“For 160 Days We Marched Through The Forest”
“Only a man of Stanley’s iron resolution and invincible resource could have carried through the awful marches and counter-marches in the tropical forests…” (DNB).

Stanley had already successfully completed three major expeditions in Africa by the time he accepted what would prove to be his most ambitious and most dangerous attempt. An Austrian convert to Islam, Emin Pasha had been appointed by English General Charles Gordon as governor of the southernmost province of the Sudan. After the Islamic fundamentalist armies of El Mahdi expelled all Europeans and Egyptians from the Sudan and killed General Gordon at Khartoum, it was learned that Emin Pasha still held out, surrounded on all sides and cut off from civilization.

Stanley organized an elaborate rescue force of 650 men who traveled up the Congo and then overland through the dense Ituri forest. After enduring harrowing hardships and devastating losses of men and supplies, Stanley reached Emin in April 1888—only to discover that he was quite content and refused to be rescued. Ultimately Stanley insisted, carrying the reluctant leader and many of his followers to the east coast, thereby becoming the first to cross the width of Africa from coast to coast in both directions, discovering along the way Lake Edward and Mount Ruwenzori, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.”

We are pleased to offer the deluxe signed limited edition of Stanley’s account of the expedition, In Darkest Africa, two large thick quarto volumes bound in morocco and vellum, profusely illustrated, including 38 mounted plates on India paper and six full-page etchings each signed by the artist, one of only 250 copies signed by Stanley. Browse our current selection.