Through Masai Land:

author's presentation copy

Presentation copy on the half-title: 'To Mrs F. M. Hoake/ with the/ author's compliments/ Jan 26/85'.

A rare inscribed first edition of Thomson's Through Masia Land. Thomson was a British geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. He was the first European to enter several regions of eastern Africa and his writings are outstanding contributions to geographical knowledge, exceptional for their careful records and surveys. His motto is often quoted to be 'He who goes gently, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far'.

'In 1882 the Royal Geographical Society launched what was to be Thomson's major expedition, to try to find the shortest route from Zanzibar to Uganda. Travelling unarmed from the coastal city of Mombasa, in modern Kenya, he went by way of Kilimanjaro, surviving two crossings through the country of the Masai people, who had previously barred passage. He was the first European to note the existence of Lake Baringo, and he reached Lake Victoria on December 10, 1882' (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Thomson's gazelle and Thomson's Falls are named after him.

The work provided Rider Haggard with the inspiration for King Solomon's Mines.

First edition, presentation copy from Thomson; 8vo (23 x 15.5 cm); frontispiece, numerous wood-engraved illustrations, 14 full-page, 2 coloured folding maps, maps a little fragile with repairs to small tears to first map, still in good working order without loss; later half green calf, marbled boards, gilt lettering to spine in six gilt compartments, internally very good and externally fine; xii, 583 pp.

Czech p164; Hilmy 286.