George SCHWEINFURTH - In the heart of Africa... - Lot 338 - Morel de Westgaver

George SCHWEINFURTH - In the heart of Africa 1868-1871. Travels and discoveries in the unexplored regions of Central Africa. Work translated...by Mrs. H/ Loreau and containing 139 engravings and 2 maps. Paris, Hachette, 1875. 2 volumes in-8, 240 x 150 mm, red half-chagrin boards, spine decorated with four nerves, gilt edges (stained boards, inscription on 1 upper board, small lack of percaline on 1 board). [4], iv, 508; [4], 434, [2] pp. numerous full-page illustrations; others in the text. 2 maps out of the text, 1 of which is folding (upper margin of the folding map torn without loss, small restorations). Fine marginal paper restorations in several places. ORIGINAL EDITION OF THE FRENCH TRANSLATION left by Georg August Schweinfurth (Riga, 1836 - Berlin, 1925), botanist, explorer. In 1868, supported by the Humboldt Foundation, he returned to Khartoum. He went up the Nile to about the 9th degree of latitude, he took the western side of the river, crossed the country of Niams-Niams, visited the Mombouttous. He was then in the very heart of Africa, equidistant from the two coasts. According to Winwood Reade, who wrote the introduction, Schweinfurth was renowned for his botanical and drawing skills. We also owe him the discovery of the Akka pygmies.