Through Jade Gate and Central Asia. - 1927

London: Constable & Co.,, 1927. Signed by two members of the "trio" First edition, first impression, presentation copy to Rev. John Stuart Holden, the author of the introduction. The front free endpaper is inscribed by Cable, "With our warmest regards and thanks, A. Mildred Cable", and signed by French below. The near-contemporary ownership inscription of Holden's wife, Jessie Findlay Holden, is at the head of the endpaper. Through Jade Gate and Central Asia is the second work by the "trio" - Mildred Cable (1878-1952), Francesca French (1871-1960), and Eva French (1869-1960) - and concentrates on the first of their "astonishing evangelical journeys" (Robinson) through Gansu and across the Gobi Desert. Setting out in 1926 and heading north-west, they followed the main trade route across the desert - decided by the location of oases - to Urumqi and onwards to the Russian frontier, heading home to London by train via Moscow. After recounting an expedition of some 6,000 miles, the work ends with their difficulties finding a hotel for the night near Victoria Station in London; eventually, a kindly landlady ("See 'ere, you can have the beds for six shillings a 'ead" - p. 301) came to their rescue. "During the next fifteen years they crossed the Gobi Desert five times, travelling often at night and always either on foot or on their two carts, christened the Gobi Express and the Flying Turki. They dressed in Chinese gowns, carried supplies of Bibles and a portable harmonium, and left the moot question of their survival to the Lord. Survive they did, to write eagerly and humorously of their nomadic lives as the most sympathetic and gentle of proselytizers" (ibid.). In 1942, Cable became the first female individual winner of the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal for her pioneering work exploring the Gobi. John Stuart Holden (1870-1934) was ordained in 1899 and served as the Home Director of the China Inland Mission, having visited China in 1904. As he notes in his introduction, "The three ladies of whose hazardous journey across the largely untracked spaces of North-Western China and Central Asia this book tells, are distinguished members of the China Inland Mission... their journey takes high rank in the stories of pioneer heroism and endurance". After her husband's death, Jessie Holden (1874-1947) moved to 25 Evelyn Gardens, London - this address is included in her ownership inscription. The Holdens are also known for narrowly escaping the Titanic disaster. John held a first-class ticket but cancelled his travel plans when Jessie became ill on 9 April 1912. His ticket, framed with the words "Who Redeemeth Thy Life From Destruction" printed below, is held by the Liverpool Maritime Museum. Octavo. Original green cloth, spine and front cover lettered in green, top edge green, others untrimmed. Half-tone photographic frontispiece showing a Tibetan Chorten, 11 similar plates, large folding route map. Cloth lightly faded with touch of soiling only, contents and plates fresh, map sheet with usual stub tear not affecting printed area: a near-fine copy. Robinson, pp. 155-6.