Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$447.93 + shipping
Description: 2 vols. 8vo. xviii+412; and viii+468pp. 12 chromoxylograph plates, with woodcuts in the text. In recent red binders' cloth. Some internal 19th century library marking ( no external marks ) . The plates are complete and bright but the folding map is not present. A very good set. Images available. First edition
Seller: Grant's Bookshop, Cheltenham, VIC, Australia
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Description: Octavo, pp. Xvi, 412; xvi, 468. Two Volumes. Volume 1: Frontispiece color portrait of an ivory porter, 5 more color plates, 8 illustrations in the text. Volume 2: Frontispiece color portrait of the navigation of Tanganyika Lake, 5 more color plates, 14 illustrations in the text, 2 appendices, index, 1 fold-out tinted map. Both volumes bound in half-calf with pebbled green cloth and marbled endpapers, and gilded top page edges. Bindings have moderate wear, especially at corners. Scattered age spotting to pages, some offsetting. According to Alan Moorehead, this is the best of all the African exploration books. Larry McMurtry believes it to be one of the best travel books ever written. The Lakes Region of Central Africa is Burton's compelling narrative of the expedition he and John Speke undertook from Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika and back. They were the first Europeans to accomplish the trip and the first to see Lake Tanganyika. Speke was the first European to cross Taganyika. Later in this expedition, Speke became the first European to see Lake Victoria, the fabled source of the Nile. Burton was in command of the expedition and it was his language and cultural skills that made the exploration possible. Because he was fluent in Arabic and Hindustani and developed a working knowledge of Swahili, Burton was the only member of the expedition with a chance of communicating with everyone - Speke, porters, Arab slave traders, and local Africans. Armed Arab slavers were found throughout Central Africa and an expedition's success or failure often depended on their whims. It was through Burton's conversations with Arab slave traders that the expedition learned of the existence of Lake Victoria. The expedition nearly killed Burton and Speke. Both came down with horrible fevers and severe weakness. Both suffered from hunger and the loss of most of their supplies, including nearly all of their scientific equipment, although Burton was able to get food from Arab slavers. Burton needed to be carried part of the way and was too ill to see Lake Victoria. Speke endured long bouts of partial blindness and became deaf when a beetle crawled into his ear and he attempted to remove it with a knife. Once they were both back in England and recovered from their illnesses, Burton and Speke had a severe falling out. The men were tempermentally vastly different people already irritated from spending 3 years together and the disaster of their first expedition. Speke publicly proclaimed Lake Victoria to be the source of the Nile even though he had very little scientific proof. He had been half blind when he saw the lake and was unable to venture upon its waters. Burton publicly ridiculed Speke's claims and insisted Lake Tanganyika was the source of the Nile, even though he knew it almost certainly was not. Speke's account of their expedition can be found later in this catalog. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 880 pages
Seller: Good Books In The Woods, Spring, TX, U.S.A.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Two volumes, Rare, on exploration. First-Issue text, contemporary master binding. All twelve (12) Chromoxylographs and the one (1) fold-out map present, collated and perfect. Half Blue Niger Oasis Morocco (goat-skin) leather binding, polychrome combed pattern marbled boards, with matching morocco tips. The spines in six compartments with raised bands, gilt extras to the spines including: central eagle motifs, lines and waves, letteringpieces, volumepieces, dates, and authorial information etc., etc. Fine laid-paper replacement endsheets. Half-titles, frontispieces, guards and title pages all present. Many textual woodcut vignettes. Vol. 1: 412 pages. Vol. 2: 468 pages w/ Appendix one, Appendix two, and Index. Embossed stamp of one inch diameter on title page of State University of Iowa, Iowa City, barely noticable, could even be eradicated with a bone folder, also 'withdrawn' stamp, partially erased, not detracting. Small tidal mark on each color plate, possibly from the printing process, text not affected. By the Fellow and Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Sociey. RARE ITEM. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED! Offered by Hirschfeld Galleries of Saint Louis--Rare Books--Since 1931. Photos upon request.
