Paul B. Du Chaillu - Explorations & Adventures In Equatorial Africa. With Accounts of the Manners and Customs of the - 1861

Scarce first edition, with 74 illustrations, including folding engraved frontispiece, folding map, and full-page plates

Explorations & Adventures In Equatorial Africa
With Accounts of the Manners and Customs of the People, And of the Chace of the Gorilla, Crocodile, Leopard, Elephant, Hippopotamus, and Other Animals

It was on this expedition that Du Chaillu confirmed the existence of that "monstrous and ferocious ape, the gorilla." His work is one of the seminal pieces of early Central African exploration. Du Chaillu s travels to Equatorial Africa were to an area previously unexplored by Europeans--the wooded region bordering the Equator, in the interior of Western Africa. It was on this journey that he was able to observe the habits of several remarkable species of animals found nowhere else and heretofore unknown. These included the gorilla, and Du Chaillu s famous engraving was the first published illustration of this remarkable animal.

Item Description
A fascinating first edition of this important work by the anthropologist and traveller Paul Belloni du Chaillu. The book is lavishly illustrated with 74 illustrations, including folding frontispiece of which contains the first ever depiction of the Gorilla by a Westerner, folding map of Equatorial Africa, full-page plates, and numerous wood engravings in the text. Published by John Murray, London, 1861. Original publisher's dark brown cloth boards, with gilt-stamped gorilla vignette on the upper board. Decorative spine lettered in gilt.

Book Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 4 cm and Number of Pages: (8 pages preface + 8 pages of contents and list of illustrations) + 479 including Appendix + 32 pages of publisher’s’ list of works

Condition
Light wear to boards’ corners with some tears at spine ends. Old name and date 1861 on top of title page. The folding map is complete with slight creases and tear to the margin edges. Overall sound, used, good with clean text, all illustrations are present, and in nice condition (the folding frontispiece and folding map are rarely found with this title) (Please see pictures).