This is the first American edition of Henry Stanley's work concerning the development of the Congo. After successfully locating David Livingstone (1871) and mapping the central African lakes (1875-77), Stanley was approached by Belgian King Leopold to explore and develop this interior region. To that extent, Stanley set up trading posts up and down the Congo River and established treaties with locals that helped to develop an early political and economic system. These systems would grow and evolve into the Congo Free State. Two volumes (528 pp., 483 pp.) with numerous illustrations throughout (both plates and in-text) and folding maps at the rear of each volume, including A Map of The Congo Basin and Adjoining Territories... (20.4 x 35.5"). Hardbound in green cloth with pictorial illustrations.
The two folding maps are good to very good with a number of small fold separations along the junctions. The second map at the end of volume 2 has a long horizontal fold separation spanning about two-thirds of the map. Text and plates are lightly toned with the title page and frontispiece to volume one detached. Front hinge is starting on both volumes, with an ex-library stamp on the front pastedown of volume one. Covers have average wear and light soiling.