Seller: Hirschfeld Galleries, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Price: US$2145.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Octavos. Handsome half-leather over lovely brick red, navy blue, mauve, and mustard stone marbled boards (and matching endpapers), and marbled edges. Stamped toothed pattern to leather spine and corners, where they meet boards. Five raised bands (six compartments, each double ruled in gilt), each with central gilt floriated design, bordered by filigree. Recent leather spine labels, in red and black ,the upper red labels with abbreviated titles, the lower black labels with author's name and volume numbers in Roman numerals. Volume I contains 6 (blue, black and brown tinted) chromoxylographs and 8 woodcuts; Ex-Libris label affixed to front pastedown endpaper of William Roy Smith and Marion Parris Smith. William Smith raised the ire of W.E.B. DuBois, who accused him of writing (in Smith's essay "Negro Suffrage in the South"), published in Studies in Southern History and Politics (1914), . that the disenfranchisement of Black voters had been necessary in the late 19th century, but looked forward to a time when 'a steadily increasing number of negroes, who are qualified by intelligence and character, will be readmitted to the voting ranks'. Smith's justifications for post-Reconstruction disenfranchisement led W. E. B. Du Bois to list him in Black Reconstruction (1935) among authors [that] believe the Negro to be sub-human and congenitally unfitted for citizenship and the suffrage;." (Wikipedia) Both Smiths were faculty members at Bryn Mawr College, William an historian, and Marion an economist who also authored several books touching on economics, politics, philosophy and art. The set (Volume II) lacks one image â" the frontis "Navigation of the Tanganyika Lake" Foldout map at rear of Volume II. Burton was a legendary 19th-century explorer and multi-lingual polymath who wrote volumes about his travels and adventures, never dull, and often harrowing, These volumes cover travels from England to Bombay through Zanzibar and other locales, which occurred between September of 1856 and May of 1859. Burton was never one to whitewash the darker or even tawdry side of places and peoples and customs and events he encountered, voicing a commitment to portraying the entire picture of the places he visited. Burton writes (in the preface): "With deference to the readers judgment, I venture to express a hope that whatever of unrefinement appears in these pages, may be charged to the subject.I have shirked nothing of the unpleasant task, -- of recording processes and not only results; I have entered into the recital of the maladies, the weary squabbles, and the vast variety of petty troubles, without which the coup d'oeil of African adventure would be more like a Greek Saint in effigy-- all lights and no shade -- than the chapter of accidents which it now is." The preface also contains a fiery denuciation of Speke for what Burton judged his attempt to steal the laurels of the discovery of the Nile. Speke fatally shot himself before his debate with Burton. A lovely, and eminently affordable copy of one of Burton's most thoroughly enjoyable adventures. Burton was a legendary 19th-century explorer and multi-lingual polymath who wrote volumes about his travels and adventures, never dull, nor shirking, and often harrowing, but not without humor. These volumes cover Burton's travels from England to Bombay through Zanzibar and other locales, made between September of 1856 and May of 1859. Burton was never one to whitewash the darker or even tawdry side of places and peoples and customs and events he encountered, voicing a commitment to portraying the entire picture of the places he visited. Burton writes (in the preface): "With deference to the readers judgment, I venture to express a hope that whatever of unrefinement appears in these pages, may be charged to the subject.I have shirked nothing of the unpleasant task, -- of recording processes and not only results; I have entered into the recital of the maladies, the weary squabbles, and the vast variety of petty troubles, without which the coup d'oeil of African adventure would be more like a Greek Saint in effigy-- all lights and no shade -- than the chapter of accidents which it now is."
Seller: Aardvark Rare Books, ABAA, EUGENE, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$2575.27 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: xvii, 412 + vii, 468pp, chromos, woodcuts, map. 'A picture of Exploration.' Wear to boards, shaving to leather, light spotting (not severe), light yellowing (not severe), title labels present but Vol; labels missing. Bookplate of Edward Townsend-tea merchant of Hankow. Will require insurance charge. 2.2kg.
