Livingstone, David and Charles; Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the Discovery of the Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa 1858-1864. London: John Murray, 1865. Quarto, pp. xiv, 608, folded frontispiece "Bird's-eye View of the Grand Cataracts of the Zambesi or Victoria Falls', folded map of Dr. Livingstone's travels at rear, 34 additional views, plates and illustrations.
In later calf with raised spine bands, black titles, stamp on tp, text plates, and map very clean. Rare.
First edition of the Livingstones' beautifully illustrated narrative of the exploration of one of the great rivers of Africa, with engraved folding frontispiece of Victoria Falls, large folding map, and over 30 full-page wood-engraved illustrations. During 1858-63, David Livingstone led an expedition with his brother Charles up the Zambezi River from its mouth in modern Mozambique to Sesheke (Zambia), half a continent away. This work recounts the discovery of Lake Nyassa and the mapping of the Zambezi River basin as well as providing one the first descriptions of the people of the interior of southern Africa. Livingstone's ultimate purpose was to end the Portuguese slave trade by opening up the interior to British commerce and missionary activity.