NARRATIVE OF AN EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE THE RIVER ZAIRE, USUALLY CALLED THE CONGO IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1816, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CAPTAIN J.K. TUCKEY, R.N., TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE JOURNAL OF PROFESSOR SMITH; AND SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE COUNTRY AND ITS INHABITANTS

New York, New York: William B. Gilley, 1818. Leather-bound. Good Plus. 3/4 leather with marbled paper sides. Recent rebacking with fresh butterscotch calf spine. Five raised bands (plus top and bottom of spine) each hub with gilt to above and below. Moderate foxing and browning throughout, heavier toward the beginning and end, but text still easily readable. Vocabulary appendix. James Hingston Tuckey (1776-1816) was an Irish-born explorer and a captain in the Royal Navy...At the age oif 17 he joined the navy and went to sea, was engaged in expeditions to the Red Sea, and in 1802 helped expand the British colony of New South Wales in Australia. As first lieutenant of the ship The CALCUTTA, Tuckey was captured by the French and was imprisoned for 9 years. While a prisoner, he married Miss Margaret Stuart, a fellow prisoner. After his release, Tuckey was promoted to the rank of commander and in February 1816 sailed to explore the River Congo in the schooner CONGO, accompany by the stores ship DOROTHY...

"Most of the officers and crew died of fever and Tuckey himself died on 14 October, 1816 at age 40, in Moanda...He was described as tall and had been handsome, but long and arduous service broke down his constitution and by thirty he was grey-haired and nearly bald...He was gentle and kind in his manners, cheerful in conversation, and indulgent to those under his command..." (Wikipedia).