Stanley, Henry Morton

In Darkest Africa or the Quest Rescue and Retreat of Emin Governor of Equatoria

Hardcover, London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1890. First Edition. Octavo, pp. Xv, 529, xv, 472. Two Volumes. Volume 1: Frontispiece portrait of Stanley and his officers, 14 more plates, 59 illustrations in the text, 1 large fold-out map, appendix, index. Volume 2: Frontispiece portrait of Stanley, 22 more color plates, 46 illustrations in the text, 1 very large fold-out map, 1 small fold-out map, 1 full page map, 4 appendices, index. Both volumes bound in publisher's dark red cloth with black and gold cover and spine decorations and map pictorial endpapers. Spines slightly slanted, ends of spines bumped, front cover of volume 2 has some rippling, thin white rub marks to front cover and spine of volume 1. Minor to moderate age spotting to both volumes. Very large fold-out map in volume 2 has a crease tear that has been repaired with tape applied to the back of the map. Small tears to both fold-out maps. This is the UK first edition that is the true first edition and precedes the more common US first published by Scribner's. Henry Morton Stanley was the most successful and famous of all the Victorian era African explorers. This is his account of his Emin Pasha Relief Expedition of 1886-1889. It was Stanley's final African adventure and the last of the great African explorations. Stanley's route to Emin was incredibly difficult. He ended up crossing Africa from west to east, starting at the mouth of the Congo River on the Atlantic Ocean and finishing at Zanzibar, an island in the Indian Ocean, just off the east coast. His extremely arduous route resulted in the death or desertion of two thirds of his followers. The route made little practical sense as a rescue operation and was chosen for political reasons. The conditions of the expedition were brutal. Stanley was forced to rely on Tippoo Tib, the notorious and powerful Arab-Swahili slave trader, for porters and temporary protection. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 1001 pages. [Item #77238]

Price: $185.00