Search Results: Explorations from Quercus Rare Books

Philadelphia, Springfield, Chicago, et.al.: Hubbard Brothers, Et.al., 1878. Joel T. Headley (1813-1897), clergyman and newspaperman (he edited Horace Greeley's New York "Tribune"), wrote several popular histories, including works on the American Civil War and another, later volume on Stanley. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. The Title Page gives a bit of a summary of English imperial exploration: "Comprising all the late and really great achievements won in the exploration of the vast unknown region of equatorial Africa; chief among which are the finding of the lost Livingstone by Stanley, the explorations of the great lakes, the wonderful experiences of Sir Samuel W. Baker, in his remarkable expediation, with a small army, under royal authority, to the Central Lake Region by way of the Nile; the discoveries of Lieut. Cameron in his memorable overland journey across the entire continent from east to west; and the crowning triumph of all, won by the daring and intrepid… Read More

New York and Evanston: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1962. The second of Moorehead's history of the explorations of the Nile Basin; this volume reaches back a bit further than his first volume, "The White Nile." This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition (stated). No longer a common book. Blue cloth binding with gilt titling on the spine; Harper logo on the front cover. Clean text; 308 pages; indexed. Decorative endpapers and chapter heads; 26 pages of photos; maps, including one that folds out. Laid-in is a copy of the BOMC flyer advertising Moorehead's other title on African exploration, "The White Nile." Just a hint of a splay; else a Fine copy. The dustjacket is Very Good (Plus). Unclipped, with some wrinkling, minor chipping, and a few closed tears. In an archival plastic protector.. Book Club (BCE/BOMC). Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good Plus. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London: Blackwood's Magazine, 1863. Ephemera. An exerpt (pages 264-266 only) from Blackwood's Magazine, October of 1863, anouncing John Hanning Speke's return from his second attempt to discover the source of the Nile River. A rather scarce bit of ephemera. Tiny bit of tan at edges, faint wrinkle; else Fine. In modern stiff paper binding; blue, with a paper label on the front cover.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1880. Cornhill Magazine was one of the premier literary venues of the Victorian era; although its influence declined over the decades, it continued publication until 1975. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of Volume XLII from July to December, 1880. This issue is distinguished by Richard Burton's essay on the African explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778-1823), where he asserts that Belzoni's death was murder rather than by natural causes. Burton's main reasoning is the awful and violent nature of the area itself, and is filled with his typical judgement calls, always tempered by his experience and scholarship. Penzer, 237. Also contains the first publication of Chapters 7 to 35 of "Washington Square" by Henry James. Maroon cloth binding (now faded to a tan colour) with gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; vii, list of illustrations within, 760 pages. Mild bumping and rub to the margins; partial split to rear cover at the spine. A solid copy and… Read More

London: Blackwood's Magazine, 1864. Famed African explorer John Hanning Speke returned from his second expedition, claiming to have discovered the source of the Nile. He was wrong, but it was a noble effort. One year after giving his report to the Royal Geographical Society, he died in a hunting accident. Here is the announcement of his death, from Blackwood's Magazine in October of 1864. Incomplete; pages 513-515 only. Fine condition, bright and clear. Bound in modern stiff green paper covers with a paper label on the front cover. . First Edition. Soft Cover. Fine/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1876. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition [Penzer, pp. 92-93] in a contemporary rebind. One of the scarcer Burton titles. Red cloth boards with tips and spine in red leather. Clean text; xii, 275 pages; marbled endpapers; top-edge is gilt. Indexed. With a tipped-in errata slip. Before the Title Page is a two-page illustration of a "Synoptical Table of the Paleo-Ethnological Remains of Central Italy." The textblock is Fine, fresh and bright, but the binding has issues. Both boards are present, but fragilr, with the front close to being disbound. The spine surface has been abraided so none of the leather remains. Please note the condition issues; Quercus must offer this book as a Binding Copy, in need of repair or restoration.. First Edition. Disbound. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London/New York: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. & E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., 1924. Published initially in 1856. This is a Fine copy of Dent's "Everyman's Library" edition [#500], which was "First Published in this Edition 1910" with this being the Second Printing, from 1924. Not common. Gray/green ribbed cloth binding with titling in gilt on the spine; blindstamped ornamental device on the front cover. Clean text; xx, 363 pages; with a 15-page catalog of Everyman titles (920 at this point) in the rear. A lovely little book, patiently awaiting its place on your nightstand.. Second Printing. Hard Cover. Fine/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

