BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821-1890). Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo. London: Sampson Low, et al, 1876.

BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821-1890). Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo. London: Sampson Low, et al, 1876.

2 volumes, 8vo. With 2 color-printed folding maps, 4 wood-engraved plates, and 21 illustrations in text. (Tiny marginal splitting to map, pale spotting to prelims, vol. II shaken.) Original publisher's cloth (covers a bit rubbed). Provenance: Charles A. Garrett (signature dated 1880).FIRST EDITION. The book describes Burton's second expedition from his consular posting at Fernando Po, made in 1862-1863. "Gorillas had fascinated [Burton] ever since his friend Paul de Chaillu reported his amazing discovery of these simians to incredulous audiences in London in July 1861" (Frank McLynn, Snow Upon the Desert, p.191). In the end, Burton only managed to see a captive gorilla, added to which he nearly drowned and was struck by lightning. Casada 66; Penzer, p. 94.
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