(DIAMONDS.)

Williams, J. M. The Diamond Fields of South Africa; with Notes of a Journey There and Homeward... by One Who has Visited the Fields. Illustrations in the text. 8vo, publisher's gilt-lettered blue cloth, loss at spine ends and tips, joints cracked, dampstain to bottom rear cover affecting last signature of contents; hinges cracked, title-page loose, with 2-inch loss of margin along top. New York: American News Company, 1872 An uncommon work not found in bibliographies, nor have any have been sold at auction. The only library holding is the University of South Carolina. The author states in the preface: "It has been the object of the author in this little work to present a true account of the Diamond Fields near the Vaal River, in Southern Africa, together with a statement of the various routes and modes of travel to the mines, including brief sketches of objects of interest met with on his journey going and returning. This is considered to be among the earliest, if not the first, American publication on the diamond fields of South Africa.