Skip to content

Exploration & Travel

Rare books and manuscripts of Exploration and Travel across the world. From first editions of Captain Cook to works signed by Ernest Shackleton, and from the plains of India to the deserts of the Sahara, these works chart the history of mankind recording the places and people they saw.

See: Africa, Antarctica, Arabia & the Middle East, Arctic, Australasia, the Pacific & Voyages, Central Asia, East Asia, Europe, Greece, Turkey & the Ottoman Empire, Mountaineering, Russia & the Caucasus, South Asia, Southeast Asia, The Americas

951 results
Filter
Sort by
  • First French edition of Roggeveen's voyage by Carl Friedrich Behrens, the commander of marines, and the first European to step foot on Rapa Nui
    First French edition of Roggeveen's voyage by Carl Friedrich Behrens, the commander of marines, and the first European to step foot on Rapa Nui

    [BEHRENS, Carl Friedrich].
    Histoire de l'expedition de trois vasseaux, 1739.
    $9,953.00

  • First Edinburgh edition of A New and Correct Edition of the American Geography by Jedidiah Morse, the father of American Geography.
    First Edinburgh edition of A New and Correct Edition of the American Geography by Jedidiah Morse, the father of American Geography.

    MORSE, Jedidiah.
    A New and Correct Edition of the American Geography; 1795.
    $4,805.00

  • Sunny Singapore, published by Kelly and Walsh, containing views of Singapore including the Raffles Hotel, Government House, and other important buildings of the city.
    Sunny Singapore, published by Kelly and Walsh, containing views of Singapore including the Raffles Hotel, Government House, and other important buildings of the city.

    [SINGAPORE].
    Sunny Singapore. 1920s.
    $1,305.00

  • 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.
    $2,403.00

  • Sulaiman's works had a profound effect on many Arabic and Persian geographers and are of exceptional importance for the study of early Islamic trade.
    Sulaiman's works had a profound effect on many Arabic and Persian geographers and are of exceptional importance for the study of early Islamic trade.

    SULAIMAN EL TAJIR; RENAUDOT, Eusébe (translator).
    Ancient accounts of India and China, by two Mohammedan travellers. 1733.
    $6,178.00

  • The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.
    The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.

    RICCI, Matteo; TRIGAULT, Nicholas.
    De Christiana Expeditione apud Sinas Susepta ab Societate Iesu, 1616.
    $10,296.00

  • The preferred large broadsheet format. An important, large-scale and ambitious undertaking on mosques of the Silk Road.
    The preferred large broadsheet format. An important, large-scale and ambitious undertaking on mosques of the Silk Road.

    COMMISSION IMPÉRIALE ARCHÉOLOGIQUE (publisher).
    Les Mosquées de Samarcande. Fascicule I. 1905.
    $13,728.00

  • The author spent twenty year in Turkestan and this is a treatise on physical geography. Includes ascents of the Mountains of Kemkutan and Great Achik.
    The author spent twenty year in Turkestan and this is a treatise on physical geography. Includes ascents of the Mountains of Kemkutan and Great Achik.

    RICKMERS, W. Rickmer.
    The Duab of Turkestan. 1913.
    $515.00

  • Marvin's popular account of some of the more famous explorers and explorations of Central Asia in the 1860s-1880s such as Vambery, Burnaby, MacGregor, Alikhanoff, etc.

    MARVIN, Charles.
    Reconnoitring Central Asia. 1884.
    $1,202.00

  • An important and authoritative account of the political situation in afghanistan and the surrounding countries by George Malleson titled Herat the Granary and Garden of Central Asia.
    An important and authoritative account of the political situation in afghanistan and the surrounding countries by George Malleson titled Herat the Granary and Garden of Central Asia.

    MALLESON, George Bruce.
    Herat: The Granary and Garden of Central Asia. 1880.
    $2,060.00

  • Krafft's fine illustrated work on Turkestan.
    Krafft's fine illustrated work on Turkestan.

