My Dark Companions and Their Strange Stories

New York, NY: Scribners, 1893. First American edition. Hardcover. Acceptable. 46 textual illustrations. First American edition of a collection from stories told 'round the campfire' on expedition with Stanley. "The nightly custom of gathering around the camp fire, and entertaining one another with stories began in 1875, after Sabadu, a page of King Mtesa, had astonished his hearers with the legend of 'The Blameless Priest'". In his introductory remarks, Stanley also notes that the genuine 'old stories' were marked by having in some way a moral to the tale. The best of these, from over 17 years, are gathered here by Stanley himself. The present copy has most certainly been 'on expedition'. An even dampstain to the rear board (set down on damp ground?) penetrates to the rear endpapers which are lightly marked. There is a stain also at the top inner hinge gutter, which very lightly penetrates through the text at the very top inside edge. The ferociously illustrated board is chewed by some creature at the very tip of the bottom corner, and lightly slobbered a bit futher, and up the front edge. The binding is sound and relatively square, the spine is decorated and only lightly dulled. Former owner name in pencil on brown endpapers. The text is good, pages are slightly loosened. Now in an archival acetate jacket to protect it for the adventures you will take it on.