Lot 6107: LYON, GEORGE FRANCIS, CAPTAIN. 1795-1832.

A Narrative of Travels in Northern Africa, in the Years 1818, 19, and 20; Accompanied by Geographical Notices of Soudan, and of the Course of the Niger. London: John Murray, 1821.
4to. xii, 383, [1] pp. Large folding map with routes colored and 17 hand-colored lithographed plates after drawings by Lyon. Period diced calf, raised bands, spines gilt, marbled edges and endpapers. Scattered faint foxing, title page and facing plate toned, offsetting to folding map with a few tiny tears at folds, spine slightly sunned, rubbing to joints, some scuffing to boards.

FIRST EDITION. Lyon and his companion, the English naturalist Joseph Ritchie, set out from Tripoli in the guise of Muslims to discover the route of the Niger river. The expedition took a tragic turn when, upon reaching Murzuq, the capital of Fezzan, Ritchie fell ill and died. Abbey Travel 304; Tooley 311.