A Narrative of a Visit to the Court of Sinde;

the author's copy

The author's copy, with his bookplate, and with the rare offprint of the article titled 'Dr. Burnes's overland journey from India', taken from the Montrose Review of 23rd and 30th May 1834, bound at rear. Henry Vibart Glegg was bequeathed, or purchased, Burnes's library: we have previously handled a third edition of this work which has the same double provenance. The edition published in 1829 in Bombay is virtually unobtainable and has never appeared at auction.

James Burnes (1801-1862), brother of Alexander, was a surgeon who volunteered to accompany the force which, in 1825, expelled the Sindians who had devastated Cutch and forced the British brigade to retire to Bhuj. The amirs of Sindh then invited him to visit them as 'the most skilful of physicians and their best friend, and the cementer of the bonds of amity between the two governments', and on his return he was complimented by the government on the zeal and ability he had displayed at Cutch and Hyderabad. His account of his visit to Sind, written as an official report to the resident at Cutch, is an excellent account of the country, and was a valuable contribution to the geography of India.

First UK edition; 8vo (23 x 15 cm); 2 folding lithographed colour maps, folding lithographed genealogical table, bookplates to pastedown, ownership inscription to title; publisher's original green moire cloth, original printed spine label, preserved in a modern cloth clipcase, a couple of bumps and marks but otherwise a remarkably preserved copy; [iv], 253, [2, errata], 3 pp.