Lot 435: LIVINGSTONE, DAVID

DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873) Scottish missionary and explorer, discovered Victoria Falls and the source of the Nile, rescued by Henry M. Stanley at Ujiji. Rare, fine content A.L.S. "David Livingston " 6pp. 8vo., [London], May 23, 1865, to renowned British reformer Miss [Angela] Coutts, in part: "...I am sorry that Miss Livingstone and I failed to find you at home when we called...I take the liberty...to say a word about your plan to benefit the people of Borneo by the development of their industry. Dr. Meller informed me that you have been desirous for some time of enlisting some one to do it for you in that country, and Ms. Horace Waller whom I know very well has also spoken to me on the subject...It is excessively difficult to get men who will act conscientiously in a work of benevolence when out of sight, but having seen that my friend Waller acted in...all circumstances as an active honorable upright man and a true Christian missionary I feel sure that if you should fall in want of a thoroughly trustworthy agent you may venture to give this as your introduction...He has a kindly disposition toward the natives, always gets on well with them and behaved so nobly toward the poor orphans left my good bishop Mackentyre...". Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906) was one of the wealthiest women in England, helping to inaugurate the society for the prevention of cruelty to children, and was a supporter of missionary efforts on all fronts. She was associated with Florence Nightingale and Louise Twining, and in 1877-78, raised the Turkish compassionate fund for the starving peasantry and fugitives of the Russo-Turkish War. Her efforts reached out to the Dyaks of Borneo and the aborigines of Australia. Boldly written and in very good condition. Livingstone is rare in any form. $3,500-4,500