    KRAFFT, Hugues.
    A Travers le Turkestan Russe: 1902.
    $7,894.00

  • The rare first edition of Rollo Burslem's A Peep into Toorkisthan, on of the earliest European accounts of the Hindu Kush.
    The rare first edition of Rollo Burslem's A Peep into Toorkisthan, on of the earliest European accounts of the Hindu Kush.

    BURSLEM, Captain Rollo.
    A Peep into Toorkisthan. 1846.
    $4,119.00

  • Scarce first edition of Demitrius Boulger's England and Russia in Central Asia, a classic account of the Great Game between England and Russia.
    Scarce first edition of Demitrius Boulger's England and Russia in Central Asia, a classic account of the Great Game between England and Russia.

    BOULGER, Demitrius Charles.
    England and Russia in Central Asia. 1879.
    $4,119.00

  • Abbott was an officer in the Bengal Artillery and was sent on a political mission by the British envoy in Harat to the Khan of Khiva
    Abbott was an officer in the Bengal Artillery and was sent on a political mission by the British envoy in Harat to the Khan of Khiva

    ABBOTT, Capt. James.
    Narrative of a journey from Heraut to Khiva, Moscow, and St. Petersburgh, during the late Russian invasion of Khiva; 1856.
    $3,432.00

  • First Swedish edition of Bruce Chatwin's <em>I Patagonien</em>, signed by the author.
    First Swedish edition of Bruce Chatwin's <em>I Patagonien</em>, signed by the author.

    CHATWIN, Bruce.
    I Patagonien. 1977.
    $515.00

  • First edition of Explorations in the Eastern Kara-Koram and the Upper Yarkand Valley by Henry Wood, the scarce Survey of India report of De Filippi's Central Asian expedition which identified the Rimo Muztagh as the glacial source of the Yarkand River.
    First edition of Explorations in the Eastern Kara-Koram and the Upper Yarkand Valley by Henry Wood, the scarce Survey of India report of De Filippi's Central Asian expedition which identified the Rimo Muztagh as the glacial source of the Yarkand River.

    WOOD, H.
    Explorations in the Eastern Kara-Koram and the Upper Yarkand Valley. 1922.
    $3,432.00

  • First edition of Edward Joseph Thackwell's Narrative of the Second Seikh War, his scarce account of the Second Sikh War.
    First edition of Edward Joseph Thackwell's Narrative of the Second Seikh War, his scarce account of the Second Sikh War.

    THACKWELL, Edward Joseph.
    Narrative of the Second Seikh War, 1851.
    $1,716.00

  • First edition of A Letter to the Honourable Directors of the East-India Company by Andrew Stuart, an important letter about the controversy surrounding the arrest of George Pigot, Governor of Madras, in 1776
    First edition of A Letter to the Honourable Directors of the East-India Company by Andrew Stuart, an important letter about the controversy surrounding the arrest of George Pigot, Governor of Madras, in 1776

    [EAST INDIA COMPANY]; STUART, Andrew.
    A Letter to the Honourable Directors of the East-India Company, 1778.
    $412.00

  • An Essay on the East-India Trade, and it's importance to this Kingdom;
    An Essay on the East-India Trade, and it's importance to this Kingdom;

    [EAST-INDIA COMPANY].
    An Essay on the East-India Trade, and it's importance to this Kingdom; 1770.
    $481.00

  • First edition of Lord Clive's A Letter to the Proprietors of the East India Stock, his important letter to the East-India Company defending his actions and legacy in India.
    First edition of Lord Clive's A Letter to the Proprietors of the East India Stock, his important letter to the East-India Company defending his actions and legacy in India.

    [EAST-INDIA COMPANY]; LORD CLIVE.
    A Letter to the Proprietors of the East India Stock, from Lord Clive. 1764.
    $1,030.00

  • Hogarth's Devia Cypria, his first publication in which he records his excavations around Paphos and the Carpas Peninsula, under the aegis of the Cyprus exploration fund.
    Hogarth's Devia Cypria, his first publication in which he records his excavations around Paphos and the Carpas Peninsula, under the aegis of the Cyprus exploration fund.

