In Darkest Africa

London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, 1890. First edition. Cloth. Good. 9" by 6". Not Stated. The sought after first trade edition of this monumental African travel work by Henry M. Stanley, a illustrated account complete with folding maps and plates. The first trade edition.Complete in two volumes.Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece, one folding map, fourteen plates, and in-text illustrations. Volume II is illustrated with two folding maps, twenty-two plates, one map, and in-text illustrations. Two pages of publisher's adverts to the rear.Collated, complete.'In Darkest Africa' is a famous travel work which traces the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition of 1886-1889. This expedition was one of the most important nineteenth century expeditions into the interior of Africa, to rescue the governor of Equatoria, Emin Pasha, who was besieged and threatened by Mahdist forces. This expedition became celebrated for the sheer ambition and the distance of 'darkest Africa' that was travelled by Charles Gordon and his troops. Stanley felt that the expedition was for humanitarian purposes rather than a military conquest. Stanley was appointed to lead the relief expedition and left England in January 1887, arriving at the mouth of the Congo in March. After immense hardships and great loss of life, Stanley met Emin in 1888, charted the Ruwenzori Range and Lake Edward, and emerged from the interior with Emin and his surviving followers at the end of 1890.Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto of the front endpapers, 'Lucy Sykes, July 16th 1890-'. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, a little worn. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities. Damp stains to the rear boards, lighter to the front boards. Light rubbing to the joints and extremities. A few lighter marks to the boards and spines. Hinges of Volume I are starting but firm. Bookseller's label to the front paste downs. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto of the front endpapers. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are bright and generally clean with scattered spots. Small closed tears to the folding maps, with repairs to the reverse of the first folding map of Volume II. Good