Africa.- Thomson (Joseph) To the Central African Lakes and Back: The Narrative of the Royal Geographical Society's East Central African Expedition, 1878-80, 2 vol., first edition, half-title in vol.1 only (as called for), mounted photographic portrait frontispieces of Keith Johnston and Thomson, 2 folding colour maps, 32pp. publishers' catalogue at end of vol.2, light foxing to frontispieces and titles, first frontispiece creased at corner, maps each with short tear at inner edge (one repaired), original decorated brown cloth, uncut, a little rubbed and marked, spines slightly darkened, traces of labels removed from upper covers, 8vo, 1881.

⁂ Thomson was a Scottish geologist and explorer who accompanied Alexander Keith Johnston on his expedition to establish a route from Dar es Salaam to Lake Nyasa and Lake Tanganyika. Johnston died during the trip and Thomson took over leadership of the expedition, travelling 3,000 miles in 14 months, collecting specimens and making observations. He became the first European to cross the 250 mile plateau between lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika.