Details
JAMES BRUCE (1730-1794)
Travels to discover the source of the Nile, in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773. Edinburgh: J.Ruthven for G. & J.Robinson of London, 1790. 5 volumes, 4° (290 x 230mm). Half-titles. Engraved title vignettes, 3 folding maps (neatly repaired), 3 folding battle plans, 55 plates and 4 leaves showing Ethiopian dialect scripts. (Occasional light spotting.) Contemporary light brown half calf gilt, spines with onlaid red and red-on-blue morocco lettering-pieces (very neat repairs to joints and head and foot of spines). Provenance: Sir Archibald Grant of Monymoske (armorial bookplate).
A fine copy of the first edition. Bruce 'arrived in Egypt in 1768 accompanied by the Italian artist Luigi Balugani. Bruce spent five years in Upper Egypt, Abyssinia, and in the exploration of the Nile. He learned Arabic, modern Greek and Amharic. More than 150 years had passed since any European had visited Abyssinia except for the French surgeon Poncet, and Bruce's account provided important information. The plates, based on his own and Balugani's drawings, include maps, botanical and zoological specimans, antiquities, artifacts and plans of monuments. But the interest of his travels is to be found as much in their literary qualities as in his portrayal of Abyssinia', Blackmer 221; Gay 44; Nissen ZBI 617. (5)
Travels to discover the source of the Nile, in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773. Edinburgh: J.Ruthven for G. & J.Robinson of London, 1790. 5 volumes, 4° (290 x 230mm). Half-titles. Engraved title vignettes, 3 folding maps (neatly repaired), 3 folding battle plans, 55 plates and 4 leaves showing Ethiopian dialect scripts. (Occasional light spotting.) Contemporary light brown half calf gilt, spines with onlaid red and red-on-blue morocco lettering-pieces (very neat repairs to joints and head and foot of spines). Provenance: Sir Archibald Grant of Monymoske (armorial bookplate).
A fine copy of the first edition. Bruce 'arrived in Egypt in 1768 accompanied by the Italian artist Luigi Balugani. Bruce spent five years in Upper Egypt, Abyssinia, and in the exploration of the Nile. He learned Arabic, modern Greek and Amharic. More than 150 years had passed since any European had visited Abyssinia except for the French surgeon Poncet, and Bruce's account provided important information. The plates, based on his own and Balugani's drawings, include maps, botanical and zoological specimans, antiquities, artifacts and plans of monuments. But the interest of his travels is to be found as much in their literary qualities as in his portrayal of Abyssinia', Blackmer 221; Gay 44; Nissen ZBI 617. (5)