BRUCE von KINNAIRD, JAMES.

Reisen zur Entdeckung der Quellen des Nils in den Jahren 1768. 1769. 1770. 1771. 1772. und 1773. in fünf Bänden. Ins teutsche übersetzt von J.J. Volkmann und mit einer Vorrede und Anmerkungen versehen von Johann Friedrich Blumenbach. 5 Bde.

Leipzig, Weidmannschen Buchhandlung, 1790-91. Bound in 5 contemp. hcalf. Volume 1 not quite uniform. Spines gilt and titlelabels with gilt lettering. Wear to spines., especially volume 2 where upper compartment lacks some leather. Vol. 3 having a tear in leather at upper compartment. Some gilding weak and worn. Stamp on titlepages. 5 engraved titlevignettes. Vol.1: XXVIII,579 pp., 6 (of 8 ?) engraved plates (numb. 1-4 a. 7-8), 7 plates of inscriptions (on 4). One plate with 2 tears, repaired without loss and one large folded engraved map:"Charte zu der dreyjaehrigen Reise Flotte Salomons". - Volume 2: VIII,710 pp. - Vol. 3: VI,757 pp., 3 engraved plates and one large folded map: "Charte von den Quellen des Nils" - Vol. 4: IV,734 pp., 3 engraved plans. - Vol. 5: (4),384 pp., 46 engraved plates (on 37) and one arge folded engraved map: "Charte von den Arabischen Meerbusen". The maps fine and clean, but internally with traces of use.

First German edition. - If Captain Cook was the first truly modern "scientific" maritime explorer, James Bruce has some claim to be the first scientific continental explorer. When he set out in 1768, his object was to establish the position of the source of the Nile for the sake of advancing knowledge. He did reach the source of the Blue Nile and provided a wealth of other geographical, botanical and archeaeological information on Ethiopia and the Nile Valley as well as gaining a unique knowledge of the Ethiopians as a result of his close involvement with them for two years. Volume 5 is devoted to the zoology and botany of Egypt, Arabia, Abysinia and Nubia and illustrated with 46 engravings.

Order-nr.: 39887