I have here for sale the 2-book set entitled A MISSION TO GELELE KING OF DAHOME with Notices of the so-called "Amazons", the Grand Customs, the Yearly Customs, the Human Sacrifices, the Present State of the Slave Trade and the Negro's Place in Nature by Richard F Burton, Vols I and II.  First edition set published in 1864 by the Tinsley Brothers, London.  There is an illustrated frontispiece in both volumes.  Appendices to the rear of Vol II.  Appendix I gives an outline of his itinerary; Appendix II is a list of his expenses from Dec 1863-Feb 1864; and Appendix III is an Extract from a Letter from the Rev Peter W Bernasko, Native Assistant Missionary, dated Whydah, November 1860. Definitely the true First Edition as page 181 of Volume II is misnumbered 381!

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 – 1890) was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar, and soldier. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, Burton spoke 29 languages.  Burton here recounts his visit to Dahome, ruled at the time by King Gelele. The king was known for his enjoyment of human sacrifices, the execution of his subjects, and the use of enslaved people to maintain and grow Dahomey's crops. Burton was thoroughly reviled by his experiences in Dahomey, but considered his travels there to be a valuable source of information regarding the status of slavery in the Western hemisphere. A fascinating record of diplomacy and of Victorian travel.

Bound in dark brown cloth hardboards with gilt image to the centre of the front boards.  Gilt lettering to the spines. Both half titles are present Unfortunately the boards are not in good condition, with damp stained areas, particularly to Vol I which also has a stained spine with the cloth lifting to the bottom edge of the front board and a large split to the cloth on the rear board and a smaller one to the front joint.  All 4 boards have cracked joints so are all loose to a degree, some looser than others.  There are also signs of where a sticker has been stuck to the front board.  Remains of old library sticker to the front pastedown of Vol I.  No stamps to any pages.  Pages sunned but clean.  Binding starting to pull a little.  Condition: fair/good but due to the intrinsic value of the set I would recommend rebinding them.  Vol I - 386 pages, Vol II - 412 pages.  21 x 14 cm.

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Postage will be by Air Mail outside of UK.  If you buy more than one item then the postage cost falls for the second and further items as I will put them into one parcel - so you save money. We wrap and post the parcels on Monday and Tuesday - therefore if you pay before midday on Tuesday we will get it in the postal sacks on Tuesday night, and if it is after that time then it will go into the postal service on the following Monday.