THE CONGO AND THE FOUNDING OF ITS FREE STATE: A Story of Work and Exploration

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1885. 2 volumes. First edition, probably printed in England for Harpers at the same time as the Sampson, Low issue. Pagination is identical and the setting appears to be as well. Profusely illustrated with over one hundred full-page plates and in-text drawings, multi-folding maps, as well as with very large maps folded into the binding pockets at the rear of the books. 8vo, publisher’s original light green cloth, lavishly decorated with all-over pictorial designs in gilt, red, black, green and other colours on the spines and upper covers. xxvii, 528; x, 483. Index, 12 ads. About as fine a copy as one could hope to see. An unusually nice set of this scarce book. Very tight and clean copies, probably unused and as pristine, corners, covers, tips, all in excellent condition. Very rare thus. THE SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF STANLEY’S IMPORTANT AND POPULAR WORK ON THE FOUNDING OF THE CONGO FREE STATE. This two-volume work of exploration, history, and socio-political-economy is the result of Stanley's expedition up the Congo River in 1879-84 and his attempts to re-open the interior for King Leopold of Belgium. From this journey came the establishment of the Congo State, the first free commercial state in Equatorial Africa.
Henry Stanley was one of the most popular figures of the 19th Century. Adventurer, explorer and rescuer-- the public could not get enough of this romantic figure. In true Victorian style, this volume highlights his greatest achievements, his rescues of LIvingstone and Emin Pasha and his aid in establishing the Congo Free State.
Sets of this important work in original cloth have become exceeding difficult to obtain. First editions are now especially elusive.