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Exploration & Travel : Arabia & the Middle East

Rare items covering Arabia, the Holy Land, Syria, and Iraq, from the earliest explorers such as Carsten Niebuhr, John Lewis Burckhardt, Richard Burton, and Charles Doughty, through to T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, and Wilfred Thesiger, containing the first mentions of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, and more.

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  • A beautifully printed edition of <em>Varthema's Itinerary</em>, describing the first recorded visit by a European to Mecca
    A beautifully printed edition of <em>Varthema's Itinerary</em>, describing the first recorded visit by a European to Mecca

    VARTHEMA, Ludovico de.
    The Itinerary Ludovico de Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508. 1928.
    £300.00

  • Many Happy Returns.
    Many Happy Returns.

    DOWSON, Margaret Joy.
    Many Happy Returns. 29th March 1927.
    £1,500.00

  • Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia.
    Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia.

    LORIMER, John Gordon.
    Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia. 2003.
    £4,000.00

  • John Lorimer's Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia, one of the most important primary sources for the study of the Gulf.
    John Lorimer's Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia, one of the most important primary sources for the study of the Gulf.

    [ARABIAN GULF]. LORIMER, John Gordon.
    Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia. 2003.
    £4,000.00

  • First edition of Jean de la Roque's Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, a description of the Kingdom of Yemen and Moka, and a treatise of coffee including three attractive plates of the coffee plant.
    First edition of Jean de la Roque's Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, a description of the Kingdom of Yemen and Moka, and a treatise of coffee including three attractive plates of the coffee plant.

    ROQUE, Jean de la.
    Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, 1716.
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands, his classic narrative of his time spent amongst the Bedouins of South Arabia.
    First edition of Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands, his classic narrative of his time spent amongst the Bedouins of South Arabia.

    THESIGER, Wilfred.
    Arabian Sands. 1959.
    £500.00

  • The 1942 edition of the Persian Gulf Pilot, with the 1948 supplement, a scarce pilot guide of the Persian gulf describing Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, and numerous other villages and towns along the Arabian coast.
    The 1942 edition of the Persian Gulf Pilot, with the 1948 supplement, a scarce pilot guide of the Persian gulf describing Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, and numerous other villages and towns along the Arabian coast.

    [ARABIAN GULF].
    Persian Gulf Pilot 1942.
    £3,500.00

  • A rare and important record of Hamilton's voyage across Egypt to Sudan and the Hedjaz, with a dedicated chapter on Islam and the life of the Prophet.
    A rare and important record of Hamilton's voyage across Egypt to Sudan and the Hedjaz, with a dedicated chapter on Islam and the life of the Prophet.

    HAMILTON, James.
    Sinai, the Hedjaz, and Soudan: 1857.
    £5,500.00

  • First edition of this celebration of the first seven years of the United Arab Emirates, with text by Peter Hellyer and photographs by Pier Giorgio Sclarandis.
    First edition of this celebration of the first seven years of the United Arab Emirates, with text by Peter Hellyer and photographs by Pier Giorgio Sclarandis.

    HELLYER, Peter; SCLARANDIS, Pier Giorgio (photographer).
    United Arab Emirates. 1978.
    £550.00

  • First trade edition of A Pilgrim in Arabia by Harry St John Philby, the account of Philby's Hajj in 1930, in the scarce dust-jacket.
    First trade edition of A Pilgrim in Arabia by Harry St John Philby, the account of Philby's Hajj in 1930, in the scarce dust-jacket.

    PHILBY, Harry St. John B.
    A Pilgrim in Arabia. 1946.
    £375.00

  • The complete development plans of Saudi Arabia from 1970 to 1995 with supplementary documents and reports including the master plans for Jeddah.
    The complete development plans of Saudi Arabia from 1970 to 1995 with supplementary documents and reports including the master plans for Jeddah.

    [ARABIAN GULF; SAUDI ARABIA].
    Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Saudi Arabia. 1994.
    £7,500.00

  • Survey of the Shores and Islands of the Persian Gulf 1820-1829, the first systematic examination of the coastal topography of the Arabian Gulf with 55 maps and views.
    Survey of the Shores and Islands of the Persian Gulf 1820-1829, the first systematic examination of the coastal topography of the Arabian Gulf with 55 maps and views.

