NARRATIVE OF DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN AFRICA. FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIME: With Illustrations of the Geology, Mineralogy, and Zoology.

Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1832. First Edition with the additional collaborators and the Second Edition, Revised overall. With a finely engraved folding map of Africa, pictorial half-title, map of Park’s routes, map of Denham and Clapperton’s routes and 12 additional engravings by Branston throughout. 8vo, handsomely bound in three-quarter calf over marbled boards, the spine with raised bands ruled in blind separating compartments with central gilt tooled devices, one compartment with a green morocco label lettered in gilt, additional gilt rules at the head and tail of the spine. 503 pp. A very handsome copy, internally as clean, fresh and solid as could be, the delicate folding map in excellent condition, the binding in a very fine state of preservation. A FINE EARLY WORK ON EXPLORATION IN AFRICA. Murray was an editor of the 'Scots Magazine' and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Prof. James Wilson was a noted Scottish zoologist. This work was one of the most popular books penned by either author.
The colonial possessions of the European powers in Africa are described in detail (with some emphasis, no doubt due to the authors’ heritage, on the British possessions). It is largely based on John Leyden’s “Historical and Philosophical Sketch of the Discoveries & Settlements...” of 1798. Murray and Wilson’s text was originally published in 1818, but this second edition is revised and expanded with work by other collaborators. Also detailed in the work are the exploits of the major explorers of Africa with some emphasis on Mungo Park and Hugh Clapperton. The work is one of the most extensive and comprehensive of its kind, and a fine record from the period. It contains much material of both historic and scientific note on a wide spectrum of topics. The descriptions of many of the native peoples were amongst the earliest recorded, and the engravings are of special note. Thefolding map is very detailed and finely executed.