Travel
BURTON, Richard Francis.
Personal narrative of a pilgrimage to El-Medinah and Meccah.
Longman, London 1855-56. First edition, 3 volumes, 8vo., xiv, (1, errata), 388; iv, 426; x, (1, list of plates), 448pp., half-title in volume 3, short tear to fore-margin of approximately 15 leaves in volume 2, folding map, 5 colour plates, 3 plans, of which 2 folding, 9 plain plates, light foxing to plates, illustrations in text, additional albumen print three-quarter length portrait of the author wrapped in a blanket pasted onto front free endpaper of volume one, modern half calf gilt, red and green labels, lightly rubbed.
One of the greatest works of travel ever published. Burton was the first English Christian to enter Mecca freely as a true Mohammedan pilgrim (travelling in disguise as an Afghan Pathan) and the first European to travel between the Holy Cities by the eastern route. Burton had originally intended to cross the peninsula but was frustrated by fierce fighting among the interior tribes. He spent a month at Medina before going on to Mecca where he performed all the rituals of the Hajj. Abbey, Travel, 368; Penzer 49-50; Ghani 62 (later edition).
Price: £ 4850
US Dollar Price: $ 7180
Stock Number: 77847