Lot 45
West Indies and Madagascar
Collection of travel narratives, 19th and early-20th century
Auction: Books & Manuscripts | 01 October 2026 from 10am | Lots 1 to 78
Description
Horsford, John. A Voice from the West Indies: being a Review of the Character and Results of Missionary Efforts in the British and Other Colonies in the Caribbean Sea. With some Remarks on the Usages, Prejudices, etc., of the Inhabitants. London: Alexander Heylin, 1856. First edition, 8vo, original red cloth by J. Macefield, Hoxton (with his ticket), spine lettered in gilt, decorative panel-stamps to covers in blind, xii 492 pp., contemporary gift inscription (dated Jamaica 1860) to front free endpaper, related ownership inscriptions to front pastedown and title-page, spine toned and with a little wear to head and foot, very short split to cloth on front joint, covers slightly marked, pp. 464-5 sometime stuck together at corner (now separated with minor marginal loss to the first leaf and paper residue to the second, not affecting text);
Underhill, Edward Bean. The West Indies: their Social and Religious Condition. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder, 1862. First edition, 8vo, original green pictorial cloth gilt, wood-engraved frontispiece and additional vignette title-page, contents entirely unopened, a fine copy;
Ibid. Life of James Mursell Phillippo, Missionary in Jamaica. London: Yates & Alexander, 1881. First edition, 8vo, original cloth, photographic portrait frontispiece;
Griffiths, David. The Persecuted Christians of Madagascar; a Series of Interesting Occurrences during a Residence at the Capital from 1838 to 1840. London: Cornelius Hedgman, 1841. First edition, 8vo, original cloth with printed paper label to front cover, covers sunned and marked;
Freeman, J. J., & D. Johns. A Narrative of the Persecution of the Christians in Madagascar. London: John Snow, 1840. First edition, 8vo, original cloth, Baxtertype colour frontispiece, engraved vignette to title-page, 6 pp. advertisements;
and 20 others (including James Sibree, The Great African Island, Chapters on Madagascar, 1880, first edition, original cloth, 4 engraved plates and 2 folding maps, endpapers renewed; William Ellis, Three Visits to Madagascar, 1858, first edition, contemporary tan calf by Riviere, richly gilt spine, 15 engraved plates including folding frontispiece, engraved map, Eton election inscription dated 1861 to initial blank; Ernest Price, Banana-Land, 1930, first edition, original cloth, with dust jacket; Madagascar: its Mission and Martyrs, 1870, first edition; and similar) (25)
Footnote
John Horsford (1813-1897), Wesleyan minister in the West Indies, was born on Antigua as the illegitimate son of a garrison captain. ‘His illegitimate birth and mulatto appearance hindered his acceptance for both the Anglican and the Wesleyan ministry, but he was accepted by the latter in 1837 and stationed in St. Vincent’ (Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland). He went on to serve across the West Indies, including postings in Nevis, Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and Barbados. No other copy of A Voice from the West Indies traced in auction records.