Explorations of the Highlands of the Brazil; with a full account of the gold and diamond mines by Burton, Captain Richard F - 1869: also, canoeing down 1500 miles of the Great River Sao Francisco from Sabara to the Sea

Two volumes. First editions. Tinsley Brothers. London. 1869. Half title, Frontispiece, pictorial title, xii, 443pp; Half title, Frontispiece, pictorial title, second title, viii, 478pp, 2pp publisher's catalogue. Folding coloured maps to both volumes (i.e. an additional map to Volume II). The original green cloth, gilt to spine, rebound with new endpapers and cloth re-laid at some point in the past. Gilt vignette (Tupi of Brazil) to upper board of volume two. Replacement cloth to lower board of volume I. Second pictorial title page to both volumes (Tupi of Brazil to Volume one, Tupi Woman to Volume two.) Edges untrimmed and darkened. Volume one lacking second title page, a loose copy is inserted. A well-read and obviously valued set, exhibiting the care taken to preserve and repair over the years, with wear and discolouration to the original cloth and extremities. Some foxing to the preliminary and closing pages, occasional spots or marks. Historic paper repairs to Volume I dedication page, and p79, with a few words obscured. Uneven adhesion at gutter to title and dedication. Historic tape repair to gutter at I, 98-99. Short marginal closed tear to Frontispiece and Title of Volume II. Closed tear to map to Volume I. A little spotting to map of Volume II.

Provenance:

Undeciphered initials, and address Ships Landing(?), Claughton 14/11/70, to half-titles of both volumes. Further signature, blotted, in different ink, "Griffiths" to half title of Volume II. Pencil annotation to margin I, p12, correcting Burton's assertion that Brazil's "shores can be reached in ten days from Europe" to "3 weeks", and cross referencing the correct statement at p30. I have been unable to determine the signature and address, but it is of interest: Burton's friend and business partner James Irvine, FRGS, FSA, (Irvine and Woodward, agents to John Holt), to whom Burton dedicated "To The Gold Coast for Gold", lived in Claughton at this time. His wife's family owned the Woodside Ferry Landing. Several other members of the FRGS and others associated with Liverpool shipping to Africa and Brazil, eg Lamport and Holt Line / Liverpool, Brazil and River Plate Steam Navigation Company, who sold The Agenoria to Griffiths & Co., Liverpool.