BRUCE, James (1730-1794). Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile. First Edition.

Edinburgh: Printed by J. Ruthven, for G.G.J. and J. Robinson, Paternoster-row, London, MDCCXC [1790].

Travels to discover the source of the Nile: in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773: in five volumes / by James Bruce of Kinnaird, Esq. F.R.S.

Volume 5 with variant title: Select specimens of natural history, collected in Travels to discover the source of the Nile, in Egypt, Arabia, Abyssinia, and Nubia.

5 volumes, [61] leaves of plates (some folded): illustrations, maps, plans. Vol. 1: [12], lxxxiii, [2], 400, [8], 401-535, [1] p., [8] leaves of plates; v. 2: [4], viii, 718 p.; v. 3: [4], viii, 759, [1] p., [4] leaves of plates; v. 4: [2], viii, 695, [1] p., [3] leaves of plates; v. 5: [2], xiv, 230, [12] p., [46] leaves of plates (3 folded).

Bound in leather decorative gilt borders, gilt bands, red leather spine label, spine title gilt, black leather volume label.


H: 11 3/4 W: 9 1/2 in.

With stamp on verso of front free endpaper, “Books L. Lyon Ashtabula, O.” With “Very able prince,” in ink after several content entries in Vol. 2. With multiple marginal notations in ink in Vol. 2. and Vol. 3.

Fair, with front and back covers detached Vol. 1-4, partially detached Vol. 5, covers soiled, rubbed, corners bumped, and rubbed, edges soiled, front free endpaper of Vol. 1 partially detached; interior Good to Very Good, some slight foxing including on guard sheets and plates, some offsetting of plates in Vol. 5.