“A PLACE IN THE VERY FRONT RANK OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST EXPLORERS”: FIRST EDITION OF STANLEY’S THE CONGO, 1885

STANLEY, Henry M. The Congo and the Founding of Its Free State, A Story of Work and Exploration. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, 1885. Two volumes. Thick octavo, original green pictorial cloth, partially unopened. $2800.

First edition, with over 100 wood-engraved illustrations (many full-page), three folding maps heightened in color bound in Volume I, and two large color folded maps.

In 1874 Stanley made a journey that would stretch the length and breadth of Africa and "entitle him to a place in the very front rank of the world's greatest explorers" (DNB). One result of this journey was the founding of the Congo Free State, which would ensure Anglo-Egyptian domination of the upper Nile area for years to come. Stanley found instant fame after his first expedition to North Africa in search of Dr. Livingstone; however, his later expeditions made the greater contribution to posterity. Through them, he would do "more to open up the heart of the continent and to elucidate its geography than any other before or since" (DNB). With over 100 wood- and steel-engravings and half-tones depicting life along the River. Two large folded maps, housed in the pockets of each volume. Hosken, 189. Owner signature.

Interiors clean, expert repair to inner paper hinges. Light wear to ends of mildly toned spines, gilt bright. An extremely good copy in the original pictorial cloth.