James Bruce
Animals of the Blue Nile


These handsome copper-plate engravings are cut from James Bruce 's classic Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the years 1768-1773, published by J. Ruthven, Edinburgh, in 1790.  Bruce, a physically impressive, red-haired Scotsman spent years in North Africa as Britain's consul general.  In 1768, he resolved to explore the interior of East Africa in hope of discovering the source of the Nile, preparing himself by studying numerous languages, navigation, and medicine. He eventually arrived in the Ethiopian capital Gondar in 1770, where he was received by the king Tecla Haimanot.  While in Ethiopia, he used his medical skills to stem an outbreak of smallpox and also served in military campaigns for the monarchy.  Apparently unaware of earlier Jesuit expeditions to find the source of the Blue Nile, Bruce believed himself to be the first European to discover that river, which he took to be the Nile itself.  Despite criticism alleging his account to be untruthful, his narrative skill produced an epic of African travel.

Size:  11.25 x 8.5 inches


jcorwin@classicnatureprints
Name
Price
Condition



BRUC-1
Abba Gumba
75.00
Excellent

abou hannes

BRUC-2
Abou Hannes
Sold
Excellent

bee cuckoo

BRUC-3
Bee Cuckoo
75.00
Excellent



BRUC-4
Nisser Tokoor
75.00
Excellent

nisser mark

BRUC-5
Nisser Merk
75.00
Excellent



BRUC-6
Rachamah
75.00
Excellent



BRUC-7
Sheregrig
75.00
Excellent

jerboa

BRUC-8
Jerboa
75.00
Excellent



BRUC-9
Lynx
75.00
Excellent
BRUC-10
Hyena

75.00
Excellent

rattlesnake

BRUC-11
Rattlesnake

75.00
Excellent

J. Bruce Animals

Animal Artists

Home