    HOGARTH, David George.
    Devia Cypria 1889.
    $1,716.00

  • First edition, large paper copy, of The History of Java by Thomas Stamford Raffles, specially bound for presentation, of this iconic and foundational work on Java and Southeast Asia.
    First edition, large paper copy, of The History of Java by Thomas Stamford Raffles, specially bound for presentation, of this iconic and foundational work on Java and Southeast Asia.

    RAFFLES, Thomas Stamford.
    The History of Java. 1817.
    $17,160.00

  • 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.
    $27,456.00

  • 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.
    $1,030.00

  • First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.
    First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.

    CRANSTON, Claudia.
    I've Been Around. 1937.
    $344.00

  • First edition of this account of the deeds of Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, Captain General of Peru and from 1590-1596 Viceroy of Peru.
    First edition of this account of the deeds of Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, Captain General of Peru and from 1590-1596 Viceroy of Peru.

    SUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Cristobal.
    Hechos de Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, quarto margues de cañete. 1613.
    $21,965.00

  • The scarce first edition of Przhevalsky's third expedition.
    The scarce first edition of Przhevalsky's third expedition.

    PRZHEVALSKY, Nikolay.
    Iz Zaisana cherez Khami v Tibet i na verkhoviia Zheltoi reki. 1883.
    $6,521.00

  • One of the first great accounts of European overseas exploration and colonisation. Part one refers to Columbus, the discovery of the Americas and Brazils.
    One of the first great accounts of European overseas exploration and colonisation. Part one refers to Columbus, the discovery of the Americas and Brazils.

    BARROS, João de; ULLOA, Alfonso(translator).
    L'Asia [– Dell'Asia, la seconda deca] 1562.
    $3,913.00

  • An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish
    An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish

    [COOK]. FRÉVILLE, Anne François Joachim de.
    [The three voyages of Captain Cook]. 1776, 1783, 1787.
    $4,462.00

  • The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.
    The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.

    [KIPPIS, Andrew;] J.H. CASTERA (translator).
    Vie du Capitaine Cook... 1789.
    $1,030.00

  • A book of primary importance. The first Latin edition of the first circumnavigation to have the official support of the Dutch government.
    A book of primary importance. The first Latin edition of the first circumnavigation to have the official support of the Dutch government.

    SPILBERGEN, Joris Van.
    Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae Navigationum; 1619.
    $27,456.00

  • James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.
    James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.

    SKELTON, R.A. (editor).
    James Cook Surveyor of Newfoundland 1965.
    $344.00

  • A handsome set in a contemporary Venetian binding. One of the earliest and most important collections of Voyages and Travels of the 16th century (Church).
    A handsome set in a contemporary Venetian binding. One of the earliest and most important collections of Voyages and Travels of the 16th century (Church).

    RAMUSIO, Giovanni Battista.
    Delle Navigationi et Viaggi... 1613, 1606, 1606.
    $65,895.00

  • The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.
    The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.

    [COOK]. PINGO, Lewis.
    Royal Society Cook Medal. 1784.
    $2,060.00

  • Du Petit-Thouars voage was one of the most important of all the Grands Voyages, with some of the finest lithographs of the 19th century.
    Du Petit-Thouars voage was one of the most important of all the Grands Voyages, with some of the finest lithographs of the 19th century.

    DU PETIT-THOUARS, Abel.
    Voyage autour du monde sur la Frégate La Vénus 1840-1855.
    $89,232.00

  • An original Quiros presentation memorial. Alexander Dalrymple stated that the discovery of the Southern Continent (Australia) was due to de Quiros.
    An original Quiros presentation memorial. Alexander Dalrymple stated that the discovery of the Southern Continent (Australia) was due to de Quiros.

    QUIROS (Pedro Fernandes de).
    [Memorial 11]. 7 December, 1611.
    $171,600.00

Cart
Your cart is empty
Have an account?
Log in to check out faster.