5 volumes. [8], lxxxiii, [3], 535; [4], viii, 718; [4], viii, 759; [4], viii, 695; [4], xiv, 230, [10] pp. Illustrated with 58 copper-engraved plates (4 of which are maps or battle plans) and including 3 folding copper-engraved maps; 4 leaves of Ethiopic facsimile. (4to) 29.7x 23.4 cm. (11¾x9¼"), rebound in modern quarter leather, marbled boards, gilt-lettered spines, red morocco spine labels, raised bands; new endpapers. First Edition.
First edition of one of the great annals of travel and explorations in Africa, a cornerstone of any collection of Africana. A Scotsman with ability and education, James Bruce, 1730-1794, was appointed the English consul to Algiers, serving for two years before resigning to roam North Africa investigating architectural ruins. Following this preparation, he set off to fulfill his great ambition, to discover the source of the Nile. His travels into Abyssinia, a remarkable solo undertaking, resulted in the present body of work which not only includes the narrative of his travels but also comments on the history and religion of Egypt, an account of Indian trade, a history of Abyssinia and other such material. The DNB notes that while Bruce would not be confused with "a great scholar or a judicious critic..., few books of equal compass are equally entertaining; and few such monuments exist of the energy and enterprise of a single traveller." The many engraved plates are finely executed, and present primarily the flora and fauna encountered by Bruce on his travels.
Condition:
Spines sunned, touches of wear and scuffing to leather, corner of spine label on vol 5 loose; foxing to edges of textblock and occasionally throughout on margins, occasional miniscule edge tears and creasing, some dampstaining on vol 3 half-title; volumes generally very good.