(Mason, Kenneth; H. S. L. Winterbotham et al.). The Belgian Congo.

€ 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.