Through The Dark Continent: The souces of the Nile around the great lakes of equatorial Africa and down the Livingstone River to the Atlantic Ocean.

This is a rare first edition of Henry M. Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent" published in 1878. Between 1874 and 1877, Henry Morton Stanley led an Anglo-American expedition into Central Africa, embarking on a journey of exploration and discovery. While the identification of the Congo River's course stands out as a significant achievement, it was just one of the numerous geographical puzzles unraveled during this remarkable venture.The expedition, beginning its odyssey from Bagamoyo in Tanzania on November 17, 1874, formed a colossal procession stretching over half a mile. Over the next two and a half years, the expedition encountered formidable challenges. They contended with extreme temperatures, navigated diplomatic complexities with Emperor Mtesa of Uganda and Wanyoro chief Mirambo, negotiated safe passage through the rainforest with the notorious Arab trader Tippu-Tib, and engaged in over thirty skirmishes and battles against hostile tribes on land and water.Stanley's geographical accomplishments during this expedition were unparalleled. He spent almost two months circumnavigating Lake Victoria, confirming its sole outlet at Ripon Falls and thereby establishing, as he believed, the definitive source of the Nile. The expedition reached the Atlantic Ocean on August 9, 1877, after covering a distance of over seven thousand miles. Includes all illustrations and illustrated plates and includes all maps, except for eastern equatorial Africa Map. In good condition. Half-bound in black leather with blue cloth-covered boards and gilt titles to the spine. Marble endpapers. The binding is firm, and pages are clean with occasional foxing. Exlibris plate of Christ Church Oxford on both volumes' front pastedown. A large pull-out map located halfway through volume 2 has a tear approximately 8 cm along the first fold but does not affect the map. Boards have moderate edge-wear with some notable scuffs to the leather.