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The rare 'Mungo Park' trunk, in bullock hide with brass studs.…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Auckland
Date:
28-Mar-2014
Lot No.
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Description:
The rare 'Mungo Park' trunk, in bullock hide with brass studs. The famous explorer Mungo Park was born in 1771 in Foulshiels-Selkirk, Scotland. He was a Scottish explorer of the African continent, a qualified surgeon and the first Westerner known to have travelled to the Niger river. in 1795 he was appointed by the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the interior of parts of Africa wanting proof of the course of the river Niger and to look for the fabled city of Timbuktu. He was accompanied by 30 soldiers and an ex-slave called Johnson. Park reached the river Niger in 1796, then returned to England presumably with the trunk. He subsequently wrote the book 'Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa' which was a sell out success. He used the book's royalties to set himself up as a surgeon. Back in Selkirk he married Alice Anderson. on his third and final trip to the river the trunk did not accompany him. Mungo Park, drowned in the Niger. There is a monument in Selkirk, Scotland of Mungo Park. The trunk was also exhibited at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. (more information can be found on various web sites). The trunk also comes with the book 'Mungo Park's Trunk' by Nola Easdale. Height 51 cm. Width 93 cm. Depth 53 cm
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified