Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire usually called the Congo in South Africa in 1816

1 volume. First edition 1818.

Bookplate of Frederick A. Wood, Highfields, Chew Magna, Somerset.

Half burgundy leather over red buckram.

Gilt raised bands and title to spine. Marbled page blocks.

Fold-out chart of the River Zaire 34 x 54 cm.

lxxxii, 498 pages.

13 full-page plates [1 coloured].

Staining and foxing present throughout

James Kingston Tuckey (1776-1816), an Irish-born English naval officer,

was captured by the French on a voyage from St. Helena in 1805 and suffered

an imprisonment of nearly nine years. Promoted to the rank of commander in

1814, he was later assigned to lead an expedition to explore the Congo River in

1816 to learn if there was a connection between the Congo and Niger basins.

He explored the river up to 480 km from the sea. Most of the officers and crew

died of fever and Tuckey himself died on 14 October 1816, aged 40, in Moanda,

on the coast of today's Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the expedition

appeared a failure it raised interest in the exploration of Africa.

Recorded shipping weight 2500g.

Shipped and insured by recorded delivery