Burton, Richard Francis

2 volumes, 8vo. 2 folding maps, 4 engraved plates. Original pictorial green cloth, stamped in black and gilt on upper covers and spines, bevelled boards; minor rubbing to corners and heads and tails of spines. Slipcase.

Maria Stisted, signature "Lady Stisted" on free endpaper — Elizabeth Stisted, signature dated September 1878 on vol.2 title — S.F. Hassan, Mombasa, inscription on vol.2 title — Quentin Keynes, pencil note on vol.1 free endpaper — Christie's, 7 April 2004, lot 251 — Franklin Brooke-Hitching (his sale Sotheby's London, 27 March 2014, lot 220

Casada 66; Penzer 94

FIRST EDITION, BROOKE-HITCHING COPY. FROM THE LIBRARY OF BURTON'S SISTER, MARIA STISTED, SIGNED BY HER IN VOLUME ONE, and signed by her sister-in-law Elizabeth Stisted in volume 2. The book describes Burton’s second expedition from his consular posting at Fernando Po, made in 1862-1863. “Gorillas had fascinated [Burton] ever since his friend Paul de Chaillu reported his amazing discovery of these simians to incredulous audiences in London in July 1861” (Frank McLynn, Snow Upon the Desert, p.191). In the end, Burton only managed to see a captive gorilla, added to which he nearly drowned and was struck by lightning.