JOHNSON (OSA) An album containing approximately 115 photographs depicting the explorer Osa Johnson and her husband Martin Johnson, mostly in Safari in Africa, some in Borneo; 2 books, and related ephemera (small collection)
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JOHNSON (OSA)
An album containing approximately 115 photographs depicting the explorer Osa Johnson and her husband Martin Johnson, mostly in Safari in Africa, some in Borneo, mostly mounted between one and three per page (exceptionally eigth), most captioned on mount in white ink, leaves detached, largest 185 x 250mm, smallest 62 x 90mm., INSCRIBED inside the upper cover "Nairobi, May 7th, [1931]. To Sister Withall, who saw her first big game while with us in the Northern Frontier, affectionately Osa and Martin Johnson", original cloth, oblong 4to, [c.1931]; A portrait photograph of Osa, INSCRIBED affectionately on the image "To Dear Sister who saved my life and was most adorable little woman - with love. Sincerely Osa Johnson", 259 x 176mm., [c.1931]; together with 2 published books by Osa, one inscribed, and related ephemera (small collection)
Sold for £1,062 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • A fine album of photographs recording the extraordinary life-style of the American explorers Osa and Martin Johnson during their trip to Africa (primarily Kenya) in the early 1930s - mostly depicting the glamerous Osa engaging with guns, big game and local tribes. The album was presented Martha Withall, who nursed the couple back to health after both suffered from a serious fever. Osa devoted chapter 26 of her autobiographical I Married Adventure (1940) to the event, and a subsequent safari during which Sister Withall, described as "my new boss [who] was literally teaching me to walk again", had to be saved by Osa from a charging rhinoceros. "I had to drop him" she noted.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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