USUALLY CALLED THE CONGO, IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1816, UNDER DIRECTION OF CAPTAIN J. K. TUCKEY, R. N. TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE JOURNAL OF PROFESSOR SMITH; SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE COUTRY AND IS INHABITANTS; AND AN APPENDIX: CONTAINING THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THAT PART OF THE KINGDOM OF CONGO THROUGH WHICH THE ZAIRE FLOWS. PUBLISHED BY PERMISSION OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, 1818. In 4.º de 27x21 cm. Com [vi]-lxxxii-498 pags. Encadernação da época inteira marroquim castanho com nervos e ferros a ouro com motivos vegetalistas na lombada e nas pastas. Corte das folhas marmoriado. Exemplar com ex-libris do conde de Bobone. Ilustrado com um mapa desdobrável e 13 gravuras em extra-texto. Exemplar com alguma acidez própria do papel (foxing).  Illustrated with one folding map and 14 engraved plates, of which one is hand coloured. Original binding. Map and plates somewhat browned but overall a crisp and clean copy. First edition of the official account of the first scientific expedition to the Congo river. Added to this account was the journal of one of the expedition's naturalists, Professor Christen Smith. The extensive introduction is written by John Barrow, who as second secretary to the Admiralty had organized the expedition. 'A relatively important scientific travelogue, W. E. Leach having described a new species of Rafinesque's Ocythoë. J. Cranach gave an account of the collected animals at a whole, including 36 bird species' (Wood, p. 603). Stafleu 15287.