Handbook to British Central Africa (Shire Highlands and Nyasaland, etc.) by Sir Harry Johnston

Handbook to British Central Africa (Shire Highlands and Nyasaland, etc.) by Sir Harry Johnston is a highly desirable limited-edition reprint of an important colonial-era work originally published in London in 1905. Produced in Blantyre, Malawi, in 1985, this edition was issued in a strictly limited run of just 1,000 numbered copies, of which this example is No. 623.

Written by renowned explorer, naturalist, administrator and author Sir Harry Johnston, Handbook to British Central Africa was compiled to provide practical guidance for settlers, planters, miners, traders and travellers considering opportunities in British Central Africa. Covering the Shire Highlands, Nyasaland and surrounding regions, it offers a remarkable contemporary account of the geography, climate, agriculture, commerce, transport networks and economic prospects of the territory during the height of British colonial administration.

Today Handbook to British Central Africa is valued as both a historical resource and a collectible piece of Africana. Researchers, historians, genealogists and collectors of Rhodesiana and Central African material will appreciate the firsthand information it provides about a region that would later become modern Malawi. The attractive reproduction of the original illustrated cover, depicting agricultural products including coffee and cotton, further enhances its appeal.

The limitation to only 1,000 numbered copies adds an additional level of collectability, particularly for enthusiasts of Malawi, Nyasaland and colonial African history. Combining historical importance, attractive presentation and limited availability, this is a sought-after title for collectors of Africana and Rhodesiana literature.

Condition – Very Good

1985 hardcover. Light shelf wear to the boards. Internally lightly foxed. A clean, sound and attractive copy of this limited numbered edition.