Edinburgh: J. Murray, 1790
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773 by James Bruce of Kinnaird
First Edition. A remarkably rare, untrimmed set of this monumental work, considered "one of the great travel accounts of the eighteenth century" (ODNB). This is a truly exceptional opportunity to own a piece of exploration history.
James Bruce of Kinnaird (1730-1794) achieved legendary status as only the second European since the 1630s to penetrate the isolated mountain kingdom of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). His exploits rivaled those of Captain Cook and Joseph Banks, fresh from their Pacific voyages. Upon his return, however, Bruce's tales of his adventures, encompassing far more than just the Nile's source, met with disbelief and ridicule, most notably from Samuel Johnson, who had previously translated the account of Jeronimo Lobo. It took sixteen years for Bruce's meticulous yet disorganized notes and journals to be painstakingly edited by William Logan and later Benjamin Latrobe, finally bringing his incredible journey to the public.
Published in 1790, this work, conforming to 18th-century travel writing conventions, is a rich and "immethodical miscellany." Within its pages, readers encounter thrilling adventure narratives, reported dialogues, and even Shandean asides boasting of Bruce's interactions with African women. These more personal accounts are interwoven with a detailed, if sometimes pedantic, history of ancient Ethiopia, which forms a substantial portion of the first two volumes. Furthermore, Bruce provides vivid descriptions of contemporary Abyssinian life, politics, and natural history, offering a comprehensive portrait of the region.
The book was an immediate sensation, with most of the original edition selling out to booksellers within a mere thirty-two hours. It was quickly translated into French and German, further demonstrating its widespread appeal. This set includes the often-missing fifth volume, "Select Specimens of Natural History, collected in Travels to discover the Source of the Nile, in Egypt, Arabia, Abyssinia, and Nubia." The volume features exceptional plates, based on the original drawings of Bruce and his companion Luigi Balugani and masterfully engraved by Heath. These illustrations bring to life the flora, fauna, and people encountered during their extraordinary expedition. This untrimmed and uncommon first edition represents a significant contribution to the history of exploration and a cornerstone of any serious collection of Africana or 18th-century literature.
