Viaje De Ceylan á Damasco. Golfo PéRsico, Mesopotamia, Ruinas De Babilonia, NíNive Y Palmira Y Cartas Sobre La Siria Y La Isla De Ceylan. Rivadeneyra, D. Adolfo.

First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the author "A mi respectable amigo el Senor ?Corro [?]" on the half-title. Although well represented in Spanish libraries, Library Hub only lists two copies in the UK, and we could trace no early or first edition copies on the market of this rare account of the author's travels from Ceylan to Damascus, where he had been Spanish consul. Adolfo Rivadeneyra (1841-1882) was a Spanish diplomat, orientalist, traveller, and later, following in his father's steps, became a publisher. He spoke "Turkish and modern Arabic with a correctness that is the astonishment of the natives themselves. The extraordinary manner in which he bore the fatigue and privations of every kind which this journey entailed, and the vivid manner in which he describes the native tribes, and his complete absence of exaggeration or conceit, render this book extremely entertaining" (Appleton). D. Appleton, "The Amercian Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year", 1872, vol. 11, p. 470; OCLC 1025704980. Duodecimo (170 x 110 mm). Contemporary grey pebbled cloth, titles in gilt on red sheep spine label, boards decorated with black panel-style motifs with "EL" monogram, patterned purple endpapers. Early ownership inscriptions on half-title, repeated on dedication page. Somewhat rubbed and lightly soiled, occasional light spotting and toning, a very good copy.