Octavo (ca. 18x11,5 cm). 2 pp. Brown ink on paper. Small tears on the top and bottom of the left blank margin, paper age toned, otherwise a very good letter. An interesting letter by a British African explorer and colonial administrator Sir Harry Johnson relates to his service as the first commissioner of Nyasaland (British Central African Protectorate, modern Malawi) in 1891-1896. The letter particularly refers to the land regulations which needed to be established in Africa: "Dear Mr. Buckland, I am much obliged to you for so very kindly sending me the Waste Land regulations which will I am sure be of much use to me for determining the policy to be pursued in Central Africa in regard to Land questions." A number of land property issues were later discussed in Johnston's "British Central Africa: An attempt to give some account of a portion of the territories under British influence north of the Zambezi" (London, 1897). Sir Harry Johnston was a "British explorer, botanist, linguist and colonial administrator, one of the key players in the "Scramble for Africa" that occurred at the end of the 19th century" (Wikipedia). In 1882-3 Johnston accompanied a geographical and sporting expedition to Angola? serving as artist? naturalist? and Portuguese interpreter. The party travelled slowly from Mossamedes to the upper Cunene? where Johnston left it? making his own way to the Congo estuary. There he was befriended by H. M. Stanley? who was then establishing the Congo Independent State for Leopold II of the Belgians. With Stanley's help? Johnston ascended the river as far as Bolobo? and spent some weeks collecting plants? birds? and insects? and vocabularies of the local Bantu languages. His books? The River Congo (1884) and The Kilimanjaro Expedition (1885) confirmed his reputation as an authority on Africa. He was resident in Nyasaland as British commissioner from 1891 to 1896. His other books were Liberia (1906) and The Negro in the New World (1910). Seller Inventory # MB78

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Johnston, Sir Harry Hamilton (1858-1927). [...

Publication Date: 1895

Binding: None

Condition: None

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Globus Books is an independent San Francisco-based bookshop and a member of the American Booksellers? Association and the Antiquarian Booksellers? Association of America and has been in business since 1971. It was opened originally by Vladimir Azar as a shop for the Russian emigre public of the Bay Area. A small press operated there in the 1970s under the same name in the same building. Now, 50+ years in business, the shop still occupies the same premises with continued success. Globus Rare Books and Archives is the department within Globus Books that specializes in rare travel and exploration related items from around the world with an emphasis on the Americas, the Pacific and Russian explorers and travellers. Our goal is to seek out and offer rare and unique antiquarian items, including rare books, photographs, photo-albums, watercolors, drawings, manuscripts, archives, maps and prints. Our team has many decades of experience helping to build many institutional and private collections across the USA and the world and we have seen and handled many important antiquarian items and collections. We issue monthly catalogues with the newest acquisitions available for our subscribers. We participate in many US and International antiquarian book fairs. Follow us on social media to receive the latest news and offers. You can browse our collections in person during the shop?s opening hours by appointment : Tuesday to Sunday, 11 to 5.

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