The Albert N'Yanza, Great Basin of the Nile, and Explorations of the Nile Source
by Samuel White Baker, M.A. F.R.G.S.
gold medalist of the Royal Geographical Society
With Maps, Illustrations, and Portraits
Two Volumes
Dedicated:
To Her Most Gracious Majesty THE QUEEN
In memory of the Late Illustrious and Lamented PRINCE CONSORT
London: Macmillan and Co., 1866
VERY SCARCE FIRST EDITION. Baker's account of his discovery of the last great source of the Nile, Speke and Grant having established Lake Victoria Nyanza as the source of the White Nile and Bruce discovering the source of the Blue. The waters of Victoria Nyanza flow into the basin of Albert Nyanza, which Speke and Grant were not permitted to visit, and the latter adds the accumulation of its watershed to the former to create the great White Nile, flowing massively from Albert Nyanza.
The first editions of this important work are becoming difficult to find. The importance of the debate over the source of the Nile, combined with Baker's very readable writing style, made his books enormously popular, with the result that they were reprinted a great many times over the following years. Item #25854
2 volumes. First edition. Illustrated with 2 maps, one of which is a large fold-out, portrait frontispiece, 14 fine plates, and 23 illustrations within the text. 8vo, original green cloth gilt lettered and decorated on spines, with gilt-decorated pictorial upper covers ruled in gilt. xxx, 395; xi, 384 pp. A handsome set, the forest-green cloth is bright and clean, the text block is unusually clean and fresh, hinges tight, endleaves well-preserved and original, the spine panels with inner cloth support expertly and near invisibly accomplished.
This set appears to have been read a few times over the past 158 years!
Please see photos and ask any questions.
The outside has seen better days but the pages seem to have held up well and are perfectly readable, the tissue paper is even still solid.
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