St Marys Books

Beautiful first edition two-volume set. English explorer and author Sir Richard Francis Burton's experience revisiting Sind, the province located in present-day south-eastern Pakistan that he was posted in as a young officer. Within, he provides narrative observations on the cities of Karachi and Hyderabad; the state of the Anglo-Indian army; relations among Muslims and Hindus; Sindi men and women; the Indus Valley Railway; and many other topics. Burton also gives translations of poems, and summaries of colourful local tales and legends. Vol. I's external condition: darkening to top half of front board, front hinge worn but still sound, corners bumped, wear to edges. Small mark to middle front board. Spine in lovely condition with just a little shelf wear to extremities and small numerical inscription. Decorative front board and spine with black debossed illustration and gilt titling. Blind tooled to rear. Top textblock edge discoloured commensurate with age. Inside, clean black endpapers, front hinge cracked. Small ink inscription to verso of ffep. Subtle closed tear to outer edge of dedication page. Otherwise, internally pristine with no marking, foxing, or other damage. Features a lovely sentimental dedication to friend General Walter Scott. Vol. II's external condition: Overall condition much the same. Discolouration to top right edge, small marks to front board. Lovely uninterrupted decorative boards to match Vol. I. Bumped corners, wear to edges. Spine in lovely condition with just a little shelf wear to extremities and small numerical inscription. Red marks to back board. Top textblock edge discoloured commensurate with age. Inside, clean black endpapers, front hinge completely intact. Small ink inscription to verso of ffep. Internally pristine with no marking, foxing, or other damage. Overall, a good+ condition set of scarce volumes that give both a historical biography and exploration of India and Sindh.