The African republic of Liberia and the Belgian Congo. Presentation copy
Publisher Information: Cambridge: Harvard U.P., 1930.
Strong, Richard Pearson (1872-1948), ed. The African republic of Liberia and the Belgian Congo. 2 vols. xxvi, 568; ix, 569-1064pp. 8 color plates; text illustrations and maps. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1930. 264 x 191 mm. Original maroon cloth, gilt-lettered spines and front covers, light edgewear and finger-soiling. Very good. Presentation Copy, inscribed by Strong to the dedicatee, Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898-1973) on the front free endpaper: “To Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. With much admiration for the success of his work carried out in Liberia under such difficult circumstances, and with gratitude for all the assistance he gave us in the prosecution of our investigations in that country from Richard P. Strong. Boston, Sept. 15th 1930.”
First Edition. The detailed record of the findings of the Harvard Medical African Expedition of 1926-27 to Liberia and the Belgian Congo, led by Strong — Harvard’s first professor of tropical medicine — and largely underwritten by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. We are offering the copy that Strong presented to Harvey S. Firestone junior, president of the Firestone Foundation, to whom the work is dedicated.
The primary purpose of the Harvard expedition was to conduct a medical and biological survey of Liberia, where Firestone intended to establish extensive rubber plantations to ensure a cheap and steady supply of raw materials for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. The Liberian interior was almost unknown to the West, so the Harvard team had to create accurate maps of the country’s geographical features as the expedition progressed. After exploring Liberia, the expedition crossed Africa from west to east through the Belgian Congo in order to make a comparative study of its Liberian findings. The expedition was a success, returning with an enormous number of biological specimens (including a gorilla, still on display at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology), and a wealth of information on local customs, indigenous diseases, native wildlife, etc. Garrison-Morton.com 12459.
Book Id: 45513Price: $450.00