To The Gold Coast For Gold
By Richard F. Burton and Verney Lovett Cameron
Published by Chatto & Windus: London 1883 1st
Edition
Volume 1 Only (of 2) With All Foldout Maps Present
"To The Gold Coast For Gold is a classic Victorian work of African exploration, travel and colonial history, written by two of the nineteenth century's most celebrated explorers, Sir Richard Francis Burton and Verney Lovett Cameron. Published in 1883, this first edition records their expedition to Britain's Gold Coast (modern Ghana) to investigate the region's rich mineral resources and commercial potential. Written in Burton's characteristically vivid style, the narrative blends adventurous travel with detailed observations of geography, geology, local kingdoms, trade, and the rapidly expanding British presence in West Africa during the height of the colonial era.
Far more than a travel journal, the work provides a comprehensive account of the Gold Coast's people, customs, languages and political landscape, together with practical assessments of its goldfields and mining prospects. Burton draws upon his earlier experiences in West Africa while Cameron contributes the perspective of one of Africa's greatest explorers, creating an important contemporary record of the region before large-scale industrial development. The volume includes valuable discussions of indigenous gold mining techniques, the Ashanti territories, European trading settlements, river systems and the economic importance of West Africa within the British Empire.
This Volume I is complete with all foldout maps as called for, including the impressive large folding map of the Gold Coast and the detailed folding map of the River Ancobra, both essential to understanding the expedition and highly desirable for collectors. Although lacking Volume II, this remains an important and increasingly scarce first edition by two legendary explorers whose works are prized by collectors of African exploration, colonial history, cartography and nineteenth-century travel literature. The presence of the original South Australian Institute library label also adds an interesting layer of Australian institutional provenance dating to the colonial era."
General wear, fading, some peeling etc to covers and spine as shown. Both foldout maps present. Pages clean and well presented. A nice copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 19cm x 13cm x 3.5cm - 354
Pages
