Three Autograph Letters, signed, to Madame Emilie de Morier (née Naville)
Various places: 1887, 1890 and 1893. Letters dated Feb 1, 1887, April 24, 1890 and Feb. 15, 1893. Written in a clear hand that is quite easy to read. The first, and longest (approx. 600 words on 8 pages), was written on board the steamer Navarino as Jephson was en route to his rendezvous with destiny as one of the leaders of Stanley's ill-fated and poorly planned expedition to rescue Emin Pasha. Jephson details his last minute involvement in the scheme and his understanding of the nature of the undertaking. The second letter (approx. 200 words on 4 pages), on stationery from a hotel in Brussels, apologizes for not seeing her when he passed through Paris on his return to London via Brussels, and similarly apologizes for not making contact with her children at Ayires. The final letter (approx. 180 words on 4 pages), written in French, announces that he is in Paris working hard to learn French and expresses the wish that she might visit him. Jephson, young and inexperienced when he left for Africa, survived Stanley's expedition but returned to England with his health in ruins. Very Good. Item #33979
Price: $650.00