EGYPT, THE SOUDAN AND CENTRAL AFRICA. With Explorations From Khartoum on the White Nile to the Regions of the Equator, Being Sketches from Sixteen Years’ Travel.

Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1861. First edition, and WITH THE SCARCE SUBSCRIPTION PAMPHLET appealing for funds for Petherick’s proposed expedition to explore the Nile sources and to aid the Speke and Grant Expedition already in progress, and to further explore the Nile beyond Gondokoro. With a large folding map of the author’s travels. 8vo, original publisher’s textured burgundy cloth, blindstamped decorative borders to both covers, the spine lettered in gilt. [4 page subscription pamphlet], xii, 482, 16 ads. A very desirable copy of this rare first edition, internally very clean, the binding bright and handsome with only light mellowing to the spine and gilt, a bit of expert strengthening to the tips. RARE FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL CLOTH OF THIS EXTENSIVE WORK OF AFRICAN TRAVEL. Petherick was a well known Welsh traveler in East Central Africa where he had adopted the profession of mining engineer. This work describes sixteen years of his travel throughout Africa. In 1845 he entered the service of Mehemet Ali, and was employed in examining Upper Egypt, Nubia, the Red Sea coast and Kordofan in an unsuccessful search for coal. In 1848 he left the Egyptian service and established himself at El Obeid as a trader and was, at the same time made British Consul for the Sudan. In 1853 he removed to Khartoum and became an ivory trader. He traveled extensively in the Bahr-el-Ghazal region, then almost unknown, exploring the Jur, Yalo and other affluents of the Ghazal and in 1858 he penetrated the Niam-Niam country. Petherick’s additions to the knowledge of natural history were considerable, being responsible for the discovery of a number of new species. In 1859 he returned to England where he became acquainted with John Speke, then arranging for an expedition to discover the source of the Nile. While in England, Petherick married and published this account of his travels. He got the idea to join Speke in his travels, and in this volume is an actual subscription and list of subscribers to raise money to send Petherick to join Speke. His subsequent adventures as a consul in Africa were published in a later work. The first edition of this exciting volume is exceedingly rare, especially in such fine condition.