London & New York: J.M. Dent & Co. & E.P. Dutton & Co., 1910. This is a Later Printing from "The Everyman's Library Edited by Ernest Rhys" in Very Good condition. Green ribbed cloth binding with the Dent logo stamped on the front cover; Decorative titling in gilt on the spines. Clean text; xx, 363 pages; decorative endpapers. This printing lacks a specific publication date or the catalog seen in previous printings. Light bumping; creasing to the front panel; some splash/spots to the top-edge. A decent reading copy.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1854. First publ;ished in 1853; this is a Very Good copy of the Second Printing, from a year later. Brown publisher's cloth binding with gilt titling and nautical decorations on the spine and front cover. Clean text; xi, 552 pages; illustrated with maps and numerous engarvings. (Contains an interesting Note from the author, explaining how he was unable to do the final edit before publication, due to leaving on a second Polar expedition.) Exceptionally bright and supple textblock, unfoxed. Lightly rubbed at the margins, more so at the bottom tips; small puncture at the edge of the spine. An solid copy of this classic of Arctic exploration.. Second Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney: Cassell and Company Limited, 1932. The German-Jewish writer Jacob (Jakob) Wasserman (1873-1934) was friend to Rilke and Mann; his works were banned by the Nazis in 1933. He admitted to a long fascination with the famed African explorer/missionary. The Victorians are currently not perhaps as appreciated as they once were, but Stanley's reputation has not suffered. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Uncommon to scarce. Green cloth binding, ruled on the front;titling in gilt on the spine. Translation from the original German by Eden and Cedar Paul. Clean text; 271 pages; green topstain. Map of "Stanley's Three Journeys" as endpapers; frontis illustration and three others within. Indexed. Contemporary (1933) gift inscription on the half-title. Some spotting to the page-ends; a bit scattered within. The dustjacket features a striking illustration of Stanley. It has been clipped, and shows edgewear, with some chipping and tearing at the… Read More

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1890. Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) led one of the most adventurous of British lives, from serving in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, to his "finding" of David Livingstone, and to tracing the Congo River to its source. He wrote this account of his rescue of Emin Pasha in 1886, which became a very controversial action.These are Very Good copies of the First American Edition. Two volumes, in a green decorative cloth binding, blindstamped with the map of Africa on the front covers; lettered in gilt; portrait figure of Stanley on the spine. Engravings, illustrations, and maps [map is present in Volume Two, missing in Volume One]. Clean text; 547 pages, indexed, and 539 pages, with Appendix. Occasional smudge from usage. Volume One has an interesting small label on the RFEP from the "Protective Association, Publishers and Bookseller." Generally in solid condition, but the bindings are rubbed at their margins. The gutters… Read More

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1858. John Lander (1806-1839) and his brother Richard (1804-1834) were the first Europeans to follow the course of the Niger to its terminus in the Atlantic. First published in 1832; this is a Good copy of a Later Printing. Quercus speculates that this is part of Harper's "Famil;y Library" series, as it matches seen copies. This edition was printed in two volumes. Tthis is Volume II only, and is missing the cloth of its spine. The binding is brown cloth (which presumably had gilt titling at one time!). Clean text; vii, continuing from 9 to 337 pages. Frontis engraving of John Lander. Contemporary ink signature on the Title Page. Other than the missing spine cloth, this is a rather sound little book. The textblock is bright and clear, generally unfoxed; spotting mainly to the endpapers. [Please note the condition issue; Quercus must offer this as a Binding Copy, in need of repair or restoration. As an important and scarce historical work, this… Read More

Buffalo: Phinney & Co., 1851. First published in 1849 by G.P. Putnam; this is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing, from two years later. Institutional holdings, but not a common book in the trade. Brown cloth binding, decoratively stamped; decorations and titling on the spine in gilt. Clean text; 162 pages; frontis engraving and map, other illustrations. Contemporary signature (1855) on the FFEP, along with a bookseller chop. The front paste-down has an inked number, probably signifying a private library. There is a laid-in clipping (which looks of the era) of a song/poem at Page 106. Mildly bumped, with a slight rub to head and foot of the spine (the gilt remains bright). The text is in exceptionally nice condition, remaining clear and bright, with only an occasional spot.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1864. Originally companions, Richard Burton and John Speke eventually were rivals and antagonists in the search for the source of the Nile River; one of the great colonial explorations of the Nineteenth Century. Here is Speke's account, published in the same year as his death; he was eventually vindicated. This is a Very Good copy of the First American Edition. Publisher's pebbled brown cloth binding with gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; xxx, 590 pages; Appendix. Frontis portrait of Speke, with other illustrations and maps. The fold-out map in the rear is fully present, but has some chipping and creasing. There is a stain affecting the fore-edge from page 35 to 85; rubbed at the edges of the covers and chipping along the spine margins. A basically sound copy, that could use a little restoration work.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1839. John Lander (1806-1839) and his brother Richard (1804-1834) were the first Europeans to follow the course of the Niger to its terminus in the Atlantic. First published in 1832; this is a Very Good (Minus) set of an early printing from seven years later. Historical significance and not common. Two small volumes of Harper's "Stereotype Edition," numbers 35 and 36 of "The Family Library." Pebbled brown cloth bindings with gilt titling on the spines. Clean texts, bright and clear, with occasional spotting. Illustrations throughout. Volume One is xiii, map, then continues from page 18 to 384; the frontis is a fold-out map. Volume Two is vii, beginswith page nine to page 337. An Appendix lists their stores and medicines for the trip. These are ex-libris copies from an historical society, indicated by labels on the front paste-downs and paper l;abels on the spine. The condition is basically sound, but a little tender. Bumped, and with chips to… Read More

