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First edition, an exceptionally well-preserved copy in the entirely unrestored original cloth, of one of the most extraordinary travel narratives of the 19th century; it surpassed all preceding Western accounts of the holy cities of Islam, made Burton famous, and became a classic of travel literature, described by T. E. Lawrence as "a most remarkable work of the highest value". This copy has an intriguing provenance, with the engraved bookplates to the pastedowns and inscriptions to titles and front free endpapers in each volume of Charles Alexander Thurburn (1825-1903), merchant in Alexandria. Of Scottish origin, the Thurburn family were well established as merchants in the city, with Charles's father Robert Thurburn (1784-1860) British consul in Alexandria during the Napoleonic wars. Burton began his pilgrimage to Mecca from Alexandria, going by donkey to the home of John Thurburn, the father-in-law of an old Oxford friend. Charles is recorded as requesting of Burton a copy of his report on African travel in December 1853 (Book of Burtonia, vol. I, accessible online). Fewer than half a dozen Europeans had made the hajj, or pilgrimage to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, forbidden to non-Muslims, and lived. Of those only the Swiss explorer J. L. Burckhardt had left a detailed account. Burton made the pilgrimage in complete disguise as a Muslim native of the Middle East, an "exploit of linguistic and cultural virtuosity which carried considerable risk" (ODNB). During the several days that Burton spent in Mecca, he performed the associated rites of the pilgrimage such as circumambulating the Kaaba, drinking the Zemzem water and stoning the devil at Mount Arafat. Burton's biographer Dane Kennedy notes interestingly that, "Burton's decision to undertake the hajj in an 'Oriental' disguise was directed as much at a British audience as it was at the Muslims with whom he associated during his journey. His subterfuge was not, in fact, necessary to gain entry to Mecca: he could have gone there freely and openly had he simply proclaimed his conversion to Islam, which was in any case the sine qua non for the disguise he adopted... Why Burton chose instead to carry out his elaborate deception says something about the complex array of professional ambitions and social pressures that influenced his judgment. First, he still harboured a desire to go from Mecca into Arabia's Empty Quarter, which would have been difficult to do as an Englishman, even one who had sincerely converted to Islam. Second, he believed that an 'Oriental' persona would give him greater access to the intimate world of the peoples who inhabited the region, much as it had done in Sindh. Third, he understood that his adventure would be measured against the achievement of Burckhardt, who had entered Mecca and Medina in disguise. He could do no less" (Kennedy, p. 65). READ MORE Three volumes, octavo. Original dark blue morocco-grain cloth, title gilt to spines, spine decoration and panelling to the boards in black, terracotta surface-paper endpapers with advertisements to pastedowns, most of vol. 2 unopened. Housed in a dark blue quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. 15 plates of which 5 chromolithographs (including the famous portrait of Burton as "The Pilgrim" mounted as frontispiece to vol. 2), 8 single-tint lithographs, engraved plate of "Bedouin and Wahhabi Heads", 4 maps and plans (3 folding). Edmonds & Remnants binder's ticket at end of vol. I, contemporary bookseller's tickets of Charles Haselden, 21 Wigmore Street. Corners softened, extremities only lightly rubbed, an excellent copy, hinges intact, generally clean, much better than usually met with. Abbey Travel 368; Gay 3634; Howgego IV B95; Ibrahim-Hilmy I p. 111; Penzer, pp. 49-50 (writing in 1923: "Very rare and increasing in value"). Dane Kennedy, The Highly Civilized Man: Richard Burton and the Victorian World, 2007.

A travel narrative by Richard F Burton detailing his journey to the Islamic cities of Medina and Mecca, which were typically off-limits to non-Muslims, achieved under disguise as a Muslim pilgrim.