BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821–1890).

BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821–1890). Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to El Medinah and Meccah. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1857. 2 volumes, 8vo. Half–titles, 5 chromolithographs including frontispieces, 8 tinted lithographs, one woodcut, folding map, 3 plans (2 folding), numerous in–text wood–engraved vignettes. Original publisher’s blindstamped blue cloth, gilt–lettered spines (spines darkened, partially detached upper joint in Volume I with tiny repair, some fraying at ends, hinges cracked, front free endpapers reinforced at gutters). Provenance: Powers Library, Moravia, New York (rubberstamp). SECOND ENGLISH EDITION, of “one of the greatest works of travel ever published” (Penzer). Disguised as a Muslim pilgrim, Burton was one of the first Westerners to visit Mecca and other holy Islamic sites. Includes two additional appendices and alterations from the first edition published in 1855–56. Abbey, Travel 368 (first edition); Penzer, pp. 49–50.