Up the Tigris to Bagdad

London: E and F N Spon, 1870. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8.5" by 5.5". H J Walton. The very scarce first edition of Frederick Webb's nineteenth century account of his journey along the Tigris river to Bagdad. A signed presentation copy. Signed by the author to the recto of front endpaper, 'Mrs William Price with the Authors Love and Admiration'. An extremely scarce work, with only two auction records in the last ten years. Illustrated, with a frontispiece and two plates.The plates are taken from photographs by H J Walton, the Director of HM's Persian Gulf and Mekran Telegraph. Collated, complete. In the publisher's original cloth binding. With an appendix of entries written about the populous, and histories of Seleucia, Ctesiphon and Bagdad. To the preface, the author notes that he wrote this work upon the request of a dinner guest who found great interest in his visit to Bagdad in March 1865. The dinner guest wished for Webb to write a piece for a periodical he managed. The manuscript was rejected and was therefore shelved for many years. Webb was then inspired to publish this five years on from the original expedition. A very scarce work, which provides a first-hand account of Frederick Charles Webb's journey along the Tigris river and Mesopotamia. In the publisher's original cloth binding. With gilt stamping to the front board and spine. Externally, very smart. Prior owner's shelf label to the top corner of front board. Front hinge is tender. Author's inscription to the recto of front endpaper. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are very bright with just the odd spot. Very Good