Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #118 begins on 03 Oct 2024

W. Robert Foran

AFRICAN ODYSSEY - The Life of Verney Lovett-Cameron "one of the immortals of African Exploration" (1937) - in original dust jacket

Published: Hutchinson & Co., London, 1937

Edition: First Edition

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"The Amazing and Fascinating Story of the Great African Explorer".

Publisher's maroon cloth binding with gilt titles on the spine. Illustrated dust jacket.

389pp with 59 illustrations.

Binding tight. Contents clean. Map endpapers. Original bookseller's ticket at the bottom of rear paste down (Modern Books, 12 Church Street, Cape Town).

The book is in exceptionally good condition exhibiting white unmarked pages within and clean crisp boards without. The original dust jacket has age-associated wear along the edges and spine ends with some loss at the top edge of the front panel, it is nonetheless a rare survivor, which is almost never found.

'Commander Verney Lovett-Cameron, C.B., D.C.L., R.N., was the first European to cross Africa from East to West and his remarkable achievements in hazardous adventure and exploration in the heart of that continent were suitably recognised by the award of the C.B., the conferment of D.C.L., and the Gold Medal of the R.G.S.

His journey occupied nearly three years. Two of his white companions died - Moffat and Dr. Dillon - before Lake Tanganyika was reached; and Murphy, the only other, returned to the coast from Tabora with Livingstone's body. Cameron, undaunted and alone, went on to the lake, recovered Livingstone's papers at Ujiji, spent two months voyaging round the southern extremity of the lake, discovered the outflow of the lake and many other geographical features. Primarily he went out to join and help Livingstone, but met the latter's body being borne to the coast while still held up at Tabora by acute fever.

After the exploration of Lake Tanganyika, Cameron advanced to Nyangwe with the object of travelling down the Congo from its source to the Atlantic Ocean, but the extreme hostility of the natives prevented him doing this. With the aid of Tippu Tib he explored two small and hitherto unknown lakes; crossed into Angola (Portuguese West Africa) and found the source of the Zambezi; and eventually reached Benguella on the coast nearly dead from severe scurvy, starvation, fever and constant hardships endured.

Cameron's achievement is remarkable in the history of Africa and its exploration, linking up with the work of Burton, Speke, Grant, Livingstone, Stanley, Tippu Tib, Sir Samuel Baker, and others of those times; also with Sir John Kirk and Sir Bartle Frere. He has never really been accorded his rightful place in that record of African exploration. His story is far too little known or even remembered.

Major Foran himself has a deep knowledge of Africa and is well acquainted with the parts of Africa over which Commander Cameron travelled. From old documents and records he has brought to life a fascinating and amazing story.'

  • Jacket Condition: Fair
  • Binding Condition: Fine
  • Sold By: Rare Paper
  • Contact Person: Armandt Marais
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 0741235861
  • Preferred Payment Methods: EFT, Bank Deposit. For International Customers: Paypal with 6% surcharge, International Transfer
  • Trade Associations: A. A. Approved


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