PARK, MUNGO & MAJOR RENNELL. - PMM 253

Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: performed under the Direction and Patronage of The African Association, in the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797. With an Appendix, containing Illustrations of Africa by Major rennell. Second Edition.

London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1799.

4to. Bound to style in a fine later hcalf. Title-and tomelabels with gilt lettering. Blindtoolings to bands and compartments of spine. Engraved portrait as frontispiece. XXVIII,(2),372,XCII pp., 2 engraved plates with music, 5 engraved plates (of which 3 are views) and 3 large folded engraved maps. One map strenghtened in foldings and edges, one map with a closed tear to folding. Wide-margined, a few margins slightly brownspotted. Light offsetting to title and portrait.

Second edition - the same year as the first - of this classic work of travel litterature.
"Until the publicationof Park's book in 1799 hardly anything was known of the interior of Africa, apart from the north-east region and coastal areas....the real opening up of Africa by the white races began with the African Association, founded in 1788 with the express purpose of exploring Africa and furthering British tradee and political influence onthe continent...Parl's travels had an immediate success and was translated into most European languages...ita scientific observations on the botany and meteorology of the region, and on the social and domestic life of the negroes , have remained of lasting value. Park's career was short, but he made the first great practical advance in the opening-up of Central Africa." (Printing and the Mind of Man: 253.).

Order-nr.: 42460