A very handsome example of the first American edition of Livingstone's most substantial and broadly distributed work. It was followed on very shortly thereafter by an edition in Philadelphia as well and was deeply influential in various fields.
The work was pioneering in terms of both African Geography and Sociology, but also played an important role in helping reclaim western views of Africans as savage, and re-humanizing them. Livingstone was a hero of Christian communities. And his humanizing accounts of African life had a direct impact on religious communities in America who were right on the edge of taking action on slavery. Seeing Livingstone's vision not of "savages and barbarians," but of rich traditions, of art and music and family, could not help but energize abolitionists and continue to nudge those wavering toward the cause.
Both Livingstone, and his father-in-law before him, Robert Moffat, were deeply invested in doing their part to end the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Slavery, the slave trade, etc., is mentioned well in excess of hundred times in the volume, with an extended discussion exclusively dedicated to it.
Beautifully produced with fine frontis engraving of Livingstone, a double-page engraving of Victorian Falls, and a further 40+ full-page and text-integral engravings.
Livingstone, David. Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa; Including a Sketch of Sixteen Years' Residence in the Interior of Africa, and a Journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Loanda on the West Coast; Thence Across the Continent, Down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern Ocean. New York. Harper & Brothers. 1858. First Edition. 732pp.
The same edition in cloth, rebacked, lacking adverts, just sold at auction for $480.00. Offered here quite reasonably.
Bound in original half leather with raised bands, and complimenting marbled boards, endpapers, and text block foredge. A bit rubbed. Very solid and attractive. Textually good with some scattered foxing [as usual]. Very solid and unmarked. Four maps have been excised, as someone usual, not affecting text; one excise remain a bit bunched at bottom of block.
