Call of the Jungle by H. C. Engert

Call of the Jungle by H. C. Engert is the scarce 1957 first edition published in London by Robert Hale Limited. An evocative mid-twentieth-century account concerned with African jungle regions, peoples and customs, the book combines travel, observation and adventure in a work that will appeal particularly to collectors of vintage Africana, African exploration, ethnographic writing and historical travel literature.

Call of the Jungle also has an interesting South African association. Affixed to the front pastedown is an original Maritzburg College prize bookplate, recording the book as a prize awarded to R. Blyth for Handicrafts, Form IVG, in 1958. A small Shuter & Shooter, Pietermaritzburg bookseller’s label is also present. These details provide an attractive piece of local provenance and make the copy particularly relevant to collectors of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg and Maritzburg College material.

Call of the Jungle is bound in green cloth with the title, author and Robert Hale imprint to the spine. Although the binding shows considerable cosmetic wear, the volume remains an appealing example of an increasingly difficult-to-find 1950s African travel title. Its combination of first-edition status, Africana subject matter and documented South African school provenance gives it considerably more character than an ordinary reading copy.

Condition – Good

Original green cloth boards with rubbing, handling marks and scattered staining. The spine is heavily faded and discoloured, with additional staining, rubbing and wear at the head and tail, although the lettering remains readable. A darker mark is present on the rear board. Page edges are toned and somewhat soiled. Internally there is general age toning and occasional marking. The Maritzburg College prize bookplate is attached to the front pastedown with aged adhesive tape, which has browned. Shuter & Shooter bookseller label present.