Seller: EmJay Books, Bradford., United Kingdom
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 2 volumes. 8vo. 1st edition, 2nd binding of red/orange cloth titled in gilt, after a small number of copies in dull violet cloth, an issue Penzer calls 'very rare'. Penzer, pp 56-66. Original cloth, with map present at the end of volume 2, as usual for this issue. Some soiling to cloth, but very clean, tight copies with no sophistication. NF. THE SET:
Seller: Strand Book Store, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Editions, First Printings with the color frontispiece present in each book. Both books in this two volume set are beautifully bound in early leather with raised bands and gilt on the spine. The books have the color plates and the map is present in volume 2. The bindings are tight with minor wear to the boards. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the books. A lovely copy housed in a custom slipcase for preservation.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Price: US$4072.06 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: RARE TRUE FIRST UK EDITION. TWO VOLUMES. EX-LIBRARY COPY. Volume One slightly incomplete (lacks 2 plates, & 2 adjacent text leaves, which are supplied in contemporary facsimile, see below). With 10 (of 12) chromoxylograph plates (including the 2 frontispieces), 23 woodcut illustrations in the text, plus 1 large colour folding engraved MAP at rear of Volume Two. Volume One contains an EXTRA uncalled-for woodcut (total 23, not 22 as listed, see below). Both this two-volume first English edition (880pp) & the one-volume first American edition (Harper & Brothers, New York, 572pp) were published in 1860. The expedition was first published in 1859 in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (Volume 29), with less text (464pp + map) & without plates. The original folding MAP (engraved by Edward Weller, & coloured in outline) in Volume Two is titled "Map of the Routes between Zanzibar and the Great Lakes in Eastern Africa in 1857, 1858 & 1859 - by R.F. Burton". Volume One with 4 (of 6) chromoxylographs (2 with tissue-guards), & 9 (with 8 listed) woodcuts in text (with an extra uncalled-for woodcut at p.157 which is titled "A village in K'hutu. The silk cotton tree"). Volume Two with all 6 chromoxylographs (5 with tissue-guards), & 14 woodcuts in text (p.258 wrongly listed as p.259), plus colour folding map, all complete as issued. Volume One with preface, plus tables. Volume Two with appendices, plus index. Full pagination as follows: VOLUME ONE: ffep, [+ blank leaf], half-title page, frontispiece (with tissue guard), title page, dedication page, vii-x (preface), xi-xiv (tables), xv-xvi (contents), 1pp (list of illustrations), plate, 1-412pp (with 2 leaves in facsimile), [+ blank leaf], rear endpaper. VOLUME TWO: ffep, [+ blank leaf], frontispiece (with tissue guard), title page, v-vi (contents), 1pp (list of illustrations), plate, 1-468pp, folding map, rear endpaper. Lacks the 24pp publisher's catalog dated October 1858, which is sometimes found at rear of Volume Two. This copy contains a tiny marginal pencil note correcting the time (from p.m. to a.m.) (in vol. 2, p.279, line 12). Printed in London by Spottiswoode & Co. Bound in contemporary half-leather (calf) & marbled paper-covered boards, partial gilt lettering to one spine. NOTE: A fair to GOOD set only (though internally VERY GOOD). Detailed overall condition of both volumes as follows: EX-LIBRARY copy with usual library markings (old large label to front pastedowns, plus several ink stamps internally, including ink-stamp offsetting to some plates, though NO external library marks), covers worn & both spines damaged, plus general handling wear. Individually, VOLUME ONE lacks 2 adjacent TEXT leaves (pp 23-26 inclusive, which have been professionally FACSIMILE copied onto contemporary similar paper for a near-replica of the 2 missing leaves, laid in), also lacks 2 chromoxylograph PLATES (at p.158 + p.313, though the tissue guards remain), spine becoming detached (but present), spine leather dried & flaky, foxing to preliminary pages, otherwise tight & clean. VOLUME TWO lacks spine, no half-title, foxing to preliminary pages, chromoxylograph plate (p.155) is misbound at p.390, & the folding thin-paper map at rear is good only, being quite heavily foxed & creased, with a large vertical closed tear halfway through, & top margin corner portion lacking (but not affecting map), otherwise a tight & clean copy. Internally the two volumes are VERY GOOD, clean solid tight copies. Ideal for re-binding (or re-backing). 412pp + 468pp. Thick heavy set. A classic narrative of African exploration. An important work. Scarce First UK Edition. RARE.
