The famous account of the Royal Danish Expedition (1761-1767) to the Middle East, Egypt, Persia and India, and the return journey. the first scientific expedition to this area.

Of the five scientists Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815) was the sole survivor and his work represents an important contribution to the study of the Middle East. The expedition journeyed through Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Persia and Asia Minor. His companions having fallen out, Niebuhr continued the journey by himself and came back with rich material. This work contains his observations and an account of his experiences. Those in Nineveh and also the Yemen and Hadhramaut were particularly important. The work is accompanied by an attractive set of plates which show coins, costume, military practices, etc. as well as containing a large map of the Yemen.

The first French edition of the Description was published in Copenhagen in 1773. It was first published in German in Copenhagen in 1772.

Second French edition of the first work, first French edition of the second, together 3 volumes, 4to. I. Folding chart, large engraved folding map of the Yemen, 24 engraved plates, 5 folding; II. 2 engraved titles, 124 engraved plates (many folding), folding map of Yemen, old stamps to titles, modern calf-backed boards, uncut and partly unopened, complete with half-titles, internally clean and fresh, a very good set.

First work: cf. Atabey 873 (First French); Second work: Hilmy II, 62; Gay 3589.