Mungo Park – Travels in the Interior of Africa, 1817

PARK, Mungo. Travels in the Interior of Africa, in the Years 1795, 1796, 1797, also in 1805 and 1806; Including Both Expeditions of that Celebrated Traveller. Compiled from his Original Works, and Other Authentic Sources, by John Campbell, Esq. London: Printed for A. K. Newman & Co., Leadenhall Street; by Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 1817. 12mo. 

An early nineteenth-century single-volume account of both of Mungo Park’s expeditions into the interior of West Africa, compiled by the Scottish missionary and traveller John Campbell from Park’s published writings and other contemporary sources.

Park’s first expedition of 1795–97, undertaken for the African Association, established his reputation as one of the most celebrated European explorers of his generation. Travelling inland from the Gambia, he reached the Niger at Segu and provided European readers with one of the earliest substantial first-hand accounts of the river and the societies through which he travelled. He returned to West Africa in 1805 at the head of a second expedition intended to trace the Niger further east. Disease and exhaustion devastated the party, and Park himself died at Bussa in 1806 while attempting to escape an attack on the river.

Published little more than a decade after Park’s death, Campbell’s compact account brought together the narratives of both journeys in a single accessible volume, ending with the circumstances surrounding Park’s final expedition. The engraved frontispiece dramatically depicts the the disastrous event.

Provenance

With the handsome engraved armorial bookplate of Bushell Anningson to the front pastedown, displaying three ladders on the shield, a ladder as crest, and crossed sword and firearm beneath. The same armorial bookplate is recorded in the Franks Bequest; an impression there is noted as being on paper watermarked 1838.

Accompanying the volume is a later photocopy of the 1827 sale catalogue for the contents of Pinsley House, Broad Street, Leominster, sold by J. P. Bradford on 9–11 April 1827, which specifically lists “Mungo Park’s Travels in Africa, &c.” under Books.

Size

18.5 × 11 cm.

Condition

Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Binding heavily rubbed and worn, with considerable surface loss to the marbled paper, wear to corners and edges; sometime rebacked, with the original spine laid down. The gilt spine lettering remains clearly legible. Internally generally sound, with scattered spotting, foxing and age-toning, occasionally heavier. The engraved frontispiece is detached but present, with spotting. Heavily cancelled early ownership inscription to verso of title, with some resulting show-through. Armorial bookplate well preserved.

Despite the externally worn binding, an appealing copy distinguished by the Bushell Anningson provenance and by the unusual accompanying material raising the possibility of an earlier Pinsley House connection.

Bibliographical Note

Engraved frontispiece, [8], 254, [2] pp. publisher’s advertisements, followed by a blank rear flyleaf.

Campbell’s compilation had appeared at Edinburgh through Oliver & Boyd in 1816; this London edition was issued the following year by A. K. Newman & Co., with Oliver & Boyd named as printers on the title page.

References

Franks Bequest, Catalogue of British and American Book Plates, s.v. “Anningson, Bushell” — “1838 watermark in paper.”