Seller: Bookwood, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Price: US$4506.73 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A finely bound copy of the first edition of this account of Richard Burton's tantalising nineteenth century explorations of the African Great Lakes. Charmingly illustrated, with chromoxylographs. In a smart half morocco binding with marbled paper covered boards. Richard Burton was a British explorer who was well known for his travels in Asia, Africa, and America. He translated an edition of 'One Thousand and One Nights', and published 'Kama Sutra' in English. He was critical of the colonial policies of the British Empire, and was also a captain in the army of the East India Company. His life and adventures were frequently written about in the penny dreadfuls of the time. This work is considered to be one of Richard Burton's best books. It follows his Royal Geographical Society funded expedition to Zanzibar to explore the 'inland sea' previously described by Arab traders. He was accompanied by John Hanning Speke and started at the east coast of Africa, heading west in search of the lake or lakes which were believed to be the source of the Nile river. Burton explains in great detail the languages, customs and geography of the areas he travelled for what was his last great expedition. This account is a personal one, with Burton writing to the preface 'I have not attempted to avoid intruding matters of a private and personal nature upon the reader; it would have been impossible to avoid egotism in a purely egotistical narrative.' This expedition was lengthy and no mean feat. It is regarded to be Burton's hardest expedition. With half-titles. First edition, first impression with the 24 page publisher's adverts dated October 1858 as called for. Bolton Public Library and Museum blind stamp to most pages and all plates to the top right corner. Illustrated, with a chromoxylograph frontis, five further chromoxylographs, eight woodcuts, and the folding map (loosely inserted) to volume I. Volume II contains a chromo frontispiece, five more chromoxylographs and fourteen woodcuts to volume II. Collated, complete. In uniform half calf bindings with marbled paper boards. Externally, very smart with just some minor shelfwear to the spines. Internally, generally firmly bound. Plate at page 155 to volume II is detached but present. Folding map plate is loosely inserted, does not appear to have been bound in. Small loss to this folding map to one corner. Pages are bright. Blind stamps for Bolton Public Library and Museum to the majority of leaves to the top outer corner. Plate to page 127 to volume I has some minor chipping to the edges in addition to the edges of plate to page 155 to volume II. Small tidemark to the top corner to the frontispiece to volume II and to the plate at page I to volume II. The occasional scattered spots to pages. Very Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$5335.00 + shipping
Description: 2 volumes. First edition. With 12 chromoxylograph plates, 22 woodcuts, one folding map. 8vo, handsome contemporary binding of three-quarter navy calf and marbled boards, the spines with raised bands gilt ruled, the compartments decorated in blind, red morocco lettering label gilt, volume numbers gilt within compartments. xvii, 412; vii, 468. A handsome copy in period binding. Text blocks especially clean and well preserved. To this day, " The Lake Regions" is considered one of Burton's very best books. Burton returned to Africa, after his expedition to Harrar, to undertake an exploration of the "then utterly unknown Lake regions of Central Africa." His stated intention was to correct certain geographical errors (of which there were many at that time) concerning Africa and to survey as fully as possible the resources of Central and intertropical Africa. But the real reason he wanted to venture into that unknown wilderness was to find the Jebel Kumri, the fabled "Mountains of the Moon," and to find the source of the Nile river. Burton and Speke first stopped at Zanzibar, then explored the coastal regions around