"Ismailia: A Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa for the Suppression of the Slave Trade", Harper Bros.

This is the first American edition of Sir Samuel White Baker's journey into Central Africa. In 1869, at the request of the Egyptian government, Baker led an expedition to the Equatorial Nile basin. He was tasked with suppressing the slave trade in the South Sudan as a way of opening trade and civilizing the region. Baker served a four year term in this capacity, with the rank of Governor-General in the Ottoman Army.

The volume includes A Map of the Albert N'Yanza and the Routes of Sir Samuel White Baker... (13.0 x 19.3") that shows Baker's route into the interior. It depicts his routes from both 1871-73, as well as his earlier journey from 1863-65 when he became the first European to see Lake Albert. The boundary outlined in pink indicates the "Southern Limit of the Country Annexed to Egypt by Sir Saml. Baker" (and is noted as an imaginary line). The considerable text is richly illustrated with 42 tissue-guarded plates with an emphasis on natives and wildlife. Includes a frontispiece portrait of Baker and a dramatic engraving showing a hippopotamus attacking a dingy. Published by Harper Brothers in New York. 554 pages. Hardbound in green cloth with gilt decorations on the front cover and gilt title on spine.

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Condition: B+

The folding map is very good with a 1" fold separation at top left. The text and plates are lightly toned, mostly along the sheet edges. The covers are worn, the hinges are starting, and the spine backstrip is partially detached.