In Darkest Africa (1890)

by Henry Morton Stanley

Complete in 2 volumes With Maps

These are wonderfully illustrated old books, In Darkest Africa, in 2 volumes, by Henry Morton Stanley.  These volumes were published by Charles Scribner & Sons, New York, in 1890.

Sir Henry Morton Stanley (28 January 1841 – 10 May 1904) was a Welsh journalist and explorer, famous for his exploration of central Africa and his search for missionary and explorer, David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly asked, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"  Stanley is also known for his search for the source of the Nile, his work in and development of the Congo Basin and for commanding the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. He was knighted in 1899 by Great Britain.

Stanley had already successfully completed three major expeditions in Africa by the time he accepted what would prove to be his most ambitious and most dangerous attempt. An Austrian convert to Islam, Emin Pasha had been appointed by English General Charles Gordon as governor of the southernmost province of the Sudan. After the Islamic fundamentalist armies of El Mahdi expelled all Europeans and Egyptians from the Sudan and killed General Gordon at Khartoum, it was learned that Emin Pasha still held out, surrounded on all sides and cut off from civilization.

Stanley organized an elaborate rescue force of 650 men who traveled up the Congo and then overland through the dense Ituri forest. After enduring harrowing hardships and devastating losses of men and supplies, Stanley reached Emin in April 1888—only to discover that he was quite content and refused to be rescued. Ultimately Stanley insisted, carrying the reluctant leader and many of his followers to the east coast, thereby becoming the first to cross the width of Africa from coast to coast in both directions, discovering along the way Lake Edward and Mount Ruwenzori, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.”

There are 2 large color maps and 1 small map of the regions.  The maps are very fragile and have come apart at the seams in many places.  There are over 150 illustrations.

The books are in very good condition with the exception of the 2 contents pages detached in volume 1.  The covers show slight wear at the corners and edges. The outer and inside hinges are intact. The book pages are in great condition with no significant markings in the book.  The maps are fragile and torn at the creases but they are complete.  There are incorporated pockets on the inside cover of both books to hold the maps. 

Each book is about 9 inches by 6 inches and together weigh about 6 1/4 pounds.  There are 547 pages in volume 1 and 540 pages in volume 2.  

Mindy & Jack