The Belgian Congo.
8vo. XIII, (1), 558 pp. With 105 photo illustrations, 91 maps and text-figures (some folding), and 2 folded full-colour maps in back cover pocket. Original giltstamped green cloth.
€ 300,00
Geographical Handbooks Series (for official use only) B.R. 522 (Restricted). In-depth, profusely illustrated discussion of the Congo region. Produced during WWII for use of the Naval Intelligence Division, "to provide, for the use of Commanding Officers, information in a comprehensive and convenient form about contries which they may be called upon to visit, not only in war but in peace-time". The book's contents are, "however, by no means confined to matters of purely naval interest. For many purposes (e.g. history, administration, resources, communications, etc.) countries must necessarily be treated as a whole, and no attempt is made to limit their treatment exclusively to coastal zones" (1942 preface).
Spine and covers faded; edges and spine bronwstained. From the library of the English linguist Malcolm Guthrie (1903-72), arguably one of the most important Bantu scholars of his century, with his ms. ownership to flyleaf. His magnum opus, "Comparative Bantu", appeared in four volumes between 1967 and 1971.