Item #00009162 The Congo and the Founding of its Free State: A Story of Work and Exploration. Henry Morton Stanley.
The Congo and the Founding of its Free State: A Story of Work and Exploration

The Congo and the Founding of its Free State: A Story of Work and Exploration

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1885. First American edition. Hardcover. 2 vol. 8vo. [5], vi-xxvii, [2], 2-528, [2]; [3], iv-x, [1], 2-483, [3] pp. Original green publisher's cloth with gold lettering and decorations in red, gold, silver, and brown on the front board and spine. Illustrated by an engraved frontispiece in volume 1 with 23 additional wood-engraved plates, numerous smaller illustrations, and a large folding color map in the rear pocket, and three additional folding maps. Volume two is illustrated by a photogravure frontispiece with 18 additional wood-engraved plates (note that p. 163 is a full page illustration, not a plate, but is often counted as such; all plates called for are present), numerous smaller illustrations, and a large color folding map in the rear pocket. A detailed account of Stanley's expedition on the Congo River from 1879 - 1884 and his work to establish the "Congo Free State" on behalf of King Leopold II of Belgium (there is much recent scholarship on Stanley's views and approach to his work versus those of Leopold; see Jeal, Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer for many new and interesting discoveries). An attractive set of this essential work in the history of the European colonization of Central Africa and the Congo Basin. Very Good+. Item #00009162

A Very Good or better set with minor age darkening to the boards and some dusting to the top textblock, small tear to the tissue guard of volume one.

Price: $1,500.00

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