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RUTTER, Eldon.
The Holy Cities of Arabia.
Publisher: London & New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, Ltd., 1928
Stock code: 60780
Price: £850 Currency Conversion
First edition. This copy inscribed on the front free endpaper of the first volume; "Sibyl M. Parry/ With the compliments of her privileged friend, Eldon Rutter. 3.XII.1928." Rutter was young Englishman who was inspired by the exploits of Burckhardt and Burton to attempt the hajj. Following service during the First World War, he took employment in the Malay States in order to learn Arabic and continued his studies in Egypt "where he lived as a native until he felt so thoroughly at home in the language and well versed in the rites and traditions of Islam as to be confident of his ability to carry through the pilgrimage as a fully fledged Muhammadan." (Sir Percy Cox's Geographical Journal review) Despite the death of his intended travelling companion, and the outbreak of hostilities in the Hejaz, "nothing daunted" Rutter "determined to adhere to his long-cherished plans," and set out from Suez for Massawa, wisely avoiding the usual route via Jiddah. A little over a year later he was back in Egypt. "Thus ended a great enterprise, carried through with consummate pluck and fixity of purpose, and now given to his countrymen in two absorbing volumes which leave noting to be desired either in literary style or human interest." Rarely encountered signed.
2 volumes octavo. Original bottle green buckram on bevelled boards, title gilt to spines, Arabic script to the upper boards - Mecca to Volume I, Medina to Volume II - top edges gilt the others uncut. Photogravure frontispiece to each volume and 8 maps in all, 2 double- and 6 full-page, author's portrait from the jacket mounted verso of the front free endpaper of Volume I. A little rubbed, light toning, but overall a very good set.