New York: Horizon Press, 1961. First published in 1860, this is Burton's classic account of one of the greatest feats of 19th Century African exploration by the fascinating/adventuring polymath. Burton is always an engrossing read;, and this is considered by Alan Moorhead (who writes the Introduction here) to be his best-written book. These are Fine copies of a well-produced set of two volumes. Brick red cloth bindings with green cloth spines; titling on the spines in gilt and silver. Clean texts: xxiii, 412 pages; and vii, 468 pages, with Appendices and Index;. Reproduces the 35 illustrations of the original work.The dustjackets have minor edgewear; now in archival plastic protectors. With the set is the original slipcase; it is rubbed and has a closed tear on one bottom edge; still fully functional.. Reprint Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London: Royal Geographic Society/John Murray, 1873. The Brazilian/Portuguese explorer Francisco Jose de Lacerda e Almeida led an expedition to what is now part of Zambia; Burton's translation was a significant boon to African exploration; this title is one of the more desirable in his canon. Burton's portion ends at page 164; the book also includes "Journey of the Pombetros" translated by B.A. Beadle and "Resume of MM. Monteiro and Gamitto" by Dr. C.T. Beke. Penzer notes that Burton had also done two appendices that were rejected by the Society as controversial. This is a Very Good (minus) copy of the First Edition. While complete, it is a bit fragile. Blue cloth binding, ruled on the covers. Gilt titling on the spine, along with the crest of the Royal Geographic Society and the date 1873. Clean text, complete; vi, 271 pages, with a fold-out map in the front. Minor rubbing to the margins. Chips to the head and foot of the spine, the top one more extensive but not affecting… Read More

Hartford/Newark/Toledo/Chicago/San Francisco: R.W. Bliss & Company [& Others], 1875. This is a Very Good copy of the First American Edition, "Published by Subscription Only" and "Abridged from the Original London Edition. With a Narrative of His Last Moments and Sufferings, Obtained from His Faithful Servants Chumash and Susi by Horace Waller, F.R.G.S." Brick red cloth binding, decoratively stamped and filled with gilt on the front cover with an image of Livingstone crossing a river carried on the shoulders of a native. Clean text; xvii, 448 pages. 28 other illustrations, and a map. Frontis portrait of Livingstone, along with a second image of "Evening, Ilala...1873." . First American Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Philadelphia: J.W. Bradley, 1858. "Including a Sketch of Sixteen Years' Residence in the Interior of Africa, and a Journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Loanda on the West Coast, Thence Across the Continent, Down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern Ocean...To Which is added A Historical Sketch of Discoveries in Africa. Illustrated with Numerous Engravings." This is a Very Good copy of the First American Edition of Stanley's famous travails in Africa. Brown publisher's cloth binding, heavily stamped with decorations; gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; xiv, then begins at "9" continuing to 440 pages. Illustrated with many engravings. The text has only some light spotting throughout. Rubbed at the margins and all corners bumped. Nonetheless, a respectable copy of this classic adventure.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Philadelphia: G.G. Evans, 1858. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First American Edition, "Including a Sketch of Sixteen Years' Residence in the Interior of Africa, and a Journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Loanda on the West Coast, Thence Across the Continent, Down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern Ocean...To Which is Added a Historical Sketch of Discoveries in Africa. Illustrated with Numerous Engravings." Publisher's brown cloth binding, blindstamped on the covers; ruled, with gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; 446 pages. Very bright and clear; unfoxed; a couple of spots to the frontis illustration and TP. Corners are bumped and there is a small chip on one edge of the spine. Shows its age but is a decent copy nonetheless.. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.