General C.G. Gordon | Autograph manuscript map of the course of the Nile, 1875

General C.G. Gordon

Two autograph manuscript maps of the Nile:

i) Autograph manuscript map of the White Nile between Lardo and Lakes Albert and Victoria, addressed to Major Wilson, RE, with two pages of notes on the route and his military encampments ("...2/3rd of work finished: Doubt if I shall go on the Lake. I hope that Stanley will do it. My whole desire is to make safe communications to the two Lakes..."), with a postscript (headed "Mrs Freese 1st November") on his lack of interest in the source of the Nile, 2 pages, 8vo, Fashelie, 2 November 1875

ii) Autograph manuscript map of the White Nile titled "River from Kerri to South" showing the location of rapids, with a note ("Lt Chippendall has from Raguf to Kerri"), with related notes "Observations on River Nile between Asua River & Gondokoro", 6 pages, 8vo, on blue paper, Rageef, 6 May 1875, chipped and creased, fragile at folds, offsetting

These hand-drawn maps of sections of the White Nile are the result of surveying work undertaken by Gordon during his arduous journey south from Khartoum to Buganda after his appointment as governor of Equatoria by the khedive of Egypt. The map of the river south from Lardo covers the same area, in much cruder form, as Gordon's published 'Map of the White Nile from Lardo to Urondogani' that was printed in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1877.  

PROVENANCE

Christie's, London, 29 November 1995, lot 151