Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa: Being a Journal of an Expedition Undertaken under the Auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the Years 1849-1855 [Volumes. I-III only (of 5)]

New York: D. Appleton & Co, 1857. First American Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Vols. I-III Only (of 5). 11 folding maps, 36 tinted litho plates, xi, 635, xi, 676, xxxvi, 578p. plus [2]p. publisher's advertisements at end of Vol. III. Green cloth. Vols. I and III have new endpapers and have been rebacked, with almost all of the original backstrips mounted. 23cm. Ex church library with oval red stamp of upstate New York church on each title-page and a few other library markings including evidence of removal of a small label toward base of backstrips, above which "Ta." has been imprinted in gilt on each backstrip. Contents have a little age-toning around edges but are otherwise quite sound and clean. An important account of African exploration and discovery. While the three volume Harper edition of 1857-1859 is often described as the first American edition, we believe that this much scarcer and far more appealing Appleton edition is the true first American edition. This Appleton edition mimics the London edition of 1857-1858 except that the title-page in these volumes lists Appleton as the publisher and New York as the place of publication. A small diamond-shaped sticker ("Bound by Westleys & Co London") preserved and mounted in a corner of the new rear endpaper indicates that these volumes were originally bound in England.