SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)

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SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)
Autograph letter on blue paper, signed 'Richard F. Burton', n.p., n.d., 2pp, 8°, to an unknown recipient, informing the recipient that he will be out of England for some time, probably for four years and will be travelling again in June on an anthropological trip. 'I have not given up Africa' he writes 'and shall be back there as soon as is convenient'. He asks about fellow African travellers. 'I return to Santo July 7' he confirms, telling of the wealth of the country in coal and gold 'in places hitherto unsuspected' and ending by sending good wishes from himself and his wife. As a postscript he mentions volcanic formations and notes that 'I find the whole interior of the S. Paulo province a mass of volcanic earth (terra nova)'.

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Lot Essay

Although undated, this letter would appear to have been written by the explorer in the 1860's. After having discovered Lake Tanganyika with John Hanning Speke in 1858, he became consul at Fernando Po in 1861. He was subsequently consul here at Santos in Brazil and by 1872 was consul at Trieste.

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