Dr. H. A. Alford Nicholls. Dominica, Illustrated and Described. Antigua: José Anjo, n.d. [ca. 1905]. First edition. Oblong twelvemo (4.625 x 7 inches). 32 pages. Twelve full-page black and white photographs by José Anjo. Front pastedown contains map of the Island of Dominica by W. A. Miller, dated 1904, with island's main roads outlined in red. Publisher's green morocco-patterned paper boards, with lettering and island motifs stamped in gilt on front board. Some fading around edges of both boards; minor rubbing to gilt. Chip to head of spine; mild wear to corners and a couple of nicks to board edges. Front joint splitting, but binding still intact. Two words in text corrected in ink, presumably by publisher. A handsome little book in better than very good condition. "Exceptionally scarce" (Mitchell's West Indian Bibliography, 10th edition).

London-born doctor and horticulturalist Henry Alfred Alford Nicholls (1851-1926) traveled to Dominica in 1873 where he greatly improved the health services on the island and where he served as Senior Medical Officer. His horticultural interests led to the publication of his influential work A Textbook of Tropical Agriculture. He wrote several books on Dominica, including this one, a short history of the island and its people, accompanied by the lovely, dreamy photographs -- mostly beautiful views of the landscape -- by top Antiguan photographer José Anjo.