First Russia Then Tibet

London: Macmillan, 1933. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine-/Fine-. First Impression of this cornerstone of modern travel writing. Demy 8vo (232 x 155mm): xvi,328pp, with tissue-guarded color frontispiece of the Cathedral of St. Sophia and 24 full-page drawings and photographs (mostly the author's). Publisher's emerald green coarsely woven cloth, spine lettered in gold; later issue Macmillan's Miscellany saffron-yellow dust jacket (as usual: the first-issue jacket is rare) printed in black. An excellent example, tightly bound and clean throughout (first and final few pages lightly spotted); jacket slightly dust-soiled with small crease to head of spine panel. Here are two separate travel accounts: a cultural tour of Soviet Russia in the 1920's and an excursion along the Indo-Tibetan trade route from Sikkim to Gyantse. Byron traveled to India in 1929, as special correspondent for the Daily Express, and the following year ventured briefly into Tibet. "The first literary result of these experiences was An Essay on India (1931), which, in the opinion of the viceroy, Lord Willingdon, contained the best brief statement of Indian political problems at that time. His Tibetan journey was recorded two years later in First Russia, then Tibet." (ODNB) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).