural history, he often needed to earn money through trade and hunting. He lacked the money needed to publish his books and Galton declined to lend him any.
Andersson had repeated financial problems. Even though his main interests were exploration and natural history, he often needed to earn money through trade and hunting. He lacked the money needed to publish his books and Galton declined to lend him any.
Andersson ultimately launched several ventures in Damaraland, including a copper mining scheme. He was briefly elected Chief of the Damara in 1864, but he was severely wounded in battle against the Nama Hottentots.
Andersson ultimately launched several ventures in Damaraland, including a copper mining scheme. He was briefly elected Chief of the Damara in 1864, but he was severely wounded in battle against the Nama Hottentots.
In 1867, despite serious illness due to his battle wound, Andersson travelled north towards the Portuguese settlements in modern Angola, in order to establish a better trading route to Europe. He was unable to cross the Cunene River, so he had to turn back. His condition had worsened during his journey to the Cunene and, on the return journey, he died on 9 July 1867. He was buried by another Swede, Axel Eriksson.
In 1867, despite serious illness due to his battle wound, Andersson travelled north towards the Portuguese settlements in modern Angola, in order to establish a better trading route to Europe. He was unable to cross the Cunene River, so he had to turn back. His condition had worsened during his journey to the Cunene and, on the return journey, he died on 9 July 1867. He was buried by another Swede, Axel Eriksson.
After his death, Andersson's wife and children continued to live in Africa, in the Cape Colony.
After his death, Andersson's wife and children continued to live in Africa, in the Cape Colony.
Posthumously, Andersson's father, Lloyd, published notes from some of his son's exploration and hunting expeditions in the book THE LION AND THE ELEPHANT, as well as Andersson's last book, NOTES OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Posthumously, Andersson's father, Lloyd, published notes from some of his son's exploration and hunting expeditions in the book THE LION AND THE ELEPHANT, as well as Andersson's last book, NOTES OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Andersson is "perhaps the most extraordinary visitor to Namibia in the 19th century" (Tonchi, p. 24),
Andersson is "perhaps the most extraordinary visitor to Namibia in the 19th century" (Tonchi, p. 24),
It has also been said of Andersson: "Few, if any, [explorers] give so full and complete an account of Namaqualand, Damaraland, and the Ovampo country and the description of the fauna of these countries is absolutely unequalled." (Mendelssohn). "A cornerstone book of African hunting in the middle of the nineteenth century." (Czech)
It has also been said of Andersson: "Few, if any, [explorers] give so full and complete an account of Namaqualand, Damaraland, and the Ovampo country and the description of the fauna of these countries is absolutely unequalled." (Mendelssohn). "A cornerstone book of African hunting in the middle of the nineteenth century." (Czech)
$649 -- LAKE NGAMI
$649 -- LAKE NGAMI
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
Beautifully rebound by hand (so expect imperfections, not machine-perfect results) in full leather.
Charles John Andersson's first book, LAKE NGAMI, was published in London in a beautiful and expensive edition, but the American first edition published by Harper was less impressive in every way. This Hurst & Blackett London edition is in its original cloth, with some repair work.
This book is entirely free of foxing and the rare 1st edition!
$599 -- LAKE NGAMI
$599 -- LAKE NGAMI
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
Original cloth with repair to rear outer hinge.
Charles John Andersson's first book, LAKE NGAMI, was published in London in a beautiful and expensive edition, but the American first edition published by Harper was less impressive in every way. This Hurst & Blackett London edition is in its original cloth, with some repair work.
It looks handsome and the pages are largely free of foxing, which is uncommon for a book that was published in London.
$395 -- LAKE NGAMI
$395 -- LAKE NGAMI
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1856
Beautifully rebound by hand (so expect imperfections, not machine-perfect results) in soft full leather.
Charles John Andersson's first book, LAKE NGAMI, was published in London in a beautiful and expensive edition, but the American first edition published by Harper was less impressive in every way. This Hurst & Blackett London edition has been beautifully rebound by hand (so expect imperfections, not machine-perfect results) in dark brown soft full leather.
It looks beautiful and the pages are largely free of foxing, which is uncommon for a book that was published in London. A few pages have had professional repairs to edges, and the large folding map is a professionally-reproduced facsimile (see photos).
$350 -- BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND
$350 -- BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND
London, John Van Voorst, 1872
London, John Van Voorst, 1872
With Some Additional Notes By The Editor, And An Introductory Chapter Containing A Sketch of The Author's Life, Abridged From The Original Published In Sweden
With Some Additional Notes By The Editor, And An Introductory Chapter Containing A Sketch of The Author's Life, Abridged From The Original Published In Sweden
Published posthumously, this is the first ornithogical work relating to what is today Namibia, Angola and Botswana.
THIS COPY INSCRIBED BY THE EDITOR TO "PROFESSOR OWEN" (presumed to be Richard Owen)
Original publisher's cloth and coated brown endsheets. Colored frontispiece map, 4 plates (3 from drawings by Andersson), 394pp. The work identifies 428 species from South Western Africa, which includes Ovampoland, a portion of the Kalahari Desert and Namaqualand. Andersson is considered the most important of all the early explorers to the region.
The original cloth has chipping, rips to corners, crown and heel, and some staining and signs of use. Mild foxing to early and late pages. Inner hinges cracking.
$149 -- THE OKAVANGO RIVER
$149 -- THE OKAVANGO RIVER
Harper, New York, 1861. First edition, first printing
Harper, New York, 1861. First edition, first printing
Beautifully rebound in full leather, but the book was well-read and has signs of much use. The map is missing 2/3, but a facsimile is supplied, as well as a facsimile of one of the illustrations (see the last photo of the elephant).
$85 -- NOTES OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA
$85 -- NOTES OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA
Facsimile reprint of the 1875 Hurst & Blackett, London, First Edition: bound by hand in half-leather, marbled end papers. A handsome volume, as-new and unread, and ready for your reading pleasure and collection.
Facsimile reprint of the 1875 Hurst & Blackett, London, First Edition: bound by hand in half-leather, marbled end papers. A handsome volume, as-new and unread, and ready for your reading pleasure and collection.
The original first editions are very, very rare, so this facsimile reprint is the next best thing.
The original first editions are very, very rare, so this facsimile reprint is the next best thing.
$85 -- THE LION AND THE ELEPHANT
$85 -- THE LION AND THE ELEPHANT
Facsimile reprint of the 1873 Hurst & Blackett, London, First Edition: bound by hand in half-leather, marbled end papers. A handsome volume, as-new and unread, and ready for your reading pleasure and collection.
Facsimile reprint of the 1873 Hurst & Blackett, London, First Edition: bound by hand in half-leather, marbled end papers. A handsome volume, as-new and unread, and ready for your reading pleasure and collection.
The original first editions are rare, so this facsimile reprint is the next best thing.
The original first editions are rare, so this facsimile reprint is the next best thing.
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