In the vanguard of the migration from the coastal regions into the 'dark interior' of Africa in the early nineteeth centry were the hunters, notably those who shot elephant for the profitable ivory trade. Like the missionaries and explorers of their day, these hardy and resourceful men were inveterate diarists and keen observers. They became the core of the continent's first recorders of written history-in-the-making. They did much of the groundwork which is proving so valuable to latter-day researchers in the fields of natural history, water resources, archaeology, ethnology, etc., presently being correlated on a global scale in the fight for environmental conservation theough the disciplines of biodiversity.

To the Nimrods these books will be seen mainly as collections of exciting experiences of the chase, making informative and entertaining reading. However, it is to be hoped that these accounts, which range from mass carnage to moderate trophy hunting, will help to shape new perspectives and awareness of individual responsibilities in conserving Africa's natural resources.

This Hunting Series comprises of twelve volumes. They are first-person narratives of hunters who spent long periods in the field. The canvas is a wide one extending across the breadth of south-western to south-eastern Africa, and virtually the length of the continent from the Transvaal highveld to the Sudan. The greatest activity is in the regions of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, and the Central Africa lakes areas, and parts of Ethiopia and Sudan.

The time-span extends from the mid-1830's, when the Great Trek in South Africa witnessed a mass exodus from the Cape coastal region to distant hinterlands, through the 1850s - when David Livingstone, exploring central Africa's rivers, came upon the Zambezi and Victoria Falls - to the turn of the twentieth century when Rhodes's Cape to Cairo railway was nearing the Congo border, opening Africa to meaningful economic development through Commerce, Industry, mining and Agriculture.

In terms of Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe), the hunter-authors fall equally into those of the pre-Pioneer (1890)and post-Pioneer periods. In the former group are Cornwallis Harris (1839-1844); Cumming (1843-1850); Baldwin (c.1851-1858); Finaughty (1864-1875); Selous (1871-1880) and spanning both groups, Neumann (c.1868-1907).

In the post-Pioneer period are: Hodson (1904-1910); Stigand (c.1901-1914); Lyell (1898-1914); Sutherland (1899-1932); and Owen Letcher (1907-1943).

Originals of their writings, now collectors' rare items, are still much sought after; and present-day controlled hunting safaris offered by countries of southern and East Africa have done much to simulate new interest in these great sportsmen of the past.

These books have been reprinted in facsimile in the AFRICAN HUNTING REPRINT SERIES which retains the charm of the Victorian originals. The volumes are matched in a standard size of 220 x 150mm (8 3/4 x 6in.) and presented in newly designed dust jackets with a family identity. Each reprint carries a newly contributed Introduction by an authoritative writer, adding greatly to the value and enjoyment of the original. Each title is available in two editions - Standard or Leatherbound. The Leatherbound Editions is currently available in a small range of colours in Elephant, Buffalo or leather hides, with or without slipcases. The book selection was made and the series compiled and edited by Louis W Bolze, founder of Books of Zimbabwe in 1968.

The Hunting Series Catalogue
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