Wit and Wisdom from West Africa; Or, a Book of Proverbial Philosophy, Idioms, Enigmas, and Laconisms by Burton, Richard F. (translator) - 1865

London: Tinsley Brothers. Very Good-. 1865. First Edition. Hardcover. Burton was British Consul for the Bight of Biafra and Fernando Po and compiled this book of sayings from the West African Wolof, Oji, Kanuri, Accra, Yoruba, Efik, and Mpangwe languages. This book is bound in half leather and pebbled cloth with marbled endpapers and gilded top page edges. The binding is circa 1900. According to the Penzer bibliography of Burton, this title was produced in both a red cloth binding and a plum cloth binding. The red was rare in Penzer's day (1923) , but the plum was not. Because the text of both issues was identical, it is now impossible, or at least exceptionally difficult to tell if this particular book was orginally in red cloth or plum cloth. Leather binding worn. All corners rubbed with loss of leather. Spine titles badly rubbed. Title is present, but Burton's name has been rubbed off the spine. Binding is sound and not cracked at all. Interior is mostly clean - there is a little bit of age spotting and a very occassional margin note from the previous owner, but the notes are in pencil and can be erased. Ships same or next business day well protected in a box. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 455 pages .