Reisebilder aus Liberia

This two-volume work by Johann Büttikofer (1850-1927) is a classic publication on the history of Liberia, it peoples and the evolution of Africa's first black republic. It provides unique insights into the relationships between the indigenous peoples and the black American emigrants who were transported to West Africa stating in 1820. This publication details the sociopolitical situation in the 1880s, the economy, customary practices, religions and daily life. In addition to these contributions to our knowledge about Liberia, the author provides the first comprehensive look at the natural fauna of Liberia. Under the sponsorship of the natural history museum in Leiden, The Netherlands, a wide range of taxonomic specimens were collected, which resulted in the description of new species of mammals birds and reptiles. Many scientific papers followed these two expeditions in the 1880s, largely published in the Notes from the Leiden Museum. This work has never been translated into an English edition, however, E. J. Brill, the original publisher in 1890, is producing an Annotated English Translation of this work, by editors Henk Dop (Amsterdam) and Phillip T. Robinson (The University of Toledo -Ohio), which will be available by mid 2012. It includes an introduction to the work and biographical insights about Büttikofer'and his field associates. Significant sections of this work include fascinating descriptions about field explorations by foot and canoe into the then virtually unexplored rain forests of Liberia, and hardships endured due to climate, disease and occasional hostilities. In 1895, Büttikofer was awarded the Liberian Order of African Redemption by the government of Liberia for his contributions to the growth of the Liberian nation. - P. T. Robinson, 2011.