Mombassa, and returned to Zanzibar, from whence they set out for Ujiji--about a thousand miles inland, on the shore of the relatively unknown Lake Tanganyika. It took seven and a half months to arrive, and when there they explored the lake ineffectually due to their wretched physical condition and the unwillingness of the natives and Arab traders to assist them. Upon the point of the direction of flow of a certain river attached to the lake--whether it flowed into, or out of, the lake--they received conflicting information from locals. They returned to Kazeh, two-hundred and sixty miles east, where they recovered somewhat their health, and Burton sent Speke alone to investigate a large lake that the Arab traders had said lay fifteen or sixteen marches to the north. Speke visited the lake briefly, obtained some vague information from the locals, and decided he had discovered the true source of the Nile, a decision that "would affect men's careers and lives and lead to his own death," as Edward Rice puts it (p. 310). After Speke's return from the side-trip, the expedition returned to Zanzibar. This expedition into Central Africa was perhaps the most taxing of Burton's career; his journey to the Holy Cities of Arabia was a cake-walk by comparison as far as physical hardships were concerned; and the storm of geographical controversy that greeted him upon his return to London, where he found that Speke had published his erroneous conclusions and attached all the glory of the expedition to himself, left Burton "disgusted, desponding, and left behind in the spirit and in the flesh," according to his old friend, Alfred Bate Richards.
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$6250.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, likely the second issue; 2 volumes, 8vo, pp. xvi, [2], 412; vi, [2], 468; engraved folding map hand colored in blue and green, 12 chromoxylographs, 22 woodcuts in the text; 20th century three-quarter green morocco, gilt-paneled spine in 6 compartments, gilt lettered direct in 3, t.e.g.; the plates all with a small and discreet stamp in the margin (not touching the image), and the map with an old paper repair at the folds on the verso; otherwise a fine copy. There were two issues, each in a different cloth binding. As the book has been rebound, we can't be sure which issue this is, except that the map is in volume II in this set, which is where it should be in the second issue. Casada 42; Penzer, p. 65-67.
Seller: Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA / ILAB), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
Price: US$6500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. xvi, [1 leaf], 412; vi, [1 leaf], 468 +24(ads). with half-titles. folding partly coloured map, 12 chromoxylographed plates (incl. 2 frontis.) & 22 wood engravings in the text. original orange-red cloth (bit soiled, library markings neatly removed from titles & lower spines, otherwise very good). First Edition, Second Issue. An account of Burtons 1856-59 expedition in company with John Hanning Speke to central east Africa in search of the the source of the Nile. Setting out from Zanzibar, the expedition endured incredible difficulties and hardships due in part to the untrustworthiness of their followers as to opposion from native tribes before arriving at Lake Tanganyika, the largest of the Central African lakes on February 14, 1858 almost eight months later. Following three months spent exploring the shores of the lake, the return journey was commenced and Speke was detached to verify reports of another lake to the northward, which he only sighted from a distance, and surmised to be the true source of the white Nile. This lake, the Victoria Nyanza, was later proven by Speke to be the source on a subsequent expedition in company with James Augustus Grant, but his surmise led to a bitter and celebrated feud with Burton. In the preface Burton dismisses Speke as being no more than a subordinate on the expedition, never having held the position of surveyor as he claimed upon his return to England. Penzer pp. 65-66. Hosken p. 34.
