Voyages and Travels
to India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, Abyssinia, and Egypt, in the years 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1806.
London: Printed for William Miller, 1809 Stock Code: 46982
The first British mission to Abyssinia,illustrated by Henry Salt
First edition of this "monumental" work (Manley and Rée), an attractive copy in the original boards, one of 50 large paper copies. Valentia's was the first British mission to Abyssinia, sent to conclude an alliance to obtain a port on the Red Sea in case Napoleonic France should seize Egypt, and was important in opening Abyssinia to the West.Also included here are descriptions of Lucknow, Benares, Seringapatam, Madras and Ceylon, and an overview of the inhabitants and history of the Abyssinian regions of Aksum and Adwa. Henry Salt supplied all the drawings upon which the plates are based and in the same year, 1809, published a series of hand-coloured aquatints under his own name entitled Twenty-Four Views in St Helena, the Cape, India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, Abyssinia and Egypt.
Description
3 volumes, quarto. Original sheep-backed boards, red morocco labels.
Illustrations
3 engraved vignette headpieces, 69 plates, maps and plans, 11 of them folding, including a 2 large maps of the Red Sea area, "from the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb to Salaka," & "From Salaka to Suez."
Condition
A little rubbed, hinges repaired, some plates with short splits at the fore-edge, 2 plates torn without loss and repaired, but overall a very good set, with the half-titles.
DELIVERY
With the exception of framed items*, Peter Harrington offers free delivery on all UK orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website. Delivery to USA and the rest of the world is similarly free for orders over £200.
ABOUT US
Established in 1969, Peter Harrington is one of the leading rare book firms in the world. It is a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association – along with ILAB, the PBFA and Lapada – and from shops in Mayfair and Chelsea, London, sells rare books, prints and ephemera to customers across the world.
Email: mail@peterharrington.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7591 0220
