First Edition of Bruce's Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile

James Bruce of Kinnaird. TRAVELS TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, IN THE YEARS 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, AND 1773. (5) volumes (complete). Edinburgh: Printed by J. Ruthven, for G. G. J. and J. Robinson, London, 1790. First edition, Edinburgh imprint. Rebound in red morocco boards with gilt-stamped spine, all edges gilt, and blue endpapers. 4to; [12], lxxxiii, [1], 535, [9]; [4], viii, 718; [4], viii, 759, [1]; [4], viii, 695, [1]; [4], xiv, 230, [12]pp. With half-titles, engraved vignettes on titles, (58) plates, plus vol. I with four leaves of Ethiopian dialects and vol V. with three folding maps. ESTC T51608; Hilmy 1, 91; Cox 388; Playfair, 120.

Each 12 1/8 x 9 5/8 in.

Private Collection, Jupiter, Florida

All volumes with the armorial bookplate of Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan (Scottish, 1792-1851). Maitland was a judge, lawyer, and member of Parliament, and he was also known for his large book collection.

Per Edward Godfrey Cox, this is "sometimes called the best edition" (A Reference Guide to the Literature of Travel, p. 388).

James Bruce (Scottish, 1730-1794) was a traveler, writer, and linguist. After his travels in Europe, he turned his focus to finding the source of the Blue Nile. He spent time in Ethiopia, the Sudan, and many other locations in his efforts, and he later wrote about his travels. Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile was extremely popular and was eventually published in several editions, including one in French.

Sturdy boards with light marks and scuffs, extremities rubbed, darkening to leather mostly at edges and spine, and occasional small tears to leather; wear to spine ends and joints rubbed and creased with occasional wormhole and cracking starting; vol. III with cracking at tail of front joint; interiors with staining from glue on endpapers, mostly light toning, scattered mostly light foxing and spotting, expected offsetting, and occasional grime, small stain, or small chip, loss, or tear (concentrated at margins and with an occasionally larger tear); some variation in paper thickness and toning throughout; occasional hinge cracking; vol. I with handwritten binding information tipped in at half title; vol. IV with one leaf with a very small repair at the inner margin, Z2 with damp staining, and the three plans all with a small tear at the inner margin from unfolding (second and third plans possibly dating later?); vol. V with minor gutter cracking, a glue repair to H4, and one plate extended; maps with toning at margins, the first with a closed tear at a fold, the second with staining at margin; pages overall extremely crisp and clean. A very good set.