Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, D.S.O., Capt. 25th Royal Fusiliers Author: John Guille Millais (J.G. Millais)
Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, DSO (Limited Edition #765 of 1000)
The Definitive Chronicle of Africa's Pre-eminent Victorian Explorer, Conservationist, and Big Game Hunter
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, D.S.O., Capt. 25th Royal Fusiliers
- Author: John Guille Millais (J.G. Millais)
- Publisher: The Pioneer Head, Salisbury (Heritage Series, Volume VII)
- Publication Date: 1975 (Facsimile Reprint of the 1819 Longmans Edition)
- ISBN-10: 086918007X
- Edition Details: Heritage Series Facsimile. Strictly limited print run of 1,000 numbered copies, this copy being No. 765.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium full library cloth hardcover, intricately blind-stamped with brilliant gilt spine typography and cover framing motifs.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 387 pages. Extensively enhanced with a historical introduction by E.E. Burke, full-page photogravures, dramatic combat illustrations, natural history plates, and field sketches.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The textured cloth boards are remarkably neat, unfaded, and square. Only light, superficial overall handling friction and standard shelf wear present along the bottom board margins and spine crowns. The cover gilt remains highly reflective and sharp.
- Interior: The text block is perfectly robust and completely unbroken. The internal pages, high-contrast photographic text inserts, and archival charts are beautifully crisp, immaculate, and free from any modern pencil marginalia, names, or page creases.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Included (As Issued / Lacking)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, DSO stands as the quintessential account of the man who inspired Sir Henry Rider Haggard's immortal literary hero, Allan Quatermain. Written by his close friend and fellow naturalist J.G. Millais, this masterpiece traces Selous' journeys across Southeast Africa from his arrival in 1871 through his legendary exploits as a big game hunter, collector for the British Museum, and trusted military scout.
It captures his complex relationships with King Lobengula and Cecil Rhodes, alongside his ultimate sacrifice during World War I, where he enlisted at age 64 and fell to a German sniper in East Africa. This limited Pioneer Head edition is prized among collectors for preserving his extensive field notes, conservation records, and iconic status in African exploration literature.
Author Profile: John Guille Millais
John Guille Millais (1865–1931) was an acclaimed British artist, naturalist, traveler, and biometrician. The son of the famous Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir John Everett Millais, he chose the natural world as his canvas. Millais travelled extensively across Africa, the Americas, and northern Europe, becoming one of the most prolific outdoor writers and animal illustrators of his generation. His deep personal friendship with Selous gave him unprecedented access to private diaries, family correspondence networks, and hunting journals, allowing him to construct an unparalleled, highly authentic Edwardian perspective on frontier history.
