[TRAVEL & EXPLORATION] -- DENHAM, Dixon, Major (1786-1828), and Captain Hugh CLAPPERTON (1788-1827). Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the Years 1822, 1823, and 1824… Extending Across the Great Desert to the Tenth Degree of Northern Latitude, and From Kouka in Bornou, to Sackatoo, the Capital of the Fellatah Empire. London: John Murray, 1826.

2 volumes in one, 4to (268 x 211 mm). Engraved frontispiece, 32 engraved plates (one hand-colored), 11 in-text woodcut illustrations (2 plans), 6 engraved maps (5 full-page, one folding). (Some occasional spotting or offsetting.) Modern half calf over green cloth gilt, smooth spine gilt, 3 black morocco lettering-pieces gilt, edges faintly marbled, marbled endsheets (chipping to lettering-piece, some small scuffs). Provenance: W. Conway (signature).

FIRST EDITION of important explorations in Africa. The first volume is an official expedition to discover the course of the Niger from the starting point of Tripoli, rather than West Africa. Clapperton and Oudney were the original members of the party, to which Denham was added, but whose "arrogance, malice, and contempt for his colleagues from the start soured relations between them" (DNB). This famous "Bornu Mission" provided the earliest European report on the Central Sudan and Northern Nigeria. From the Mediterranean they reached Murzuk and Bornu on the west of Lake Chad, and eventually Sokota. Failing to ascertain the source and termination of the Niger, Denham explored Lake Chad, and Oudney and Clapperton journeyed westward to the Niger. Clapperton continued alone after Oudney's death at Murmur, reaching Sokota and rejoining Denham at Kuka. On the second expedition Clapperton had been promoted to Commander and was sent back to Sokota to open up trade with the west coast. He died in 1827, having crossed Yoruba Country and the Niger. He was survived by his "servant" Richard Lander who carried on alone. Lander brought Clapperton's journals back to England and wrote the "Life of Clapperton" which appears in this second work. Hilmy, p. 172 (Narrative).

Property from the Estate of Professor Ethan D. Alyea, Jr., Bloomington, Indiana