8vo. Volume I: xx, 454 pp., [1 errata],10 steel engraved plates / Volume II: xii, 439 pp., 3 folding steel engraved maps, translated into English by Robert Heron with notes by the translator, 19th Century half calf binding, lightly rubbed, gilt title and decoration on spine, marbled end papers, gilt top edge, scattered foxing and yellowing of pages and maps, light pencil annotation in volume 2, two Ex-Libris on ends papers, from the Library of Major General Sir Percy Zachariah Cox (1864-1937) one of the major figures in the division of the Middle East as we know it now, printed for R. Morison & Son, Edinburgh, first English edition, 1792.

Synopsis

The famous account of the Royal Danish expedition (1761-1767) to the Arabian Peninsula, sent out by Frederick V of Denmark in 1761. Of the five partaking scientists, Carsten Niebuhr (1713-1815) was the sole survivor, returning with notes and many drawings and annotations. Famous for his map of the Yemen (55 x 35 cm) which Niebuhr calculated by crossing the country and measuring the distances mile by mile. For the next century it served further European explorers of Arabia. His map of the Arab Gulf is the earliest map to mention Kuwait [in the English edition or published separately]. He is also one of the first to call the country Yemen instead of Arabia Felix. His work still forms one of the most authoritative descriptions of Arabia and Yemen in particular.
Bibliographic reference: Gay 3589.