About this Item
The second state of the first edition and an early issue, formatted as the first edition and probably just a continued issuance of the first with a new type slug on the title-page, stating "second edition". With 28 full page illustrations, 26 illustrations in the text, 6 maps and plans (including one large folding map). Thick, large 8vo, publisher s original brick-red cloth elaborately and pictorially decorated in gilt and black on the cover and spine. xxiii, 736, 8 pp ads. A very pleasing, handsome and solid copy of this handsome book, unusually sturdy, the cloth bright and clean, the gilt and black decorations in fine order, unusually clean and fresh, the rear inner hinge sometime mended, light wear to the tips. A VERY HANDSOME COPY OF THE AUTHOR S FIRST BOOK AND THE LANDMARK WORK THAT SECURED STANLEY S REPUTATION. The text of the first edition of this formidable book was often reprinted and remains to this day one of the consummate works in the historical interpretation of most important Victorian English forays into and explorations of Africa . The quest to recover David Livingstone is one of the most famous travel adventures and manhunts in history. By 1870, Livingstone had been missing for long enough that it was generally accepted that he had died somewhere in Central Africa. However, James Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the "New York Herald," was convinced that Livingstone was still alive, and dispatched a richly laden H.M. Stanley to find him. Stanley embarked on his quest on March 12, 1871, and after overcoming "innumerable difficulties," he found a discouraged and disheartened Livingstone at Ujiji on November 10. Stanley then uttered the oft-quoted line "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" (that scene is depicted on the cover of this book) and helped to renew the good doctor s hope. The two soon set off on an exploration of the north end of Lake Tanganyika and eventually discovered that the Rusizi runs into it and not out of it. Stanley left Livingstone well-provisioned and spiritually inspired on March 15, 1872 and came back to England and shortly published this "picturesque narrative" of his experiences, helping to secure his reputation as a "leader of men and an explorer of great promise." Stanley s travels on this first expedition not only made his literary reputation, but also laid the geographical groundwork for his subsequent journey (narrated in "Through the Dark Continent"), and gave him the tremendous practical experience in African travel that made his third expedition, to rescue Emin Pash (narrated in "In Darkest Africa"), such a success. Seller Inventory # 31333
Contact seller
Report this item
