The Special Collections Book of the Week this week is:

The present state of the Cape of Good Hope. Volume II, containing the natural history of the Cape… by Peter Kolben.

“Containing the natural history of the Cape, or, a particular description of all the sorts of animals and vegetables in that neighbourhood, as of beasts, birds, insects, sea- and river-fish, trees, shrubs, plants, herbs, roots and flowers. Likewise an account of the mineral productions and of the sea-, river-, and spring-waters there. Together with some observations on the Cape-winds and air. To which is prefix’d a topographical account of the colonies there, as of their extent, rivers, springs, mountains roads, places of note.”

Peter Kolben (1675 – 1726) was a German astronomer who went to the Cape from 1705 to 1713 to make astronomical observations. He recorded his travels in these two volumes, the second volume concentrating on the natural history of the area. This book is the 1731 first edition of the second volume.

UPSpace Access: hdl.handle.net/2263/16708

This book is available at Special Collections, housed on level 5 of the Merensky 2 Library, and is part of our Nolte (ZN) Collection.

The Special Collections unit of the Department of Library Services plays a stewardship role in the acquisition and preservation of the Library's rare and valuable information resources, making them accessible to students, staff and researchers, as well as safeguarding them for future generations.