[Rarebooks] FS - Captain Clapperton's Last African Expedition

[bookmaven]

For your consideration:
Records of Captain Clapperton's Last Expedition to Africa: By Richard
Lander, His Faithful Attendant, and the Only Surviving Member of the
Expedition, 2 Volumes, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, London, 1830
(presumed first): Clapperton's second trip to Africa was to discover the
course of the Niger. Landing at Badagri in November 1825, assisted by his
faith young attendant Richard Lander, and three other companions who died
from malaria early in the expedition. Once past the unhealthy coast where
Clapperton suffered many severe bouts of fever, they travel into Yorubaland
to Katunga. After six weeks in  Katunga, they set out for Kaiama, then on to
Bussa, the scene of Mungo Park Park's violent demise, during the first
expedition. In April they crossed the Niger river, which Clapperton had
missed on his first journey, and advanced along to Kano. From Kano, he
travelled on to Sokoto, where Mohammed Bello was involved in a new war
against Bornu, against was Clapperton's continuing to the Bornu country, he
was also opposed to Clapperton's having anything to do with the enemies of
the Fulani. Eventually it was revealed that what upset Bello were the
letters of introduction and gifts for the Sultan of Bornu which Clapperton
and Lander had in their baggage. At an audience with the Sultan in February
1827, Bello agreed to send Clapperton to the sea by way of the Niger, thus
ensuring the success of the expedition. However, before setting out,
Clapperton became very ill with malaria and dysentery. By March, he was
completely incapacitated and, in spite of Lander's constant nursing, died on
13 April 1827. Lander's relates many anecdotes of the Native's and his
reception by them. Including accounts of Slavery in the interior countries,
religions, laws, governments, amusements, the seasons. Conduct of Portugese
merchants, ceremonial murder, the Fetish huts at Badagry, and stories about
individual natives. The volumes include a Sketch of the Author's Life and
"Subsequent Adventures of the Author"; Appendix, A Vocabulary of the Short
Phrases of the Houssa Tongue. Six text illustrations, frontispiece of Lander
missing. Bound in 3/4 green calf, with marbled boards, brown calf spines,
darker brown title panel and volume number in gilt with gilt edging.
Moderate rubbing of boards and leather. Spine ends rubbed, volume I chip
(1/2 inch by 3/4 inch) to panel with volume #, number missing, volume II
heavier rubbing to mid blank panel, title and vol. II intact. Each volume
has Coat of Arms book plate of Sir Velters Cornewall Bart, with previous
owners name stamped below; same name stamped to upper margin of pg. 21, vol.
I. Mild offsetting of book plate to f.e.p. Text very clean, no foxing, both
volumes tightly bound. In protective archival polyester wraps. A booksellers
invoice from England made out to second owner's name is inserted in vol. I.
Vol. I, 310 pp, Vol II, 293 pp, sm 8 vo. Two very sound volumes of this
daring and arduous expedition. $175.00
Thank you,
Michelle Levick
Bookmaven, Inc.
www.bookmaven.net
Ventnor NJ 08406
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