A collection of documents relating to Captain Robert Nelson’s involvement with Henry Morton Stanley in the Emin Pasha relief expedition. Robert Henry Nelson was one of Stanley’s key officers during his Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, commanding his No. 3 Company of Zanzibaris. Nelson was one of 5 out of 52 men that survived after being left behind by Stanley at what became known as ‘Starvation Fort.’ So this archive emerges from the last major private expedition in the Scramble for Africa which was immortalised in Stanley’s standard account In Darkest Africa. The expedition became infamous in the eyes of the British public as stories filtered out about the conduct by members of the expedition including desertion, murder, cannibalism and looting. Generally excellent condition, contained in Sotheby’s folders, later sold by Maggs and from a major private collection.
1. “Contract of Engagement for Emin Pacha Relief Expedition”: a draft of Nelson’s contract, specifying his duties, pay, allowances and equipment, 11 January 1887, 1 1/2 pages,
2. Two carbons of telegrams from Stanley to Nelson about his engagement, 3-10 January 1887, on Post Office forms.
3. Autograph letter signed by Colonel Sir Francis de Winton (Stanley’s organizer), to Nelson, giving embarkation instructions, one page, 8vo, 14 January 1887.
4. Letter by H. M. Stanley, 1 page, Cairo, 29 February 1890, to Nelson, congratulating him on his conduct in the Expedition (“... I hope Yorkshire will do the utmost to show its appreciation of your grand work in Africa...”), and referring to critics who have asked why he (Stanley) did not express his feelings of friendship for his assistants in the Expedition (“... I have replied consistently to all that a man’s epitaph cannot be written until he is dead...”)
5. Two copies in Nelson’s hand of a letter by Stanley, 1891, to Sir William Mackinnon, founder of the British East Africa Company, describing Nelson’s qualities as an explorer, and recommending him for employ men.
6. Five other items concerning Nelson’s career or the Expedition.
