Publisher's decorative gilt embossed maroon cloth binding.

A nice bright copy of this sought after first edition often seen in a very poor state.

This is the first edition complete in two volumes and illustrated with frontispieces, three colour folding maps and many plates throughout.

Stanley organized and led the expedition, 1887-89, sent to rescue Emin Pasha at Wadelai on the left bank of the Nile. The German naturalist, whose real name was Eduard Schnitzer, had been appointed by Ordon to the governorship of the equatorial province, and was believed to be in grave danger following the fall of Khartoum. The route taken was from the west coast across the whole extent of the Congo State to the Nile, partly through dense tropical forest. Plagued by disease, hardship, mutiny, and poor organization, the expedition lost two-thirds of its original number, and Emin, who had reluctantly agreed to come away with Stanley, transferred himself to the German service, leaving Stanley to come home without him. Although he failed in his primary objective, Stanley made important geographical and ethnological discoveries. During the course of his journey he discovered the great snow-capped range of Ruwenzori, the Mountains of the Moon, as well as a new lake which he named the Albert Edward Nyanza, and a large south-western extension of Lake Victoria. The treaties which he concluded with various native chiefs and transferred to Sir William Mackinnon’s company, laid the foundation of the British East Africa Protectorate.

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