Baker, Samuel White. THE ALBERT NYANZA, GREAT BASIN OF THE NILE,
and Explorations of the Nile Sources. With Maps, Illustrations, and Portraits. In Two Volumes. 2 vols., cr. 8vo, Second Edition; Vol. I, pp. [iii]-xxx(lacking half-title - as usual?), 372(last blank); 2 coloured maps (1 folding), steel-engraved portrait frontispiece & 7 wood-engraved plates (including 1 unlisted at P. 330), 15 text illustrations; Vol. II, pp. xii, 372; tinted litho. frontispiece, 6 engraved plates & 5 text illustrations, appendix, index; neatly recased in original gilt-decorated cloth, with new endpapers & pocket in front board of Vol. I to house the folding map to that Vol. (the map neatly laid down on linen); uncut; (some occasional mild foxing); a very good set; scarce. London; Macmillan and Co.; 1867.
***Identical in content to the First Edition of the previous year, but in slightly smaller format. Samuel W. Baker discovered the Murchison Falls, the largest waterfall on the Nile, on this privately organised and financed expedition, of the utmost importance in determining the Nile source, and for his discoveries, accomplished under conditions of extreme hardship, he was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society and a knighthood. The frontispiece to Volume I is an attractive steel engraving showing the explorer and his second wife Florence who accompanied him on these and many other travels. The couple are shown in oval format facing each other with Sir Samuel on the left. Accompanying these volumes are two original photographs, each 55 by 88 mm. approx. with the original oval sepia images from which the engraving was made. The engravings have been reversed from the original images (i.e. Sir Samuel faces left and his wife to the right). Also included are two holograph letters of 1867, both signed, from [Sir] Sam[uel] W. and F[lorence] Baker respectively to Mr. and Mrs. Mortlock respectively concerning visiting arrangements for a shooting party and dinner. These are on notepaper headed Hedenham Hall, Bungay where Sir Samuel and his wife resided for some years following this African trip. #18720
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