BURTON, Richard Francis Two Trips to Gorilla land and the Cataracts of the Congo . London: Sampson Low, 1876. 2 volumes, 8° (228 x 150mm). Two folding maps and 4 engraved plates, 40pp publisher's catalogue dated February 1875 in Vol. I. Original bright green cloth gilt with bevelled edges, covers illustrated in gilt, ruled and decorated in black. Provenance : Lady Maria Stisted and Elizabeth Stisted. (signed in front endpaper) AN ALMOST MINT COPY OF THE VERY RARE FIRST EDITION, WITH AN IMPORTANT BURTON FAMILY ASSOCIATION from the Library of Maria Stisted, Burton's sister, signed 'Lady Stisted' on front endpaper verso Vol. I, and of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Stisted, signed and dated by her on Vol. II half-title, 1878. Although published in 1876 the book must have been available to reviewers before then. The editor of the 'Spectator' reviewed it on 27 November, 1875 complaining that Burton was 'aggressive, dogmatic and dictatorial.' It is revealing of Burton's low popularity rating and desperate financial circumstances at this time that each of the five titles he hawked around to London publisher's in 1875-75 was taken on by a different publisher and that much of the material been written earlier. This is his second expedition from his consular base at Fernando Po into the interior 1862-63, to the Lower Congo River, the Zaire, which he ascended from its mouth to the Yellala rapids. Mindful of his consular duties while exploring outside his consular territory, he recommended retaining not a military presence in West Africa but only a few ports and forts for commercial trade 'without territory.' Penzer p. 94. Casada 66, Spink 56. (2)
BURTON, Richard Francis Two Trips to Gorilla land and the Cataracts of the Congo . London: Sampson Low, 1876. 2 volumes, 8° (228 x 150mm). Two folding maps and 4 engraved plates, 40pp publisher's catalogue dated February 1875 in Vol. I. Original bright green cloth gilt with bevelled edges, covers illustrated in gilt, ruled and decorated in black. Provenance : Lady Maria Stisted and Elizabeth Stisted. (signed in front endpaper) AN ALMOST MINT COPY OF THE VERY RARE FIRST EDITION, WITH AN IMPORTANT BURTON FAMILY ASSOCIATION from the Library of Maria Stisted, Burton's sister, signed 'Lady Stisted' on front endpaper verso Vol. I, and of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Stisted, signed and dated by her on Vol. II half-title, 1878. Although published in 1876 the book must have been available to reviewers before then. The editor of the 'Spectator' reviewed it on 27 November, 1875 complaining that Burton was 'aggressive, dogmatic and dictatorial.' It is revealing of Burton's low popularity rating and desperate financial circumstances at this time that each of the five titles he hawked around to London publisher's in 1875-75 was taken on by a different publisher and that much of the material been written earlier. This is his second expedition from his consular base at Fernando Po into the interior 1862-63, to the Lower Congo River, the Zaire, which he ascended from its mouth to the Yellala rapids. Mindful of his consular duties while exploring outside his consular territory, he recommended retaining not a military presence in West Africa but only a few ports and forts for commercial trade 'without territory.' Penzer p. 94. Casada 66, Spink 56. (2)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