Seller: D & E LAKE LTD. (ABAC/ILAB), Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$7150.00 + shipping
Description: 2 volumes. First edition. With 12 chromo-xylographic tinted plates, 22 woodcuts and one folding map. Large 8vo, very handsomely bound in fine period style three-quarter tan calf over marbled boards, the spines beautifully gilt tooled with panel designs, gilt ruled and stippled compartments between gilt ruled raised bands, two compartments with contrasting labels of red and green morocco lettered and ruled in gilt, end-leaves marbled, t.e.g. xvii, 412; vii, 468. A handsome set, internally clean and fresh, all quite solid, the period style bindings are very fine. SCARCE FIRST EDITION of a book which to this day is considered one of Burton's very best. Burton returned to Africa, after his expedition to Harrar, to undertake an exploration of the "then utterly unknown Lake regions of Central Africa." His stated intention was to correct certain geographical errors (of which there were many at that time) concerning Africa and to survey as fully as possible the resources of Central and intertropical Africa. But the real reason he wanted to venture into that unknown wilderness was to find the Jebel Kumri, the fabled "Mountains of the Moon," and to find the source of the Nile river. Burton and Speke first stopped at Zanzibar, then explored the coastal regions around Mombassa, and returned to Zanzibar, from whence they set out for Ujiji--about a thousand miles inland, on the shore of the relatively unknown Lake Tanganyika. It took seven and a half months to arrive, and when there they explored the lake ineffectually due to their wretched physical condition and the unwillingness of the natives and Arab traders to assist them. Upon the point of the direction of flow of a certain river attached to the lake--whether it flowed into, or out of, the lake--they received conflicting information from locals. They returned to Kazeh, two-hundred and sixty miles east, where they recovered somewhat their health, and Burton sent Speke alone to investigate a large lake that the Arab traders had said lay fifteen or sixteen marches to the north. Speke visited the lake briefly, obtained some vague information from the locals, and decided he had discovered the true source of the Nile, a decision that "would affect men's careers and lives and lead to his own death," as Edward Rice puts it (p. 310). After Speke's return from the side-trip, the expedition returned to Zanzibar. This expedition into Central Africa was perhaps the most taxing of Burton's career; his journey to the Holy Cities of Arabia was a cake-walk by comparison as far as physical hardships were concerned; and the storm of geographical controversy that greeted him upon his return to London, where he found that Speke had published his erroneous conclusions and attached all the glory of the expedition to himself, left Burton "disgusted, desponding, and left behind in the spirit and in the flesh," according to his old friend, Alfred Bate Richards.Burton returned to Africa, after his expedition to Harrar, to undertake an exploration of the "then utterly unknown Lake regions of Central Africa." His stated intention was to correct certain geographical errors (of which there were many at that time) concerning Africa and to survey as fully as possible the resources of Central and intertropical Africa. But the real reason he wanted to venture into that unknown wilderness was to find the Jebel Kumri, the fabled "Mountains of the Moon," and to find the source of the Nile river.
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$8691.55 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: A finely bound, first edition, second impression of this account of Richard Burton's nineteenth century explorations of the African Great Lakes. Charmingly illustrated, with chromoxylographs plates throughout. An exceptional copy of this important memoir by Richard F. Burton, detailing his nineteenth-century explorations to the lake regions of Central Africa. This work is considered to be one of Richard Burton's best books. It follows his Royal Geographical Society funded expedition to Zanzibar to explore the 'inland sea' previously described by Arab traders. He was accompanied by John Hanning Speke and started at the east coast of Africa, heading west in search of the lake or lakes which were believed to be the source of the Nile river.The first edition, second impression of this work, with the folding map bound into Volume II and twenty-two pages of publisher's adverts to the rear of Volume II, undated, as called for.Complete in two volumes.Illustrated with twelve chromoxylograph plates, twenty-two in-text woodcut illustrations, and a folding map. Collated and complete.Richard Burton was a British explorer who was well known for his travels in Asia, Africa, and America. He translated an edition of 'One Thousand and One Nights', and published 'Kama Sutra' in English. He was critical of the colonial policies of the British Empire, and was also a captain in the army of the East India Company. His life and adventures were frequently written about in the penny dreadfuls of the time.Beautifully bound in half morocco with marbled boards. Handsomely bound in half morocco with marbled boards. Externally, excellent. Internally, firmly bound. A few spots to the plates, and the odd spot throughout, but otherwise pages are generally bright and clean. Near Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$11000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Editions, First Printings of both books in this 2 (vol) set. A beautiful copy with the folding maps present. The books are in excellent shape with minor wear to the edges. The bindings are tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the books. A wonderful set in collector's condition. We buy Richard Burton First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.