Africa. Two Volumes

London: Edward Stanford, 1895. Hardcover. Near Fine. Hardcover. This is a particularly beautiful two volume edition of Keane's comprehensive and fascinating descriptive history of north and south Africa. There is an unobtrusive stamp of the Literary & Historical Society of Quebec, Canada, almost the only indication that this set was in a library. The work is part of Stanford's Compendium of Geography and Travel. The publisher writes in the preface that this is a new issue of this series, the single volume previously through sufficient was replaced by two, each somewhat larger than that work. Augustus Henry Keane (1833–1912) was an Irish Roman Catholic journalist and linguist, known for his ethnological writings. He studied in Germany and taught at Hameln; and became a linguist. He taught languages including Hindustani at the Hartley Institute, Southampton; a chair of Hindustani was created for him at University College, London, in 1883, Keane's racial theories were published first in Nature in 1879–81. He affirmed the specific unity of human beings in his 1896 text Ethnology, even if his views had some other implications. He produced racial typologies, in his expository writings. Keane was out of step with the anthropology of the time, preferring linguistic data to that of physical anthropology and came to occupy a marginal position in the emerging scientific discipline.[ On the other hand, his efforts at popularizing anthropology were praised by Sir Harry Johnston. Keane's views were invoked by F. W. Bell in South Africa from 1908, with those of Robert Bennett Bean, and played a part in the move of the Transvaal Native Affairs Society towards a segregationist position. He was known for his sympathies displayed in The Boer States (1900). The stance taken by Keane, who has been described as a "virulent racist", was conveyed in person when he addressed the Transvaal Native Affairs Society in 1909. He cited Robert Wilson Shufeldt of Virginia, author of The Negro a Menace to American Civilization (1907), aiding the Bell faction against the moderates around Howard Pim. [from Wikipedia].

The book is extensively illustrated, with 169 illustrations across the two volumes. Each volume also has a number of fold-out color maps. Each volume also has an extensive index. Bound in dark green cloth, with each volume having a detailed gilt illustration on its front cover and gilt titling and additional illustrations on the spine. Slight chipping to spine edges. Front and back black endpapers with some light chipping perhaps caused by the removal of a checkout slip or ownership label. Interior pages are clean and bright, and the maps are all in excellent condition although some have the stamp of the Literary & Historical Society on the back of the map. An exceptional set in almost fine condition. Each volume measures 5.25 x 7.75 inches. Volume I has 639 pages including index. Volume II has 671 pages including the index. The rear free endpapers have small black marks for some reason. AFRICA/051525.