Unbeaten Tracks in Japan. - 1880

London: John Murray,, 1880. First edition of Volume I and third edition of Volume II, of Bird's famous account of her journey from Tokyo to Hokkaido in 1878. As a solo traveller, she "lived among the Japanese, and saw their mode of living, in regions unaffected by European contact" (preface) and recorded her travels in letters to her sister. Isabella Bird (1831-1904) was a prominent female explorer who wrote over 20 books on her travels across various continents. She left for her three-month excursion at the age of 46. Unlike other Western travellers, Bird's passport allowed her to travel without a designated route, thanks to her friendship with the politician Henry Parkes (1815-96). Her freedom of movement allowed her to visit villages unseen and untouched by Western influence, offering her an authentic insight into Japanese architecture, food, culture, and traditions. Bird's account was extremely popular, selling quickly and going through three editions in one year, and this perhaps explains why the owner of this set could only marry mixed editions. Two volumes, octavo (205 x 140 mm). Contemporary green half morocco by Worsfold, spine lettered in gilt, raised bands, marbled boards, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With 2 tissue-guarded engraved frontispieces, colour folding map to rear of Vol I., illustrations in text. Spines sunned, corners lightly rubbed, contents clean, frontispiece of vol. I bound on stub with small area of skinning to illustration, map with small tub tear slightly affecting printed area, traces of old tissue repair on verso. A very good copy. Robinson, p. 81.