Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi

£6,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

from the library of H.M. Stanley with his bookplate An outstanding association copy linking the two greatest African explorers of the nineteenth century. This copy was first purchased by Shapero from the 2002 sale at Christie's of a collection of Henry Morton Stanley items, in which the map was described as being defective. We have also handled Stanley's copy of Livingstone's Missionary Travels and that too had the map torn out. The maps in question would not have been available as separate publications or reproductions at the time, so it is not impossible to imagine that it was Stanley himself who took these maps to use for planning his own expeditions. First edition; 8vo (22 x 15 cm); with the bookplate of H. M. Stanley to pastedown, folding wood-engraved frontispiece, folding map defective (another example loosely inserted), 12 full-page plates, 23 further in-text illustrations; slightly later red half morocco, gilt spine in six compartments with gilt morocco lettering piece, marbled boards, all edges speckled red, housed in custom slipcase, a handsome copy preserved as it was out of Stanley's library.

• Binding: Hardcover

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