FIRST EDITION OF ALLDRIDGE’S THE SHERBRO AND ITS HINTERLAND

ALLDRIDGE, Thomas Joshua. The Sherbro and its Hinterland. London: Macmillan, 1901. Octavo, original gilt-stamped blue cloth, uncut. $750.

First edition of this standard work on Sierra Leone, with 61 photographic plates and two large folding maps, one in color, in original cloth-gilt.

Appointed commissioner at Sherbro, one most lucrative regions of Britain’s Sierra Leone colony, Alldridge came into office at a time of great conflict. Throughout Sierra Leone, neighboring tribes were engaged in violent clashes related to control of the still-extant slave trade. As part of his duties, Alldridge spent a great deal of time traveling around the country, meeting with various chieftans and tribal heads about the conflict, and gaining an in-depth understanding of Sierra Leone’s social, economic, and political culture. In this work, Alldridge focuses particular attention on the area’s indigenous products, secret societies, system of justice, specific chiefs, treaties, and the Mendi uprising of 1898. Pencil owner signature. Red notations to color map.

Two small closed tears to maps, foxing to endpapers, light wear to binding. A near-fine copy.