1872 Richard Burton - ZANZIBAR - Lost Manuscript

BURTON, Richard Francis

Title: Zanzibar: City, Island, and Coast.
Publisher: London: Tinsley Brothers, 1872

Notes & Condition:    Richard Burton published more than fifty books in his lifetime, including poetry and translations of erotica and other classical works of Eastern culture, as well as original accounts of his travels. Burton's 'Zanzibar' is exceedingly scarce and highly treasured today. This is a contemporary reverent review of the title, written with superb insight, praise and Victorian humour, making this a rare treasure for any serious Burton afficianado. It also describes the discovery of the manuscript and contains passages from the author's writings. A substantial review, 18 pages. These are the original pages printed in 1872, in excellent condition, attractively bound booklet style in modern blue paper covers with label.

Prior to his East Africa Expedition with John Hanning Speke, Burton spent quite some time in and around Zanzibar and the African Mainland and wrote, as usual, a book about his travels. At the urging of Lawrence Oliphant, Burton also wrote an article on Zanzibar and his coasting voyage for Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine and was putting the finishing touches on both manuscripts as he set off on HMS Artemise for his Africa Expedition.

Once on the mainland he planned to entrust both manuscripts to Colonel Hammerton, HBM Consul in Zanzibar, who had accompanied him to the mainland. However, Hammerton was sick and Burton did not want to bother him. As a result he gave the Book manusript to the apothecary Frost in a package addressed to the Foreign Office. Frost, who hated Burton, took such good care of the manuscript, that it was lost for over 12 years and was finally found in a strong box in Bombay and published in 1872. By that time Burton had just returned from his Damascus appointment and was in London out of money and out of favour. The fact that the book was published 12 years late may account for its scarcity as it most likely did not sell very many copies.