Travels Among the Arab Tribes Inhabiting the countries east of Syria and Palestine,

£3,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

Freya Stark's copy Buckingham travelled overland from Egypt to India in 1816 and 1817 via Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia. This work describes the portion of his journey from Nazareth to Aleppo and Damascus, and also contains an appendix refuting charges of plagiarism which were levelled against his earlier work on Palestine. Freya Stark's copy, with her bookplate which includes her husband's name and the name of the Italian town where she spent much of her childhood: Asolo. She was one of the most well-known female travellers associated with the Middle East and one of the first westerners to cross the Southern Arabian desert. She had married Stewart Perowne, a British diplomat, Arabist, and historian in 1947 and sometimes used his name despite the marriage failing in 1952. First edition; 4to (28 x 23 cm); bookplate of Freya Stark to front pastedown, and inscription identifying the copy as hers to first blank, folding map (slightly browned), 28 vignettes, bookplate, some offsetting and browning to preliminary pages; rebacked contemporary half calf, marbled boards, hinges reinforced, a very good copy; xvi, 670 pp. Blackmer 232.

• Binding: Hardcover

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