Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773.
Edinburgh & London. J. Ruthven for G.G.J. & J. Robinson. 1790. 4to., 29x 23cm, (tall copy, wide margins), The First Edition, in 5 volumes, lxxxiii,(1),535 & viii,718 & viii,759 & viii,695 & iv,(iii)-xiv,230,6pp., (index & errata)., with 58 engraved plates and 4 plates of Ethiopian languages, 3 folding maps at rear of volume five, engraved vignette on title of each volume and all volumes with half-titles, neat "duplicate" stamp on verso of title-pages by the Royal Society of London, in contemporary full mottled calf boards, expertly rebacked in match mottled calf, double gilt ruled raised bands, double crimson and black crushed morocco labels, gilt titles, some wear on the edges of the boards, occasional light foxing and some offsetting from plates as usual, very good to fine condition, very handsome set (tr). Item #41261
~ "One of the great narratives in the Literature of African Exploration". Cox I, pp. 388-389; R. Hallett, Africa to 1875, p.5: "The writings of travelers such as the Scotsman James Bruce in Ethiopia, the Englishman Richard Burton in Somalia and East and West Africa, the German Heinrich Barth in the Western and Central Sudan, the Frenchman Emile Grandidier in Madagascar, may well be regarded as laying the foundations of modern African studies." Bruce went up the Nile in 1768 as far as Luxor and Aswan, entered the Red Sea and sailed south, entering Ethiopia at Massawa near Ethiopia's northern point. From here he struck inland for Gondar which was, at that time, the capital of Ethiopia. In 1770 he rediscovered the source of the Blue Nile which he followed, reaching its confluence with the White Nile in 1771. This work "is one of the most splendid narratives in the literature of African exploration." - (Hallett, p. 110).
Price: $7,500.00