Lot 145: [BURTON, Richard Francis (1821-1890)]. Wanderings in West Africa from Liverpool to Fernando Po. By a F.R.G.S . London: Tinsley Brothers, 1863.

[BURTON, Richard Francis (1821-1890)]. Wanderings in West Africa from Liverpool to Fernando Po. By a F.R.G.S. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1863.

2 volumes, 8° (190 x 130mm). Engraved frontispiece in vol. 1, folding map in vol. 2. Original purple cloth, sides ruled in blind, spine titled and with the author's name in gilt, yellow endpapers, in custom-made brown morocco-backed clamshell case (vol. 2 recased, hinges neatly repaired, small repairs at extremities). Provenance: bookseller's label on rear pastedown of vol. 2.

FIRST EDITION of Burton's account of his first consular posting, and his first West African book. Burton's reports of gold and gold mining in Sierra Leone and Nigeria are credited with drawing public and corporate attention to mining prospects in a region, according to Burton, 'not more unhealthy than the East or West Indies'. It was Burton's intention to entirely suppress his name from this work and, in a roundabout way, to demonstrate his pique with the Royal Geographical Society over having appointed Speke to lead the second expedition to Central Africa. The publishers did, however, print Burton's name on the spines of the first edition, though not the title. Penzer, p.71-2; Casada 70; Spink 28. (2)

[MORLAND, George (1763-1804).]
Est. £8,000 - £12,000
($12,880 - $19,320)