|
Richard Francis
Burton's The Land of Midian (Revisited) |
|
|
"Throughout the summer of 1877 I was haunted by memories of mysterious Midian. The Golden Region appeared to me in the glow of primaeval prosperity described by the Egyptian hieroglyphs; as rich in agriculture and in fertility, according to the old Hellenic travellers, as in its Centres of civilization, and in the precious metals catalogued by the Sacred Books of the Hebrews." |
| BURTON, Richard F. The
Land of Midian (Revisited). London: Kegan Paul, 1879. Octavo, original
ochre cloth. Two volumes. $3800.
First edition of Burton's second expedition through Midian (northwest Arabia). Although Burton failed to unearth the vast amounts of gold he believed were in the region, the expedition, sponsored by the Egyptian Khedive Ismail I, was a major geographical and archaeological success. Complete with folding map, 6 colored plates, 10 uncolored plates, numerous illustrations in the text, and 32-page catalogue at end of vol. 2. Map and plates in pristine condition. Provenance: the prestigious Signet Library, with handsome "Society of Writers to her Majesty's Signet" bookplate with coat-of-arms on front pastedown of each volume and "Signet Library" written in ink on front free endpaper of each volume. Very mild darkening to spines and slight rubbing to spine ends. A beautiful copy, rare in this condition. |