Missionary Travels And Researches In South Africa; Including A Sketch Of Sixteen Years’ Residence In The Interior Of Africa, And A Journey From The Cape Of Good Hope To Loanda On The West Coast…

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1858. First American Edition of one of the most important nineteenth century accounts of African exploration. Livingstone describes his missionary activities and travels in South Africa from 1841 to 1853 and his first major expedition, the Trans-Africa journey of 1853-56. On this expedition he travelled from Linyanti to Loanda and from Linyanti to Quilimane. While exploring the Zambesi River, he discovered the famous Victoria Falls in November 1855. “The results in geography and in natural science in all its departments were abundant and accurate; his observations necessitated a reconstruction of the map of Central Africa. When Livingstone began his work in Africa the map was virtually blank from Kuruman to Timbuktu, and nothing but envy or ignorance can throw any doubt on the originality of his discoveries.” (Encyc. Britan., 11th Edn.) Livingstone also here gives an accurate account of the tsetse fly and of the disease produced in cattle following its bite. “Delightful reading.” (DNB) Mendelssohn III 136. cfGarrison & Morton 5269. cfGay 3034. cfPrinting and the Mind of Man 341. cfAbbey, Travel, 347. cfHosken p. 126 (1st Issue). 8vo. pp. xxiv, 732, [4]ads. 1 steel-engraved portrait of Livingstone, 2 folding maps by Arrowsmith, 1 double-page wood engraving, 1 folding diagram & numerous wood-engraved text illus. (22 full-page). title vignette. original blind-stamped cloth, recased (slight fraying to spine endspiece clipped from front flyleaf)