TO THE GOLD COAST FOR GOLD. A Personal Narrative.

London: Chatto and Windus, 1883. 2 volumes. First edition. With two large folding maps in volume one and a colour frontispiece in volume two and two illustrations within the text. 8vo, publisher’s original red cloth, lettered in gilt on the spines, with black geometric design bordering the top and bottom of the upper covers and spines, and with a small gilt pictorial design of a nugget of gold in the center of the upper covers. Lower cover ruled in black at the top and bottom and with round black design in the center. xiv, 354, 32 adverts; vi, 381 pp. A very well preserved, clean, tight and handsome copy of this rare book. Some mellowing as would be expected, but an unusual survival in this condition. RARELY SEEN IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH. AN IMPORTANT BURTON PIECE FOR ANY SERIOUS COLLECTION. Burton wrote this two volume work after leaving West Africa in utter defeat. In Nov. of 1881, he had set off for the Kong Mountains in quest of gold. He headed out despite a stated warning from the Foreign Office that he not travel to foreign countries for commercial or political purposes. He was employed by the Guinea Gold Coast Mining Co. with all expenses paid to survey the company’s mining operations and develop treaties with the local tribes. Burton was to receive a percentage of the profits gained from any gold discovered. Cameron was the surveyor on the team. Burton quickly determined that “there was plenty of gold, and that the mines could easily be worked.” Unfortunately, the project was not destined to succeed. Burton became embroiled in disputes with the Foreign Office and was forced to not only leave the Gold Coast, but also to forfeit all moneys which he had earned thus far in the project. Within 6 months both men were back in London. Later, gold was discovered in the area and others were to profit from sluicing methods that Burton had proposed. In addition to gold, Burton found that other metals were there in abundance as well as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. He felt that Africa would one day prove to be one of the greatest of all sources of natural resources and precious metals and gems. But Burton was unable to claim any of the wealth from his discoveries and was again disappointed in his efforts to become rich through his explorations.