Written In English
This striking late Victorian to early Edwardian edition of The Life of David Livingstone: The Great Missionary Explorer was published by The Walter Scott Publishing Co., likely in the 1890s to early 1900s. It traces the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. David Livingstone, the famed Scottish missionary and explorer who became a heroic figure in British imperial history. The book follows his early education, his arrival in Cape Town as a missionary, and his groundbreaking expeditions across southern and central Africa. Through vivid descriptions of tribal encounters, geographic discoveries like Lake Ngami, brushes with death—including his well-known lion attack—and tireless advocacy against the slave trade, the book presents Livingstone as both a man of science and deep spiritual conviction. Drawing from his own letters and reports, it offers an intimate and often dramatic look into his travels and trials, portraying him as a moral icon for young readers of the era.
The book was likely written to inspire perseverance, faith, and duty—values highly esteemed in Edwardian Britain. It was commonly awarded to students as a moral and educational prize, as seen in the prize label inside this copy, presented to a Mitchell Barnes in 1913 by Bethel Primitive Methodist Sunday School. The volume’s binding is a true visual delight: bound in bright blue cloth with an elaborate Art Nouveau floral design in red, green, and black. Gilt titles appear on both the spine and cover, framed by a field of bold poppies—making it not only a story of courage and discovery but also a collectible object of beauty. These richly decorated publisher’s bindings were crafted to stand out on bookshelves and serve as treasured keepsakes.
Condition:
In terms of condition, the book is solid and display-worthy with some gentle signs of age and character. The spine shows light fraying and softening at the head and foot, with some rubbing along the vertical crease. Cloth remains richly colored with only minor wear and a touch of toning to the back board. The pages inside are evenly toned with some scattered foxing and light soiling, all typical for a book of this age. The black endpapers are clean and crisp, and the prize inscription adds a lovely layer of provenance. The top edge gilt still retains a nice sheen, while the fore-edge shows light toning. Overall, this is a beautifully preserved and visually compelling piece—a book that bridges adventurous storytelling, missionary zeal, and turn-of-the-century decorative book design.