    [ARABIAN GULF]. COOK, Andrew (editor).
    Survey of the Shores and Islands of the Persian Gulf 1820-1829. 1990.
    £3,500.00

  • An extensive collection of documents and letters covering the reign of King Abdulaziz, also known as Ibn Saud and the first king of a unified Saudi Arabia, from the reconquest of Riyadh in 1902 until his death in 1953.
    An extensive collection of documents and letters covering the reign of King Abdulaziz, also known as Ibn Saud and the first king of a unified Saudi Arabia, from the reconquest of Riyadh in 1902 until his death in 1953.

    [ARABIAN GULF; SAUDI ARABIA]. BURDETT, Anita L. (editor).
    King Abdul Aziz: Diplomacy and Statecraft 1902-1953 [and] Political Correspondence 1904-1953. 2020.
    £4,500.00

  • Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Kuwait.
    Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Kuwait.

    [ARABIAN GULF; KUWAIT].
    Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Kuwait. 1994.
    £3,250.00

  • Records of Kuwait: 1899-1961.
    Records of Kuwait: 1899-1961.

    [ARABIAN GULF; KUWAIT]. RUSH, A de L.
    Records of Kuwait: 1899-1961. 1989.
    £4,500.00

  • Niebuhr went to Egypt, Arabia and Syria, Mount Sinai, went to Jeddah and from there to Mocha. He returned overland Cyprus and Constantinople.
    Niebuhr went to Egypt, Arabia and Syria, Mount Sinai, went to Jeddah and from there to Mocha. He returned overland Cyprus and Constantinople.

    NIEBUHR, Carsten; HERON, Robert (translator).
    Travels Through Arabia, and Other Countries in the East, 1792.
    £5,750.00

  • First edition of The Wanderer in Arabia by George Lowth, a scarce travel work recounting journeys through Egypt, the Sinai, Holy Land, and Syria.
    First edition of The Wanderer in Arabia by George Lowth, a scarce travel work recounting journeys through Egypt, the Sinai, Holy Land, and Syria.

    LOWTH, George T.
    The Wanderer in Arabia; or, Western Footsteps in Eastern Tracks. 1855.
    £3,500.00

  • First English translation of this early travel account by an Arabian explorer, Ibn Al Mujawir, in the thirteenth century.
    First English translation of this early travel account by an Arabian explorer, Ibn Al Mujawir, in the thirteenth century.

    AL-MUJAWIR, Ibn; REX SMITH, G. (translator).
    A Traveller in Thirteenth-Century Arabia. 2008.
    £150.00

  • First edition of Locher's With Star and Crescent, describing Muscat and Baghdad.
    First edition of Locher's With Star and Crescent, describing Muscat and Baghdad.

    LOCHER, A.
    With Star and Crescent. 1889.
    £450.00

  • The Travels of the Chevalier D'Arvieux in Arabia the Desart;
    The Travels of the Chevalier D'Arvieux in Arabia the Desart;

    ARVIEUX, Laurent d'; ROQUE, Jean de la (editor).
    The Travels of the Chevalier D'Arvieux in Arabia the Desart; 1732.
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of Slave-catching in the Indian Ocean by Philip Colomb, a scarce work by the inventor of 'Colomb's Flashing Signals', recounting his travels and encounters with the Omani slave trade.
    First edition of Slave-catching in the Indian Ocean by Philip Colomb, a scarce work by the inventor of 'Colomb's Flashing Signals', recounting his travels and encounters with the Omani slave trade.

    COLOMB, [Philip Howard].
    Slave-catching in the Indian Ocean. 1873.
    £1,750.00

  • Paris' comprehensive survey of sailing vessels and a valuable contribution to preserving the artifacts of the maritime cultures of the world
    Paris' comprehensive survey of sailing vessels and a valuable contribution to preserving the artifacts of the maritime cultures of the world

    PARIS, François-Edmond.
    Essai sur la Construction Navale des Peuples Extra-Européens 1841.
    £20,000.00

  • Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Bahrain and Qatar.
    Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Bahrain and Qatar.

    [ARABIAN GULF; BAHRAIN; QATAR].
    Development Plans of the GCC States 1962-1995: Bahrain and Qatar. 2026.
    £750.00

  • First edition of Wilfrid Thesiger's Marsh Arabs, his account of his time with the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq in the 1950's.
    First edition of Wilfrid Thesiger's Marsh Arabs, his account of his time with the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq in the 1950's.

    THESIGER, Wilfrid.
    The Marsh Arabs. 1964.
    £250.00

  • Arabia of the Wahhabis by Harry St John Philby, the 1977 New impression with new plates and addiitional material.
    Arabia of the Wahhabis by Harry St John Philby, the 1977 New impression with new plates and addiitional material.

