LHASA AND ITS MYSTERIES, With a Record of the Expedition of 1903-1904

First of Methuen’s “Cheaper” edition and the third issuance in total, only one year after the first and essentially a duplicate of the first issuance. With 155 illustrations, 86 of which are on plates and some in colour, and with 8 maps, 4 of which are folding. 8vo, publisher’s original tan cloth decorated pictorially in red and orange on spine and upper cover, red cloth label on spine lettered in gilt, upper cover lettered in red. xx, 530 (including index) pp. A very good copy, quite fresh and clean and bright internally, the binding in good order, tight and strong and well preserved with a bit of toning to the spine panel.

Edizione: a rare and important account of tibetan travel, containing a new preface by the author for this edition along with the preface to the original edition. this copy is in far nicer condition than is typically encountered.<br> l. augustine waddell initially became interested in learning about tibet when he was stationed for some years at darjeeling on the borders of the “forbidden lands” and heard fantastic stories from people who had journeyed within their mountainous realms. eager to journey there himself, waddell learned as much as he could about tibetan language and beliefs, and in 1903 embarked on the two-year expedition to lhasa, the sacred capital of tibet, which he then wrote about in this account. this book was so popular in its time that the first two editions in march and april of 1905 were practically exhausted within a few months of the book’s first appearance, though surviving copies are scarce. it was critically acclaimed by many, particularly the london times:<br> “we confidently commend the scholarly and delightful book which colonel waddell has written. rich in information and instinct with literary charm, every page bears witness to firsthand knowledge of the country about which the world knows so little; we feel that the author is master of his subject. he writes with authority and he writes with sympathy. it is a mine of quaint folklore, of philology, and natural history, and the descriptions of scenery are delightful; there is scarcely a page without some droll suggestion. the value of the work is enhanced by most useful and typical photographs.”<br> a comprehensive account of travel in tibet, “that world of dreams and magic.”