[EGYPT] [SAHARA] [HORNEMANN, Friedrich]

The Journal of Frederick Horneman's Travels, from Cairo to Mourzouk, the Capital of the Kingdom of Fezzan in Africa. In the Years 1797-8

London: W. Bulmer & Co. for G. & W. Nicol, 1802. First U.K. Edition. First printing. Quarto (27cm). Contemporary sprinkled calf, gold roll around outer perimeter of boards, board edges tooled in blind, titled in gilt on red leather spine label; plain endpapers; iv,xxvi,195,[1]pp, with postscript leaf paginated "188*" inserted after p.188; 3 maps (2 folding, with routes traced in color) compiled by J. Rennell and engraved by J. Walker. Bookplate of John Bacon Lawrey Morritt, Rokeby Park. Sound and clean, mild rubbing to board edges, spine leather dry and cracking, internally with a few scatted spots of foxing, one folding map with small tear at center fold but otherwise Very Good. Collated and complete.

First English translation of Hornemann's travels, previously published in German (Weimar 1801). Hornemann, a student at Göttingen, was "engaged by the African Association [in London] with instructions to reach the River Niger by crossing the Sahara from Egypt." When Napoleon's army took Cairo, Hornemann managed to gain Napoleon's patronage for his journey. He joined a caravan heading toward Marzuq, and visited several oases before turning north to Tripoli. There he "sent despatches back to London," then joined a caravan heading south, and disappeared. Later information suggested that he had successfully crossed the Sahara but died of dysentery just north of the Niger. HOWGEGO I, H100.

Price: $750.00

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