    PHILBY, H. St John.
    Arabia of the Wahhabis. 1977.
    £250.00

  • First edition of The Empty Quarter by Harry St. John Philby, charmingly bound.
    First edition of The Empty Quarter by Harry St. John Philby, charmingly bound.

    PHILBY, Harry St. John B.
    The Empty Quarter 1933.
    £850.00

  • The signed limited extra-illustrated edition of In the Steps of St. Paul by H. V. Morton.
    The signed limited extra-illustrated edition of In the Steps of St. Paul by H. V. Morton.

    MORTON, H. V.
    In the Steps of St. Paul. [1936].
    £350.00

  • H. V. Morton's In the Steps of the Master, the Signed Large Paper edition in a half roan binding.
    H. V. Morton's In the Steps of the Master, the Signed Large Paper edition in a half roan binding.

    MORTON, H. V.
    In the Steps of the Master. [1934].
    £350.00

  • First edition of Diogo Pacheco's Emanuelis Lusitan, that in 1514 resulted in the Papal Bull that granted Portugal a monopoly on the East including Arabia and the Gulf.
    First edition of Diogo Pacheco's Emanuelis Lusitan, that in 1514 resulted in the Papal Bull that granted Portugal a monopoly on the East including Arabia and the Gulf.

    PACHECO, Diogo.
    Emanuelis Lusitan: 1514.
    £50,000.00

  • A Personal account of Kedem Zadeh's pilgrimage to Mecca between 1910 and 1911, printed in Paris in 1912.
    A Personal account of Kedem Zadeh's pilgrimage to Mecca between 1910 and 1911, printed in Paris in 1912.

    KAZEM ZADEH, Hoseyn.
    Relation d'un pèlerinage à la Mecque en 1910-1911. 1912.
    £5,000.00

  • First edition of Travels in Arabia Deserta by Charles Doughty, a classic of exploration of Arabia which contains so much information on the topography of the area that it was used as a textbook by the British army during the Arab Revolt.
    First edition of Travels in Arabia Deserta by Charles Doughty, a classic of exploration of Arabia which contains so much information on the topography of the area that it was used as a textbook by the British army during the Arab Revolt.

    DOUGHTY, Charles M[ontague].
    Travels in Arabia Deserta. 1888.
    £4,000.00

  • First edition of Edgar Collins Boehm's The Persian Gulf and South Sea Isles, an early description of Muscat and Bahrain as visited in 1901
    First edition of Edgar Collins Boehm's The Persian Gulf and South Sea Isles, an early description of Muscat and Bahrain as visited in 1901

    BOEHM, Sir Edgar Collins.
    The Persian Gulf and South Sea Isles. 1904.
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of The late Dr. Charles Beke's discoveries of Sinai in Arabia, the account of Charles Beke's final 1874 expedition to Mount Sinai.
    First edition of The late Dr. Charles Beke's discoveries of Sinai in Arabia, the account of Charles Beke's final 1874 expedition to Mount Sinai.

    BEKE, Dr Charles.
    The late Dr. Charles Beke's discoveries of Sinai in Arabia. 1878.
    £850.00

  • Wellsted's classic work on the Gulf States, including Oman and the coasts of Arabia and Nubia.
    Wellsted's classic work on the Gulf States, including Oman and the coasts of Arabia and Nubia.

    WELLSTED, James Raymond.
    Travels to the City of the Caliphs, 1840.
    £4,500.00

  • First edition of Voyage Fait Par Ordre du Roy Louis XIV, Dans La Palestine, by Laurent d'Arvieux, translated by Jean de la Roque, of one of the earliest account of Bedouins.
    First edition of Voyage Fait Par Ordre du Roy Louis XIV, Dans La Palestine, by Laurent d'Arvieux, translated by Jean de la Roque, of one of the earliest account of Bedouins.

    [D'ARVIEUX, Laurent; ROQUE, Jean de la (editor & translator)].
    Voyage Fait Par Ordre du Roy Louis XIV. Dans La Palestine, 1717.
    £1,500.00

  • A valuable work, describing Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Cyprus and North Africa. It is especially esteemed for its botanical and zoological plates.
    A valuable work, describing Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Cyprus and North Africa. It is especially esteemed for its botanical and zoological plates.

    SHAW, Thomas.
    Travels, 1738.
    £3,500.00

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