THE HEART OF AFRICA. Three Years’ Travels and Adventures in the Unexplored Regions of Central Africa From 1868 to 1871.

2 volumes. Second edition, published to coincide with the first edition in the original German, which did not appear until the same year. The binding and text are the same as the first edition, and it is probable that the books are remaining copies of the first edition issue with a new title page and new date replacing that of a year earlier. It was not until the third issuance of the book in 1878 that the size, binding and text-block were changed. With over 120 woodcut illustrations including 25 full page plates and two maps, one of which in colour and is well-sized and folding. Royal, thick 8vo, publisher's original dark green cloth, the spines pictorially decorated in black and lettered in gilt, the upper covers with double black lines at the borders enclosing a black ruled frame enclosing the large central gilt device depicting King Munza in full dress. xvi, 559 pp.; x, 521, 24 ads. pp. An attractive and handsome copy of this rare set, the original green cloth and gilt work still very well preserved, the volumes sometime expertly and unobtrusively re-cased preserving all of the original materials

Edizione: very scarce, in the original decorated cloth bindings and a highly important work of africana. in the introduction it is stated that for various reasons, “out of a host of men who have attempted to penetrate africa from north to south only two have achieved success.” dr. schweinfurth is one of the two men. dr. schweinfurth traveled through central africa as a botanist and did much to increase our knowledge on that area. his book is a broad exploration of the region. the people, the customs, the land and of course the natural world are explored in his three year journey.<br> schweinfurth traveled for three years in africa and had already become famous for his travels before he returned. “travelling, not in the footsteps of baker, but in a westerly direction, he reached the neighbourhood of baker’s lake, passing through the country of the niam-niam, and visiting the unknown kingdom of monbuttoo. as an explorer, he stands in the highest rank, and merits to be classed with mungo park, denham and capperton, livingstone, burton, speke and grant, barth and rohlfs. he can also claim two qualifications which no african traveller has hitherto possessed. he is a scientific botanist, and also an accomplished draughtsman.” [intro] this is an important work in geography, ethnography and the study of the human species.