A very RARE and beautiful and interesting 3 volume set...."Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa: Being a Journal of an Expedition Undertaken Under the Auspices of H.B.M.'S Government in the Years 1849-1855 Volumes I, II, and III of the set's five volumes. Johann Heinrich Barth ( 1821 1865) was a German explorer and scholar of Africa. He is thought to be one of the greatest of the European explorers of Africa, as his scholarly preparation, ability to speak and write Arabic, learning African languages, and character meant that he carefully documented the details of the cultures he visited. He was among the first to comprehend the uses of oral history of peoples, and collected many. He established friendships with African rulers and scholars during his five years of travel (1850 1855). After the deaths of two European companions, he completed his travels with the aid of Africans. Afterwards, he wrote and published a five-volume account of his travels in both English and German. The illustrations for Barth's work were created by Johann Martin Bernatz (1802 - 1878). Bernatz: was the artist who translated Barth's onsite sketches into the finished illustrations for the published work. The published volumes contained colored plates, making the book a significant and valuable scientific work for historians of Africa. Bound in the original dark green cloth covers with titling in gilt to spine. Externally light wear around edges and corners, shelfwear, light stains. Inside text clean!!!! Complete with all the Maps and illustrations!!! Ex library book with signs: numbers on spine, stamps first pages, stamps on corners of plates- overall plates good , mostly with tissue guards, stamps on front corner and back of maps- Maps overall in very good condition for age, some with a little repair on margins. Scarce and beautiful set! Perfect Christmas gift!!