LENFANT, Eugene Armand, Capt. (1865–1923). Le Niger voie ouverte a notre Empire Africain. With a Preface by M.E. Etienne and with an introduction by Colonel Peroz. Paris: Librairie Hachette, 1903.
Royal 8vo. (Some mild spotting to title–page and some other internal spotting). Numerous illustrations from photographs, large folding chart, large folding map at end. Half contemporary calf, marbled sides, red sheep lettering–piece gilt (spine a bit rubbed with splitting along joints, few stains). Provenance: Sir Frederick Lugard (1858–1945), armorial bookplate of the notable African explorer and former Governor of Hong Kong (1907–1912) and Governor of Nigeria (1914–1919).
FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO LUGARD on the title–page. In “Le Niger”, Lenfant describes how he met General Lugard during his mission on the Niger: “[He] is a man of average height, lean, and which seems absolutely roasted by the sun; he currently has nineteen years of residence in the Sudan. [He] speaks very little; he is an educated man, very shrewd and very amiable, coupled with an energetic and judicious manner”.