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Bruce, James, of Kinnaird TRAVELS TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, IN THE YEARS 1768, 1770, 1771, 1772, AND 1773. . . To which is prefixed , a Life of the Author. Edinburgh Archibald Constable, et al 1805

8 volumes. An early printing, this, the Edinburgh edition. With 79 very finely engraved plates, maps and charts, including three large folding plates, all housed in the eighth volume of the work. 8vo and 4to, original straight-grained calf with finely gilt-decorated panels between raised bands in the compartments of the spines, the covers ruled with double gilt fillet borders and rolled in blind. The atlas and plates volume bound in later half-morocco. ccclxxi,159; A very clean and handsomely bound set in quite excellent condition.

With time on his hands and at the urging of a friend, Bruce composed this account of his travels on the African continent, including comments on the history and religion of Egypt, an account of Indian trade, a history of Abyssinia, and other such material. Although Bruce would not be confused with a great scholar or a judicious critic..., few books of equal compass are equally entertaining; and few such monuments exist of the energy and enterprise of a single traveller (DNB). The result of his travels was a very great enrichment of the knowledge of geography and ethnography (Cox II, p. 389).
This particular set includes a critical biography of Bruce, comprising most of Volume 1. Volume 8, which includes all the maps and illustrations, is in a slightly different binding.

$US5850

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