Documents Scientifiques de la Mission Saharienne, mission Foureau-Lamy, d'Alger au Congo par le Tchad. Publication de la Société de Géographie.

Paris, Masson, 1905. Two volumes in two. Large 4to (32.7 x 25.2 cm). 1210 pp. [1-554; 555-1210]; 428 text illustrations, 30 plates and (larger, folding, coloured) maps. Original printed wrappers. = These two volumes comprise the scientific results of an expedition through Africa, across the Sahara, from Algeria to the Gulf of Guinea. The main author and editor, Fernand Foureau (1850-1914) was leader of the expedition. Traveling this poorly explored region in 1902-1903 was nearly as dangerous as it is know. Foureau brought back much new information on the geology and topography, ethnography, commerce, botany and palaeontology. "From 1898 to 1900 he undertook the long journey from Ouargla to Lake Chad with Army officer Amédée-François Lamy, known as the Foureau-Lamy Mission, which was part of the French strategy to conquer Chad and unify all French dominions in West Africa. He made maps, established trans-Saharan routes and performed numerous geographical and meteorological surveys. In 1901 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the French Société de Géographie"(Wikipedia). Foureau wrote a popular account, titled, "D'Alger au Congo par le Tchad. Avec 170 figures reproduites directement d'après les photographies de l'auteur et une carte de la région explorée. Mission saharienne Foureau-Lamy", which was published in octavo format. This much larger scientific publication, deals with astronomy, meteorology, orography, hydrography, topography, and botany (Tome I), and with geology, petrography, palaeontology, ethnography, prehistorical faunas, commerce, and economy; concluded with an index, tables and plates (Tome II). A separate, folio atlas with 16 plates is not included. Uncut, as issued. Small stamps on front wrappers, half-titles and titles. Edges a bit frayed and chipped, bookblocks far too heavy for the binding, hence most gatherings loose and much of the backstrip perished; internally, however, very good, clean and complete.