STANLEY, Henry Morton (1841–1904) In Darkest Africa; or, The Quest, Rescue, and Retreat of Emin, Governor of Equatoria. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1890. 2 volumes, demy 4to (288 x 225mm). Engraved frontispieces on india paper, titles in red and black, 2 photogravure portrait plates (one slightly dampstained at corner), 4 colored maps, 3 of which folding with the 2 largest on linen as issued, 6 etchings in sepia by M.G. Montbard signed in pencil, 36 plates on india paper (one damp-stained at corner), and 103 in text engravings also on india paper. Original publisher’s half chocolate morocco, gilt vellum sides over beveled boards with central flag and fern device gilt, 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt–lettered in 3 compartments, top edges gilt, others uncut (morocco professionally refurbished, vellum rubbed with some staining or soiling, slight bowing to Volume II upper cover).

 

Provenance: Fred Black (1891–1971), bibliophile and executive at Henry Ford from 1918–1940 who was instrumental in acquiring rare books for the Ford collection. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, number 63 of 250 copies from the “Demy Quarto de Luxe” edition SIGNED BY STANLEY. In January 1887, Stanley set out on an expedition to rescue the Ottoman-German naturalist and one-time governor of Equatoria Emin Pasha. Following a particularly treacherous and difficult route which included a five-month journey through the Ituri rainforest and having lost two-thirds of the party, Stanley eventually convinced Emin Pasha to leave Equatoria in 1889.

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