Lot 75
  • 75

Burton, Richard Francis

Estimate
700 - 1,000 GBP
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Description

  • First Footsteps in East Africa; or, an Exploration of Harar. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1856
FIRST EDITION, second issue, and without the two leaves of Appendix IV as normal, 8vo (218 x 135mm.), half-title, 2 maps, 4 coloured lithographed plates, contemporary calf gilt

Provenance

Edmund Faber, 1st Baron Faber, bookplate and Eton leaving inscription

Literature

Casada 35; Penzer, p.60

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Burton's seminal account of his exploration of Somaliland and the forbidden city of Harar in 1854-1855. Speke was to form part of the expedition, but failed in his initial object of inspecting the Wadi Nogul. Burton's patronising allusion to this failure appears in Appendix 1 of this work, a selective condensation of Speke's journal, later to be a fuel for their antagonism: “He is ignorant of the Muslim faith... Not knowing either the Arabic or the Somali tongue, he was forced to communicate with the people through the medium of his dishonest interpreter and Abban” (p.503). It was on this expedition, while camped at Berberah, that Burton received his famous spear wound to the face. Speke received eleven spear wounds.