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RARE TRUE FIRST UK EDITION. TWO VOLUMES. EX-LIBRARY COPY. Volume One slightly incomplete (lacks 2 plates, & 2 adjacent text leaves, which are supplied in contemporary facsimile, see below). With 10 (of 12) chromoxylograph plates (including the 2 frontispieces), 23 woodcut illustrations in the text, plus 1 large colour folding engraved MAP at rear of Volume Two. Volume One contains an EXTRA uncalled-for woodcut (total 23, not 22 as listed, see below). Both this two-volume first English edition (880pp) & the one-volume first American edition (Harper & Brothers, New York, 572pp) were published in 1860. The expedition was first published in 1859 in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (Volume 29), with less text (464pp + map) & without plates. The original folding MAP (engraved by Edward Weller, & coloured in outline) in Volume Two is titled "Map of the Routes between Zanzibar and the Great Lakes in Eastern Africa in 1857, 1858 & 1859 - by R.F. Burton". Volume One with 4 (of 6) chromoxylographs (2 with tissue-guards), & 9 (with 8 listed) woodcuts in text (with an extra uncalled-for woodcut at p.157 which is titled "A village in K'hutu. The silk cotton tree"). Volume Two with all 6 chromoxylographs (5 with tissue-guards), & 14 woodcuts in text (p.258 wrongly listed as p.259), plus colour folding map, all complete as issued. Volume One with preface, plus tables. Volume Two with appendices, plus index. Full pagination as follows: VOLUME ONE: ffep, [+ blank leaf], half-title page, frontispiece (with tissue guard), title page, dedication page, vii-x (preface), xi-xiv (tables), xv-xvi (contents), 1pp (list of illustrations), plate, 1-412pp (with 2 leaves in facsimile), [+ blank leaf], rear endpaper. VOLUME TWO: ffep, [+ blank leaf], frontispiece (with tissue guard), title page, v-vi (contents), 1pp (list of illustrations), plate, 1-468pp, folding map, rear endpaper. Lacks the 24pp publisher's catalog dated October 1858, which is sometimes found at rear of Volume Two. This copy contains a tiny marginal pencil note correcting the time (from p.m. to a.m.) (in vol. 2, p.279, line 12). Printed in London by Spottiswoode & Co. Bound in contemporary half-leather (calf) & marbled paper-covered boards, partial gilt lettering to one spine. NOTE: A fair to GOOD set only (though internally VERY GOOD). Detailed overall condition of both volumes as follows: EX-LIBRARY copy with usual library markings (old large label to front pastedowns, plus several ink stamps internally, including ink-stamp offsetting to some plates, though NO external library marks), covers worn & both spines damaged, plus general handling wear. Individually, VOLUME ONE lacks 2 adjacent TEXT leaves (pp 23-26 inclusive, which have been professionally FACSIMILE copied onto contemporary similar paper for a near-replica of the 2 missing leaves, laid in), also lacks 2 chromoxylograph PLATES (at p.158 + p.313, though the tissue guards remain), spine becoming detached (but present), spine leather dried & flaky, foxing to preliminary pages, otherwise tight & clean. VOLUME TWO lacks spine, no half-title, foxing to preliminary pages, chromoxylograph plate (p.155) is misbound at p.390, & the folding thin-paper map at rear is good only, being quite heavily foxed & creased, with a large vertical closed tear halfway through, & top margin corner portion lacking (but not affecting map), otherwise a tight & clean copy. Internally the two volumes are VERY GOOD, clean solid tight copies. Ideal for re-binding (or re-backing). 412pp + 468pp. Thick heavy set. A classic narrative of African exploration. An important work. Scarce First UK Edition. RARE.
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