8vo. 526 pp., [1], half-title, title, contemporary half-calf with cloth boards, lightly rubbed round edges, marbled end paper, title gilt on raised spine, copy inside clean and in very good condition, Librairie de L. Hachette Paris, first edition, 1859.

Synopsis

Le Conte Arthur de Gobineau ( 1816-1882) specialised in the civilisations of Central Asia. He was a famous liberal French diplomat of the 19th century, and one of the prominent Orientalists. He served in the French Legation in Iran ( 1864-1868). He travelled extensively in the Middle East, did early research on the origins of the Kurds and the Druze. He wrote his famous book “ The Inequality of Races” in which he attacks the imperialist colonial policies of the European powers.
His residence in the East inspired him to write this work. It was his first posting in Persia, abroad the Victoria, that Gobineau stopped at Jeddah, Aden and Muscat in May 1855, with his family and the French diplomatic delegation. They were received by Sultan Said Bin Sultan. Gobineau provides us with a benevolent portrait of the Sultan, and sons, and the Viziers.
Bibliographic references: Chadenat 321; Saba 170; Ghani 94; Xavier Beguin Billecocq, Oman p. 198-99.