Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia 1899-1902.

presentation copy for the Foreign Minister of Sweden

A specially bound, special paper presentation copy for the Foreign Minister of Sweden Alfred Lagerheim (1843-1924) inscribed to him by Sven Hedin. Only 300 copies of the first edition were produced and seemingly only a handful on special paper, with all copies studied (BL x2, RAS, NHM) being regular paper.

The scientific results and account of Sven Hedin's second expedition, his most scientifically important in terms of contributions and production. He travelled to the Tarim Basin and Tibet, travelling across the Yarkand to the dry waterways of Kum-darja and Lop Nur. He was the first to Lop Nur since Przhevalsky and was the first to distinguish between Kum-darja and the lost Chinese town of Loulan. He then went north in an attempt to reach Lhasa before going to Leh, Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Benares and Calcutta where he met with Curzon. He was also the first to describe the natural formations of yardangs in the Lop desert.

The map, plate 57 of volume two, which shows a physiographic diagram of the Tarim Basin with an overlay showing the catchment areas of the streams draining into the East Turkestan Basin and their extent in square km, still retains its value as one of Hedin's most outstanding contributions to the geography of Central Asia. Among the contributors represented in the extensive sub-volumes are: Nils Ekholm (meteorology); K.G. Olsson (astronomy); Wilhelm Leche (zoology); and Helge Bäckström and Harald Johansson (geology).

The supplementary volume by Karl Himly and August Conrady on Chinese manuscripts was eventually published in 1920 as part four of volume six. Hess asserts that it should be considered a separate work and not as part of the Scientific Results due to its delays and changing of authorship.

First edition; 10 vols, in total comprising 8 vols of text 4to (32.5 x 26 cm), and 2 maps vols folio (40 x 31.5 cm); presentation inscription to first blank of vol. I, 308 plates, 240 maps and panoramas, and 1668 in-text illustrations (collates with Yakushi), pp.336-8 and pp.340-341 duplicated in vol. II due to a printing error; contemporary half red morocco, marbled boards, spines lettered in gilt in six compartments, top edges gilt, a fine presentation copy.

Hess 49, 4; Henze II, 484 ff; Yakushi H176.