2 vols. FIRST EDITION, quarto, 20 hand-coloured aquatint plates after Burchell; 5 folding, folding engraved map, numerous woodcut illustrations set in text. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards with gilt to spine, morocco labels, preserved in a modern buckram box, trimmed in morocco. Bookplate of 'G. Carleton Jones' to each of the front pastedowns. "The most valuable and accurate work on South Africa published up to the first quarter of the 19th century" (Mendelssohn). Burchell set off from Cape Town in 1811 and covered 4,500 miles in the interior, returning to Cape Town in 1815. He brought with him natural history specimens and some 500 drawings, some of which were engraved to illustrate this work. A third volume was projected but was never published. Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontispiece. Portrait of a Bushman playing on the Gorah. 2. A View of Cape Town, Table Bay & Tygerberg (folding). 3. Portrait of Speelman, a Hottentot. 4. Crossing the Berg River. 5. Caravan of Waggons assembled at Zak River, on the borders of the Bushmen's country (folding). 6. The Rock Fountain, in the Country of the Bushmen. 7. Scene on the River Gariep. 8. A Hottentot Kraal, on the banks of the Gariep. 9. A View of Klaarwater looking towards the northeast (folding). 10. Portrait of a Kora. [Map] The Extratropical part of Southern Africa. Volume 2. 11. Frontispiece. Portrait of Juli, a faithful Hottentot. 12. A natural Obelisk in the Country of the Bushmen. 13. Descending from the Snow Mountains. 14. View of a Bushman Kraal (folding). 15. View on entering the Town of Litakun. 16. A View in the Town of Litakun (folding). 17. Portrait of Massisan. 18. Portrait of Mahutu. 19. Section & Plan of a Bachapin House. 20. Portrait of Chaasi, a Bachapin.