Ultima Thule;: or, a Summer in Iceland. With Historical Introduction, Maps, and Illustrations.

London: William P. Nimmo,, 1875. In a stylish Zaehnsdorf binding First edition. Short of income after being removed as British consul to Damascus in 1871, Burton accepted a lucrative offer to search for sulphur in Iceland. The resulting work participates in the late Victorian surge of interest in Norse culture and the Icelandic sagas, Burton's journey taking place between William Morris's famous tours in 1871 and 1873. Burton set out in May 1872, travelling via Orkney, Shetland, and the Faroe Islands, landing at Reykjavik on 8 June and spending three months on the island. His account is rich in detail on local topography, customs, and history. "The main object of the book has been to advocate the development of the island" (p. xiii). Provenance: bound for Robert Tyndall Hamilton Bruce (1847-1899), a Scottish businessman who operated a series of bakeries in Glasgow. A lover of the arts, "his major achievement in the public sphere was the leading role he played in organizing French and Dutch painting loans for the Edinburgh International Exhibition in 1886" (Wild). He was also a co-founder of The Scots Observer and hosted a literary circle at his home which was attended by authors such as R. L. Stevenson and J. M. Barrie. Much of his estate was sold in 1903 by Christie's. Two volumes, octavo (218 x 140 mm). Contemporary reversed calf by Zaehnsdorf, twin green morocco spine labels, spines with gilt horse head and lion rampant motifs, covers with gilt thistle motifs and centrepiece stamp incorporating motto and monogram of Robert Tyndall Hamilton Bruce, gilt-stamped red textured endpapers, gilt edges. With original blue cloth covers and spines bound at rear of each volume. Lithographic frontispieces, 4 lithographic plates, 2 colour folding maps, bifolium of manuscript facsimile, numerous engravings within text (5 full-page). Extremities a little rubbed, spine labels faded, inner hinges of vol. II starting but holding firm, contents clean: a near-fine copy. Casada 67; Howgego IV B98; Penzer, pp. 91-2. Peter Wild, "The Art Critic at the Grange", History Links Dornoch, 9 June 2014.