Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa:

PARK (Mungo).

Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa:

Performed under the Direction and Patronage of the African Association, in the years 1795, 1796 and 1797. With an appendix containing geographical illustrations of Africa. [Bound with:] PARK (Mungo). The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the year 1805… to which is prefixed an Account of the Life of Mr. Park.

First editions. 2 vols in 1. Portrait, 3 engraved folding maps & 5 plates (2 extending), with 2 engraved plates of music; folding map. 4to. Contemporary tree calf, edges of boards darkened, extremities worn, the joints rubbed and with a short split at the head of the upper joint, rebacked with remnant of an additional spine label. xxviii, 372, [xcii]; [xii], cxxx, [ii], 219pp. London, The first volume published by the author, the second by John Murray, 1799.

£2,000.00

“Park’s Travels had an immediate success and was translated into most European languages. It has become a classic of travel literature, and it’s scientific observations on the botany and the meteorology of the region… have remained of lasting value” (Printing & the Mind of Man). Following the success of his first expedition when he became the first European to reach the Niger, Park set out in 1805 once more for the Niger. However, having chosen a particularly bad season of the year in which to commence the expedition his party of 44 Europeans died one by one, the last five of whom were all drowned in an attempt to escape from a group of natives. Many years later one of these natives in recounting the incident, declared that no intimidation had been intended, but that their shouts were a warning that the Europeans were approaching dangerous rapids. Cox I, 394-95; Ibrahim Hilmy II, 93.

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208182

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Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa:

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